“Popular Neurotics” (1984) American Playhouse S3E5
ZBekkah:
I really feel like we’re digging into the back catalogue here and with that comes… odd. I have written before about how I have a nostalgic soft spot for the VHS-to-YouTube pipeline for these weird, old things that almost no one watches (we were views 183 and 184 of this on YouTube after 4 years of this video online!), but this rip was difficult to watch. The audio was bad, the music was distorted, and occasionally (and in the middle of a collegiate gymnastics routine) the rip would just go all black. Anyway, on the “did this hold my attention scale” this scored pretty low. I also don’t really think Jeff and Mimi were actually neurotic (though maybe Danya, PhD can comment on that), but they definitely weren’t a great match. But I guess that was how it went back when you had to shoot your shot with the hotties in line at the ATM instead of swiping on the apps (no judgement to either, though I met my husband online!). If Jeff was in my ATM line, I absolutely would have given him my number tho.
Completely independent of JGMC, I watched The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou a few days ago and I would rather watch it again (and again) than watch this one, if I’m being honest here.
Danya:
This apparently is supposed to be a little quirky star crossed lovers play that is a cross section of all that is wacky and wonderful about new york. It involves such quirky musings as “aliens should have other genders, it would be more interesting” and Jeff not being able to sleep after he has sex because he is TOO HYPED. I stopped paying attention, but it seems like they break up due to a miscommunication? Or something? There are some phone hiijinks. This feels like a Woody Allen prototype. Points though for a lady doctor in the 80s who is smart and funny. Jeff is described as “harmless”, and I see that as he is a big blueberry muffin of a man.