I’m pretty sure Woody Allen is dead. If he is still alive on the inside, within layers upon layers of neurosis, he must be pissed. Because the Guardian is calling an end to his NYC Jewish domination:
Jonathan Ames: The X-rated Woody Allen
He’s depressed, insecure and is crippled by anxiety. He’s going bald, has battled with booze and boasts of his sexual inadequacy. He’s also the creator of the hottest new show on American TV. So when did it all start to go right for Jonathan Ames?
Oooh if that doesn’t make you want to read the article, I dunno what will. What a catchy hook.
Too bad this is all a bunch of bullshit. Jon Ames isn’t an X-rated Woody Allen. He isn’t even half the man Woody Allen is. This is true for numerous reasons:
1) Woody Allen did it before everyone else. He was the first, the original nebbish.
2) Woody Allen always talked about sex. His mind was always about sex and dying. Even when he wasn’t talking about sex or death, you knew he was thinking it. Have you never seen Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)? Gene Wilder becomes a sheep-lover. Enough said.
3) Jon Ames lives in a society inundated by reality tv. Talking about prostitutes or having crabs isn’t anything different than The Situation. It’s not new.
4) I love Jon Ames, but his work includes a few books and Bored to Death. Bored to Death is a wonderful show. But I’m not sure how you can compare him to Woody Allen who has put out more movies about sex and relationships than people care to count.
5) The whole marrying your girlfriend’s adopted daughter, and dating her at age 17? If that isn’t X-rated (in the illegal get your ass in a state penitentiary type way), then someone should tell Polanksi he is allowed back into the country.
6) I’ll give Ames a little credit here. He is king of the NYC Hipster Jews. He doesntt have cable so he asks people via twitter if he can go over to their houses to watch his show.
So yeah, Jon Ames is good and all. And he has potential to be the next big thing. But Woody Allen is king. His dirty standup back in the 60s and 70s and the first two decades of his movie career can only be rivaled by the great man himself, Larry David.
On second thought, let’s wait to see what is in Hipsterjew’s future.
elke
03/30/2011
Jonathan Ames lives a couple of blocks from me yet hasn’t come over for Shabbos dinner… yet.
The Duckman
03/30/2011
I think you have to ask him via twitter. I can picture the dirty Shabbat stories he would tell.
Alex - Resident Goy Writer
03/30/2011
Bored to Death is “the hottest new show on American TV?” When did that happen?
The Duckman
03/31/2011
Since episode 4 season 1
Alex - Resident Goy Writer
03/31/2011
But it’s still only got a million viewers. That’s low, even by HBO’s standards. Are they counting by Percentage of Hipsters?
The Duckman
03/31/2011
Getting 1.1 million viewers in the first season of short seasoned show on an extended cable network is pretty damn good. Especially when you realize they are engulfed by shows like Mad Men