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[jay-ell]

Okay kids, let loose.  Personally, I didn't find this feature amusing.  Show of hands, who laughed and why?  

I expect the features will improve with time.

[AugustWest]

I didn't find it hilarious.  It's actually a pretty valid complaint.

[fuddes]

I'm not sure if it was meant to be funny.  It didn't seem like it.  Does anyone know who the other 15 are?  It'll be interesting to see how it continues.  I'm predicting it will bomb, just because it stretches people's attention span.

[jough]

I thought it was pretty lame.  And unfunny.

But if he wants to try his hand at "serious" writing once a week, or once every fifteen weeks, so be it.

Heck, maybe I'll even write something for it.

-- Jough

[jay-ell]

I figured the 15 are the other Achewood characters, and that Big O would be writing for them.  Just me, tho, and I seem to be in the minority.

[Vinz Clortho]

I couldn't decide whether he meant it as commentary, or an actual prank letter, or what.  Also, it wasn't related to Achewood at all; his other writing has been, except for the TV Guide piece at Serializer.  A less than stellar start to the Variety Hour.

And it only took me a minute to read, so that is flagrant false advertising.

[CortJstr]

I figured the 15 are the other Achewood characters, and that Big O would be writing for them.  Just me, tho, and I seem to be in the minority.

That's also what I thought until I saw this and it confused me: "Each Thursday Chris and his Fit Fifteen, a collection of his favorite writers from around the world, will post fresh new pieces you won't see anywhere else. Short fiction, topical essays, verse, cartoons...you name it!"

Edit: as far as how good it was, well, go back and read the first ever Achewood strip. Go on, I'll wait. Was it hilarious? Or was it a beginning, and introduction to grander things? Or was it just confusing and weird?

[ferocious j]

It's actually a pretty valid complaint.

Agreed.

Again, I think I'm going to give this at least a month before I start dishing opinions.  Anything less feels premature to me.

[misterhaan]

I'm going to give this at least a month before I start dishing opinions.  Anything less feels premature to me.

that's what said with my first post on the new board . . . but it was in a different thread

[doomglobe]

I thought the letter to greeting card companies was pretty funny, but most of onstads comics are funnier.  the letter was kind of short if you consider that a picture is worth a thousand words, and it was more watered down than achewood usually is. I have always viewed achewood as distilled, straight up humour, which just plain taps into the core of funniness, and basically makes you laugh even though you dont know why. it is just that purity that lets the funny completely bypass your neural pathways so that you laugh but dont know why you are laughing. when I read the letter to the greeting card companies, I chuckled, but I knew exactly why it was funny.

[MSC]

I thought it was a bit forced, and therefore somewhat lame.  But I am reserving judgment on the Variety Hour concept.  I think it could be a very pleasant diversion.

[sjlimmer]

Even though I didn't get to drag my one-star rating over with we, I'll chime in on this topic anyway.

I did get a kick out of the concept of greeting cards for people who helped you with quasi-illegal activities.  I didn't roll around on the floor, figuratively losing my ass.  But it brought a smile.  Well, a smirk, but let us not ask for miracles, eh.

What are the chances I'll be the first to get banned?

[V-Adore]

I'm of mixed feelings about this week's Variety Hour. There were definitely flashes of funny in the letter, but the wit was so dry as to almost vanish; it felt a little too restrained, and other than the references to vaguely illegal behavior, it read like something a slightly-off-center customer would actually send to Hallmark.

IMHO, part of the problem might be that we're used to Onstad's comedic writing being channeled through the voices of his characters, most of whom are just naturally more visceral. When we're used to Beef and Ray and Teodor and Lyle, defaulting to Onstad's own voice sounds a bit one-off.

Anyway, I'm just waiting to see how this feature develops. This may not have been the best thing ever, but there's potential in the Variety Hour, I think.

(Oh, and to get other stuff out of the way: longtime board lurker, first-time poster, yadda yadda. Always meant to register at Dumbrella, but I never got around to it; figured I'd give this board a try. It's nice to be here, and my thanks to the lovely and talented board mods for all of this.)

[Vinz Clortho]

Has anyone read the stuff Onstad wrote for his college humor magazine?  The letter to the greeting card industry is very similar to that.  

A while ago someone posted a link in the old message board; I have no idea now what it was.

[jay-ell]

Here's a google search string that will take you there.