[MADtv] Recurring Characters

[Antonio]

I was sitting in my math class today, when I thought to myself, "Would Mad TV make a huge improvement if they just dropped the recurring characters altogether?"
Stuart, Rusty, Ron, Swan, Lorraine, Bunifa, Trina, Kenny Rogers, Steven Seagal, Lance Bass, Fred Durst... They're all getting old and stupid.
Here's what I think they should do: Bring in original and funny characters, but not recur them. That way, people will remember the characters without thinking "Damn, that was only funny the first time".
Remember the sketch with Kathryn Fiore playing the cheerleader who was getting embarrased by her parents? That was a good character who wasn't recurred, and I don't care at all. Why? Because if they brought her back, she'd just get annoying.
This probably isn't going to happen. But, hey, it's a dream for the future.
-Antonio

[Keepsakers]

The show would be SO much better if they weren't bogged down with the recurring characters. Not only are they annoying, but their sketches tend to be the longest.

Sadly, taking the recurring characters out of the equation would probably be bad for Mad's ratings. You've seen all the people out there who just LOVE Stuart and Ms. Swan. Not on THIS board, but on the 'madtvonfox' one. There are more of them than there are of us, so the show is giving the people what they want. We don't have to like it, but I think that's how it is.

That's a great point about the cheerleader sketch too. I thought that was hysterical the first time I saw it (and when I played it back over and over), but if she kept coming back, it'd ruin the whole thing. It seems like there's no medium for the show. You either see the characters once or a million times. There's no in-between.

Guess I should be careful for what I wish for when it comes to the Popstars thing. Besides, nothing is ever as good as the first time, usually.

[blackwind]

Take that Christmas sketch with David Herman from season 2 (or was it 1?) that Angie and I always talk about.

It was 1.

The one where he buys his daughter a horse on springs that you have to assmble. It had such a simple premise, but it was written and performed brilliantly. They couldn't and wouldn't do something like that anymore.

Part of the problem, of course, is that they don't have anyone talented enough to do something like that anymore. As I've said before, whoever was in charge of casting for season one is a genius. Whoever was in charge of casting for seasons four and six, on the other hand, should probably be shot.

[Keepsakers]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to do away with them altogether either (although some of them can go!), but a nice middle ground would be nice. I would love to see a promo for the show that showcases a character and makes me go "Wow, I haven't seen him/her for a long time! I can't wait!" But now it's more like "Ugh! Not again!"

[Devlin]

Well it is hard to please EVERYONE LOL But I would like to keep some of the caracters, but they should maybe think and try to write some better skits for them and maybe not have them as often. That way it would be more fun when they come on.

[Antonio]

Angie's right, it's once or a million times. But, if I had to choose, I'd definatly pick once.
You know what the show needs more of? Music video parodys. The worst one ever was 'World, World, World' and even that wasn't so bad.
"Lady Mad TV", "The Music's Over", "John"... those were all above average sketches.
-Antonio

[Devlin]

YEAH! Defenetly more music vodeos. I think it was in season 6 they had some really good ones EVERY single show i saw! Now that was fun! MOre MoDonna and mor Mariah Carey and more whitney houston, Shania Twain etc etc etc

[Keepsakers]

LOL! Isn't it sad that we can't even wish for certain "under-used" elements to recur now? Because the show might take it too far and ruin the whole thing for us!

I must've said I want Popstars back 100 times on this site (and even in my profile) And I said it about Dr. Phil, Snapshot Stories, etc, etc.

I take it back! I take it all back! LOL, if the show's going to hell, I don't want to see an old post of mine one day that helped to direct it there even faster!

[tarzapam]

yeah i love the music clip parodies

the mariah carey one for "lover muffin" was so funny

they knew she was crazy even before she had her breakdown

"lick my baby back behind" was so funny, i loved how they had britneys mum there bossing her around

and i liked madonna "my movies"
that was good, and mo was real funny

[Zac_In_Au]

Yeah- I liked that Lover Muffin one too! Even though I adore Mariah Carey - I love it when they parody her! I'm looking forward to seeing that "Gutter" Glitter parody...

[zac.]

[tarzapam]

yeah we have to wait probably till next year to see season seven god that sucks big time

[Devlin]

My personal fave. musicvideos must be sorry mrs. Jackson, My movies, love muffin, Wash me and defenetly Lick my baby back behind. The last one was so funny when the mother finds out Britney has been eating the whole majo jar LOL

[tarzapam]

yeah how funny was that

i bet britney's mother is a real stage mother in real life so i applaud mad tv for their parodie of britney and her mother

[Kai]

I don't think they should get rid of the recurring characters, they should just introduce a few new ones, particularly from the actors who don't have any or have very few, and then spread out the use of the older ones.
I always just asumed that recurring characters ran their course and phased out when there was nothing left to do with them, ie you can count on one hand the number of times Vancome Lady appeared in seasons 5 and 6 (not including encore sketches). It's a shame that they would try to keep old characters going when they are clearly past it. The writers/producers just need to find some balance.

[Mad Dog]

Speaking of the Vancome Lady, I think it was a shame how they barely put her on in season 5/6! Her material was at her best at that time. I watch the old reruns of this character and wonder how she ever got popular in the first place because the early material, used to set a foundation, wasn't near as good as some of here classic remarks from the later years...

"Lady, we don't allow dogs in here, oh, and the same goes for the poodle!

"But a Mom, I like your costume, but you forgot to put the word GOODYEAR down the side!"

"Sooo, where'd you get your costume, at the KKKmart?"

"Sorry, the only thing that's going to get rid of those wrinkles is a time machine or death. And here at Vancome, we're fresh out of time machines so good luck!"

"look, I don't put a coin in a slot unless it makes the bed vibrate!"

[tarzapam]

yeah i got more

"Don't worry, i have my men in and out in an hour, then i ask them to leave"

girl:do you know who my father is
vancome:no but don't worry sweetheart, neither does your mother

[i love swan]

it would HURT MADtv to take them off, plus they are great still..but im thinking one or two IF THAT an episode, and at the end of the show say who will be on next week, like a preivew, c'mon we cant take em off, MAD will die, but i think only using them once a show would be good