Everyone has his or her favorite television shows. Whether its critical darlings llike Mad Men or Breaking Bad, or popular hits like Two and a Half Men or NCIS; these are shows that the average television fan will openly admit to watching. Then, there is an entire subgenre of television shows that are rarely discussed outside of a whisper. These are the shows that you watch in secret. Shows that, for fear of embarrassment, you are too afraid to bring up to your friends. Yes, I’m referring to the guilty pleasures of television.
In a means of combating this closeted state of television fandom, I thought it appropriate to out myself for watching one show that most certainly falls on the guilt list (no, friends, I’m not talking about the WWE – you all know I am a fan of that already). I’m referring to a little program on Nickelodeon called iCarly.
This post is a long one so take the jump if you dare.
For the uninitiated, iCarly stars Miranda Cosgrove (of the similarly cheesy Drake and Josh and The School of Rock) as Carly Shay – a tweenage girl who lives with her wacky, artist brother Spencer in their posh Seattle loft. Spencer is known to have attended law school for three days before dropping out to pursue his love of art. The two live alone because their dad is stationed on a nuclear submarine and their mother is elsewhere (though never really explained where).
Before delving into the depths of the show, I need to get this out of the way - Miranda Cosgrove is not a good child actress (see Kiernan Shipka or Chloe Moretz for child actresses that can actually act). No, her performance can mostly be characterized by her stilted line readings and random shouting reminiscent of this scene. I'm never quite sure if the writers are aware of her deficiencies and thus try to hide it through random shouting, but there is still something endearing about her well-intentioned, semi-awful performance on the show.
As for Spencer, Jerry Trainor takes a caricature of a human being and brings a surprising amount of gravitas to a role that can only be described as a "Poor Man's Kramer." Playing younger than his actual 33 years of age, Trainor consistently goes all out to sell jokes. Whether taking an uncomfortable amount of prat falls or embracing a level of idiocy only rivaled by Lennie from Of Mice and Men, Jerry Trainor never half-asses it; usually stealing every scene he is in. He ain't Marlon Brando, but he's certainly not Marlon Wayans. Check the video to get a small idea of what I'm talking about.
Carly is often flanked by her two best friends Sam Puckett (the rude, always hungry, borderline offensive girl) and Freddie Benson (the perpetually-in-love with Carly; overly-mothered butt of many jokes guy who lives across the hall). Together the three friends created iCarly, a live webshow that they broadcast from Carly’s apartment to an ever-growing audience of peers (Carly hosts, Sam co-hosts, and Freddie does the camera and tech work). Between their show, their school life, and their circle of friends, family, and enemies the gang is constantly getting into awkward situations, hilarious hijinks, etc.
From that description, the show may not seem too different from your average, teen comedy. Hell, in its purest essence, iCarly is reminiscent of Boy Meets World, Full House, or even Family Matters. Where it differs from these late 80s-early 90s classics, though, is in the underlying current of dissent and flat-out insanity that flows through the show. I’m talking a less offensive but more random than Family Guy type of insanity.
For instance, the main gang often finds themselves at odds with their arch-nemesis Nevel – played by this guy. Watch that clip yet? That’s exactly how he is on the show. Do I really need to say much more? Ok, he also often references his favorite show tunes and dance numbers… starting to get the picture? What a bizarre choice for an enemy for the main characters, especially when you consider that part of this kid’s motivation for screwing with the gang is to get a kiss from Carly. It’s mind-boggling yet hilarious.
Another example of iCarly’s craziness? How about Gibby?
This guy’s shtick is pretty much to take his shirt off at a moments notice – like a tweenaged Chris Farley. It’s borderline offensive but consistently uproarious. The kid that plays Gibby also has a great sense of comedic timing. I’ve noticed in the most recent season that they’re using Gibby more, almost as an unofficial fourth member of the gang. Smart decision.
Of course, there’s also the list of less-frequently featured characters - from Freddie’s far too overprotective mother (who outside of cutting the umbilical cord has done nothing to separate herself from him) to the bizarre doorman of their building, Lewbert (known for having a gigantic mole on his face and a violent attitude towards the kids). There’s even an evil child called Chuck who torments Carly’s brother as much as he can. The show is quite successful in creating memorable, unique characters that in no way could exist in the real world.
The wackiness doesn’t end with just the characters but in the absurd asides and incidental events that often occur. There’s one running gag where the smoothie bar the gang frequents has a proprietor that is always shilling a different food on a stick – peppers (below), chicken, even tacos. It serves no story purpose but provides a funny visual and cheap laugh. Additionally, Spencer is always crafting random sculptures made from bizarre materials (gummy bears, bottles, butter (see above)). Check out this link documenting the many, many other sculptures he’s constructed.
Now don’t interpret this article incorrectly. iCarly is not appointment viewing for me. I don’t stay at home on Saturday to watch it (clearly, I’m home because of my antisocial nature). I don’t DVR it. However, when I pass it on TV I find myself digging in for the rest of the episode (and usually the one or two episodes that always seem to follow). I do not think I’ve seen every episode; but it’s not like I’m watching LOST.
No, iCarly is not the best show on television. It is, however, an extremely entertaining program that one shouldn’t be afraid to embrace publically. The combination of traditional situational comedy with a dose of drug-induced inanity and insanity proves immensely watchable. The show is stupid, but it’s supposed to be; and I’m no longer wary to admit that I’m a fan.
So, how about you? Let’s see if some of our readers want to admit their television guilty pleasures. If a few of you folks read this entire piece, then I’ll be sure to write more in the future.
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