I have a few half-baked theories, but would like to hear other people's theories. I don't get why this show is so critically acclaimed. The ratings are fairly low for the show, not much better than the ratings for Girls. The ratings for Silicon Valley are around double the ratings for this show. So, clearly this show doesn't really have much of an audience. That being said, the show is showered with critical praise all the time. What gives?
shareLets face it-Veep is the kind of show that some people aren't gonna watch.As far as viewership goes some people simply won't be able to tolerate the language and behavior.Others will find it hard to like a show where its hard to find a likeable or sympathetic character.Maybe some people can't even stand to think that politicians might be as bad as they're depicted on the show.The show pushes a lot of buttons and some people simply can't handle that.Still where I looked the show is doing about 60% of what Silicon Valley is doing and about 400,000 more viewers than Girls.
None of these things,however has anything to do with the quality of the show-the acting and the writing- and none of it makes the show unqualified from praise from critics.Quite the opposite-most of those critcs-I'm sure- watch many more shows than we do and they often praise shows like Veep that are breaking new ground and aren't the same old same old.
And-especially in this day and age-since when is there a direct correlation between viewership and quality.
Start watching it and maybe you'll get it. The writing is razor sharp, it's blurring the lines between reality and fictional politics, the ensemble cast is absolutely brilliant, the showrunner has impeccable timing, I could go on and on. It's not overrated, if anything it's underseen.
Yo Way Yo...Home Va-Ray
Not trying to be rude, I want to learn: how can you tell that the showrunner is doing a good job with timing by watching the show? Are you part of the crew/cast and have an inside look?
shareNot sure why you are responding to me.-I love the show.
shareThe writing is razor sharp, it's blurring the lines between reality and fictional politics, the ensemble cast is absolutely brilliant, the showrunner has impeccable timing, I could go on and on. It's not overrated, if anything it's underseen.
doitlikenikita wrote:
Start watching it and maybe you'll get it. The writing is razor sharp,
Agree absolutely. I've watched the first series and won't be watching any more. The writing is certainly sharp but it's nothing more than obnoxious people abusing each other - not teasing but being downright bitter and hostile. People start cussing among strangers with their first sentence. In real life not everybody is so insecure as to be so relentlessly belligerent and foul-mouthed. The sociology is all wrong, and the result is rather nauseating.
shareThat's not insecurity. It's self-confidence. The writing on the show is brilliant, hence, it's not intended for the many.
shareI root for Catherine and Margie.
shareBecause it's funny as hell. Parks and
Rec never got big ratings either but it would get good reviews , although never
much in the Emmys like Veep
I know right! And why don't Tyler Perry movies win Oscars! We all know that the most poplar shows and movies are always the best and most critically acclaimed. In fact, Critics really do not have a function. Just go by the ratings!
I would say my memory is not what it used to be. But I don't remember what my memory used to be.
[deleted]
This question is obviously a bit trolling, but to answer seriously anyway -- people's tastes in comedy vary widely. Veep has a very fast-paced, intelligent, irreverent style of writing that appeals to the more sophisticated sense of humor critics tend to have.
As anyone can see from comedy ratings generally, that is certainly not the same sense of humor as the public at large, but it is something of a breath of fresh air for people who appreciate that kind of writing and that style of comedy.
[deleted]
Yes! I was about to write that “It’s a shame that this is the Final Season,” but that’s probably not true. Yes, I will miss it, like I miss The Newsroom, another show not meant for the mass market. This is probably as long as Veep should run. The previous season, without the show’s creator who jumped ship to run the vomitously-awful Succession, was uncharacteristically weak. This season has bounced back. Time to go out on top form, and not as a whimpering shadow of greatness.
shareRatings are different than critical acclaim. With movies, the blockbusters don't win Oscars because they are dumb comic book movies, and asinine comedies.
I think VEEP is funnier than Silicon Valley and a lot of that show I understand does really reflect what happens in tech startups.
Maybe next season, when she is no longer Vice President or President, it will lose it's appeal and stop winning. But on the other hand, I have no idea where Silicon Valley is going.
I am just very glad that Modern Family isn't winning any more. I don't know what it's ratings were, but I never thought it was funny.
Why is this show so overrated