There’s a deleted scene in “Pulp Fiction”
(available on the Collector’s Edition DVD) in which Mia
Wallace (Uma Thurman) tries to get inside Vincent Vega’s
(John Travolta) head by making him choose between Elvis and The
Beatles.
“My theory is that when it comes to important subjects,
there’s only two ways a person can answer,” Wallace
rambles. “Which way they choose tells me who that person is.
For instance, there’s only two kinds of people in the world:
Beatles people and Elvis people. Now Beatles people can like Elvis,
and Elvis people can like The Beatles, but nobody likes them both
equally. Somewhere you have to make a choice. And that choice tells
you who you are.”
Obviously, Vega is an Elvis man, but the choice Wallace proposes
is an out-dated one. Sure, Elvis and The Beatles were both great
(The Beatles were better), but the key word in the sentence is
“were.” Today’s college students may watch
“Pulp Fiction,” but they didn’t grow up during
the coming-of-age of modern music; we grew up during the
coming-of-age of the modern sitcom. And so, staying true to my age
demographic, I’ll gladly trade music legends for two
legendary sitcoms, both having their series finales on NBC in
consecutive weeks.
Reread the “Pulp Fiction” quote, but substitute
“Friends” for The Beatles and “Frasier” for
Elvis. Or vice-versa ““ it doesn’t matter. The point is
the statement remains true.
“Friends” and “Frasier,” while
collectively representative of an era of television-watchers (along
with the long-deceased “Seinfeld”), are very different
shows. And depending on which one you choose, you reveal a part of
yourself, even if nobody seems to care about the
“Frasier” series finale on May 13.
Actually, let’s be honest. How many of you would even know
“Frasier” was still on the air if it weren’t for
the ads that come on when you’re watching
“Friends?”
“Friends” represents the epitome of production-value
television. From the catchy theme song (Come on, you know you know
it …) and the likable characters to the plotlines that could be
on a soap opera if not for the punch lines, “Friends”
brings together the best of every aspect of sitcom production to
form a sort of über-sitcom.
Those who strongly prefer “Friends” tend to like
television. They understand what makes a good sitcom a good sitcom.
They think Monica is actually funny.
“Frasier,” on the other hand, depends more on its
writers’ wit than its characters’ quirks. That’s
not to say that the characters on “Frasier”
aren’t quirky (one of the main characters is a dog), but the
main source of the show’s humor relates directly to how witty
Frasier and Niles are when they’re talking in Frasier’s
apartment, a Seattle coffee shop or anywhere else. There’s
never a clear “How you doin’?” to resort to if a
scene needs a punch line.
While “Friends” is clearly more popular, there is an
argument to be made that “Frasier” is the better
sitcom. It’s more intelligent, less derivative and more
willing to take risks with its characters and storylines. Still,
Niles and Daphne’s relationship looks a lot like Chandler and
Monica’s. These are sitcoms, not Shakespeare, but come to
think of it, he used a lot of well-worn conventions in his work,
too.
Then again, you rarely see Ross, the most intelligent character
on “Friends,” speaking with the same eloquence that
anyone on “Frasier” does, and when he does, it’s
to make fun of him. The major difference between the two shows is
in how the characters talk. “Frasier” has Niles’
puns, while “Friends” has Chandler’s sarcasm.
They’re both funny but in entirely different ways.
If the two shows were parts of “The New Yorker,”
“Friends” would be Shouts & Murmurs, the short
humorous essay you read and forget about. “Frasier,” on
the other hand, would be the witty cartoons, which sometimes fall
so flat, you need a spatula to pry your sense of humor off the
ground, but other times hit their topics so head-on that you
can’t help but remember.
When it comes down to it, you have to pick one. And that choice
tells you who you are.
Tracer would rather watch “Frasier.”
E-mail him your choice at [email protected].