BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum
The World Beyond BetterMost => The Culture Tent => Topic started by: serious crayons on June 14, 2007, 05:40:43 pm
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Tonight's repeat episode of "My Name is Earl," (8 p.m. EDT, NBC) has to do with online communities and friendships. I saw it the first time it aired, so I know what happens, but I won't say much more for now, not to spoil anything.
Anybody who watches it and wants to discuss it afterward, meet back here later.
:)
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I remeber jeff Wrangler I think talking about this episode - about the guy who dies and Earl lets all his online friends know so they guy can have a proper send off?
( i think *pm EDt os over now - hence why I'm posting!)
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Yes, and what I loved about it was that it portrayed online friendships as real, legitimate, fun relationships. At first, the dead guy appeared to have been a friendless (though cute!) loser. But once his online activities were discovered, it turned out he had a vibrant, enjoyable social life.
I think that may be the first really positive depiction of internet communities that I've seen in mainstream entertainment.
Bonus: John Waters played the weird mortician.
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I saw another my name is earl episode tonight - where it specifically mentioned Borkeback Mountain! It was quite funny!
Trying to make up to Kenny for stealing his lunches when they were growing up, Earl discovers Kenny has broken up with his boyfriend. Kenny complains since "Brokeback Mountain" guys want more macho guys and asks Earl to help him be more masculine. He learns to dress like Earl, act like Earl, and unfortunately in the process becomes a compulsive gambler and loses everything he owns.
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Oh, I've seen that one. Unfortunately, I'm not thrilled with the character of Kenny.
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very sterotypical yeah but I thought it was a cute brokeback reference. Is the character Kenny on more than one episode?
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True, it is a cute reference!
Kenny has been in two or three episodes altogether. It's disappointing, because otherwise the show tends to go against stereotypes. Though at least it gives Earl a chance to overcome his homophobia -- in the first episode, Earl went to make up to Kenny for taunting him in school, and by the end he was dancing in a gay bar.