So... what do you think? Will As the Wrench Turns be the next Masterpiece Theater? Or will Tom and Ray's animated foray into television drag PBS down to levels of programming mediocrity experienced only by NPR, for one lousy hour each Saturday morning?
Share your thoughts right here. And brace yourself for debut, coming to a PBS station near you before you know it.
PACING, PEOPLE! The storylines were OK, the animation was OK, the jokes were a bit scarce, and, most importantly, the pacing was horrible. I'll second the opinion that the directors and/or writers were new to this. If this were on commercial tv, it would be DOA. I liked the occasional references to NPR personages. Please see the comments a few posts down by Dave G., who knows of what he speaks. Your writers need to spend twice as long per episode to develop enough story and jokes. Your directors/editors need to speed up the responses. In real life (as in the radio show) things are much faster-paced, more spontaneous and people talk over one another. As Dave G. asked, just what demographic would want to watch this? Maybe the dim-witted and slow among us would find it fun, and that is probably an under-served group. I'm a bit sorry I watched the whole hour, but I SO wanted this to succeed (and still do).
Unfortunately I was disappointed with the TV show. I am 60 and have been a listener to your radio show for many years. I guess either my expectations were higher or you were targeting a different audience.
I watched for the entire hour. I laughed once during that hour. On the other hand, I listen to Car Talk on the NYC Subway and get stared at all the time b/c I'm laughing so hard. I love you guys, but the TV show ... drive a stake through its heart, cut off the head, and stuff the mouth with garlic.
the radio show is so much more spontaneous. put your mugs on the tv. would be a lot better than the toon. anyway , i'll give it one more try. GOOD LUCK.
While I agree with most of the other comments that the show so far is not very funny and far below what we’ve come to expect from you and your crew, I don’t agree that you should simply “stick to your radio show.” I still applaud you for looking to bring your humor to television, but in order to make that transition work, I respectfully suggest that you need to completely ‘overhaul’ the subject matter of the show.
Why does the tv show almost completely omit the heart of what has endeared you to us on the radio? You guys have made us laugh for over two decades by letting us share your witty efforts to help thousands of people solve real (and often silly) problems with their cars and their lives. THOSE are the types of stories that should be the subject matter of your shows, not absurd contrivances about you running for president (the most absurd point, by the way, being that you would get zero votes!), or ham handed attempts at social commentary (sorry, Doug) about outsourcing. Your show does need IN-sourcing, insofar as you’ve been stocking your own comedic motherlode for years. Start mining there for your stories!. Also, by bringing your work to a visual medium, you can do even more to continue teaching people practical tips every now and then about auto safety and maintenance.
I really enjoyed the new tv show. I watched both episodes twice and I actually liked it better the second time. There are a lot of subtle things going on, and though I didn't feel the first time through, it was a blockbuster program, it definitely is growing on me. One thing I noticed is that near the end of the second show - "Outsourcing" - there appears to be a line or lines that Ray is saying, but it sounds like it is really Tom's voice. Was that a "blooper" that was put in the show on purpose for some kind of trivia game later on? No matter what, I really like the new show and am looking forward to it each week. I hope it stays on the air for a looooong time..
I was thinking about the show some more, and I think the reason some people don't like it, is that this IS different than the radio show. The radio show is about Tom and Ray and the caller, with Tom and Ray doing their thing 90% of the time. With a tv program, there are more characters and actually a story. So, enjoy it for what it is.. a funny cartoon show with a pretty funny story line..
David, it's really hard to believe that anyone could sit through this sorry attempt of a cartoon more than once. I imagine it would grow on you. (Like warts). It seems that you may be the only one that thought this show contained even a hint of humor. I suspect that you may be one of the producers that sank your money into this dud. A word of advice from a long time cartoon watcher. Take your money and invest in Edsel
stock. You'll get a better return, and probably a few more laughs than were attempted by this bomb. This was positively NOT "a funny cartoon show with a pretty funny story line". It should have been named "As the
Stomach Churns" Trying to watch this show can definitely give you a stomach-ache.
Click & Clack: Hang onto your radio show boys. It's more fun than a tree full of owls. In the vernacular of the day, this cartoon SUCKED. (BIG TIME). Try to put this behind you. (WAY BEHIND).
Regards. BIG RED
I agree with the others, what happened!!! I was so trying to like to show but OMG it was really really really bad. We were so excited to see your new show but I am sorry drop the show, it was awful. But I do Love Car Talk. The timing was so off and the jokes not funny, please please please don't show again. Get new writers. You have lost some of your fans with this show but will continue to listen to my favorite show Car Talk on Sat. mornings.
I think the show would have been better if you had outsourced it.
Who are the secondary characters and why didn't you develop them in the first episode? And who can remember the names of the others. Is that Tom's hair or is he wearing a hat?
Was there a plot or even a point to this (mis)adventure?
I've been a Cartalk fan since the beginning of the program. Your TV show didn't live up to my expectations.
Not very funny. Not very well done.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give it a..........well a "one" at best.
I'm very disappointed guys.....
Have you ever seen Howard Stern? All he did was to expand on what worked. (for him anyway, personally, I think his show rates on the negative scale!)
If you're gonna do this thing right, it has to reflect what you guys do best, AND be what is expected by your audience.
I will likely watch it next time (if there is one), only out of hope and respect for you guys.
While I look forward to Saturdays and listening to every minute of CarTalk, I tuned in this week to As the Wrench Turns. I watched the first 15 minutes and couldn't take any more so I turned it off. After a 5 minute break I went back thinking it has to be better. I watched another 15 minutes and it had only gotten worse. The show reminded me of sour milk in the refrigerator. You take a drink and it's sour so you put it back in the frig and then try it later and it's still sour. I love CarTalk but I think it's best to cut your losses right now on the cartoon.
Do not fear and never give up! These comments are on par with what was written about Mickey and Donald when they made their debuts. Please note that both Mr. Mouse and Mr. Duck went on to fairly successful careers and even landed some "serious" roles.