NEVER HAS SO MUCH ABUSE BEEN HEAPED ON SO FEW BY SO MANY.
A cartoon Sister Wendy! Ha ha, he, heee! The dog episode wasn’t as good, but what the heck. Keep this up long enough, fellows, and you might wear down the critics. Not win them over, just wear them down.
Urk. Urp.
What’s really ironic is the story lines play off many bad (hi-larious) ideas on how to mess with a popular radio show. The last episode should be about producing a freakin’ bad animated series for public television!
Because Tom and Ray enjoy self-deprecating humor on their web site and their radio show, people are open and free with their criticism. That is probably why Tom and Ray warned us to brace ourselves before watching. I bet when Tom and Ray come back from their summer vacation they will read a bunch of these posts and laugh at the most creative criticism. Big Red’s post above might be one of them. I seriously doubt Tom and Ray will be offended. That is the benefit of having a humble sense of humor.
Tom and Ray are perfectly strong in this show. It’s everything around them that is weak. When they have the focus, the cartoon is actually good.
If you think Tom and Ray were actually good, you are entitled to your opinion. I thought Tom and Ray were in charge of the show, including the aspects that you say are weak. Where does the buck stop? Perhaps their leadership is the weakness. Perhaps there is some hero worship going on here?
I took the trouble to register and sign in just to tell you that your TV show has defects, improper fuel combustion, and four flat tires. I tried to watch it twice. I even liked “Plan Nine From Outer Space.” I can’t watch it.
Your radio show is a gas however, and I listen regularly with zeal.
Your laughter seems, somehow, forced. It rings hollow, and doesn’t quite drown out the cries of the dead horse you’re beating. And isn’t the Sister Wendy reference REALLY dated? Or are there new shows I haven’t seen?
In any event, you’ll never win over the critics and they’ll never convince you, because neither of you is “wrong.” You simply have different tastes in entertainment.
That’s not what I meant. I meant that whenever Tom and Ray were talking, the cartoon was good. And in point of fact, Tom and Ray had deliberately little involvement with this project. That had always been their desire for a TV show: to have as little involvement as possible, because they’re busy guys.
‘Tom’ and ‘Ray’ are personalities, not actors. The interaction of the radio show comes across as forced on the two episodes I saw 7/23/08. While the Al Gore visitation was delightful, the sequencing, animation and timing was lacking. (it sucked, but I was being kind.) Stick to the real(?) world, guys. Your images were made for radio.
Did I fall asleep or were there no cigars to be seen? PC, Brute?
Ha! I’m back. (Waah, that’s borrowed from the dearly beloved radio show.)
I watched two more episodes of Wrench, and don’t plan to watch any more. Boring. Not true to the actual characters. Not very funny. Boring. And did I mention, it’s kinda boring.
I admit I do think the cartoon rendering of Tommy is cute and exactly how I imagine him. But, that’s not enough to squander any more perfectly good hours on these shows. I’ll stick to Car Talk from now on!!
I know what you meant. So they outsourced the management of their TV show. That comes as no surprise to me. Doing a competent job of hiring directors and producers (or a proxy to do it for you) requires leadership too. I know they are busy guys, but like I asked, where does the buck stop? Would you put your name on a TV show without taking responsibility for the quality of all its content? Even if I was too busy to manage it myself, I would find it difficult to avoid responsibility for my hiring decisions. Whether Tom and Ray are directly responsible or indirectly responsible, your refusal to acknowledge their responsibility for the show’s overall quality is interesting.
I like it
Three words: Dumbing Down America
I thought turning “Masterpiece Theatre” (now just “Masterpiece”) into gauzy romance-novel junk and “Nova” (now “Nova Now”) into computerized kids’ fare was the worst PBS could do its long-time viewship… I was wrong…
Sorry guys I’m with the masses on this one - the show needs to go to the crusher. You could consider putting the show on Saturday mornings or the cartoon chanel for the kids. My 8 year old son tollerated it much better than me and it may be a way to hook the younger generation into listening to the radio show. I remain a loyal fan and applaud your zeal to tap new mediums for your talents. Keep trying.
I have been a Car Talk fan for over 15 years and eagerly awaited As the Wrench Turns. After 15 minutes into the first episode I couldn’t watch any more. Such a trite story line. Shame on you for biting the hand that has fed you for all these years.
I’ve always loved your radio show, and now that I’ve seen As the Wrench Turns, I love the radio show even more. The tv show validates my opinion that an hour a week of Click and Clack is just perfect.
On the contrary. I think they owe us an apology.
Believe me, the jokes don’t go over anyone’s heads. The writers have made sure of that by hitting us over the head with each joke repeatedly.
I love you guys; I love Car Talk. I don’t love “As the Wench Turns,” uh, Wrench. This is not a winner–dull and boring. I think a live action show with actors and a script and canned laughter, etc., would do better. Sorry boys.