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Post by jpen on May 19, 2009 21:30:39 GMT -5
5. I know I am predictable…..what is your favorite quotable quote?Ohh...there are too many to list! This episode is a veritable feast of the rhythms and idiosyncrasies of the English language, and I just love it, from "I come to wive it wealthily" to "Are we married merrily"! And the occasional 20th C asides only add to the rollicking ride (Petruchio: "If I'm lyin', I'm dyin'!"). Just letter-perfect. Not to be sappy, but I think my favorite lines, though, might be Petruchio's speech to Kate in bed: "We be kindred souls, Kate, as mountains to winds. Each of us moves not, though the other blow perpetually. More to the point...I saw me in thee." Sigh! This is probably the best moment of connection for me between the AS world and the ML one. So often, we think of David and Maddie as opposites: spontaneity/planning, emotional/rational, etc., but the truth is, they are very alike in some ways: they are both passionate, strong-willed people who are wary of letting someone get too close. Um, and, oh yeah...they also look HOT in bed together! It makes me ache that we never got to see David and Maddie like this...
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Post by jpen on May 19, 2009 21:33:22 GMT -5
3. Besides the obvious Shakespearean connection, there are many things in this episode influenced by classic television (at least the classics of my youth). Can we discuss some of your favorites?Ah, Warner Brother’s Cartoon music as well as the outlandish dynamite in the suit of armor. The Honeymooners reference: "Bang zoom! I hope they like these jokes on the moon Kate, 'cause that's where you're going!" Yep, I was thinking the same thing, gray...picturing Bugs putting TNT in Marvin the Martian's helmet--hilarious! And thanks for the correction on the quote--I knew I got it wrong!
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 21:38:14 GMT -5
1. Is Atomic Shakespeare a “Maddie and David” story? Do the characterizations ring true? Do we learn things in any prior or subsequent episodes that show up in the teleplay?
I guess i should have made this question a little clearer. To me, this is a "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" type dilemma. While Glenn says that Taming was part of his inspiration for Moonlighting, often times a general idea does not necessarily translate literally.
I think that the episode works remarkably well, and it is fun, which is more important to me than literal correctness. I think that perhaps this episode helps soften the "shrewish" presentation of Maddie in some of the following episodes.
I also like that it takes the starch out of Shakespeare for the everyday man/woman. I truly love the fact that, before the DVDs, it seemed we received emails weekly from educators, begging us to find them a copy of this episode.
I also have a soft spot for the sun and moon images, which fit beautifully, and figure in one of the most beautiful scenes, when David/Petrucchio explains to Maddie/Kate why he chose her.
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 21:43:36 GMT -5
[quote 5. I know I am predictable…..what is your favorite quotable quote?
Not to be sappy, but I think my favorite lines, though, might be Petruchio's speech to Kate in bed: "We be kindred souls, Kate, as mountains to winds. Each of us moves not, though the other blow perpetually. More to the point...I saw me in thee." Sigh! This is probably the best moment of connection for me between the AS world and the ML one. So often, we think of David and Maddie as opposites: spontaneity/planning, emotional/rational, etc., but the truth is, they are very alike in some ways: they are both passionate, strong-willed people who are wary of letting someone get too close.
quote]
Jen...you type faster than me! These are my favorite words of the episode.......the Shakespearean equivalent of an irresistible force meeting an immoveable object.
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 21:49:12 GMT -5
2. How do you like the title? What do you think it means?
I don't love the title. I am guessing that it is a souped of version of Shakespeare, moving it into the 80s, but I am thinking there could have been a more clever title, with the wealth of material they had.
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 21:50:51 GMT -5
3. Besides the obvious Shakespearean connection, there are many things in this episode influenced by classic television (at least the classics of my youth). Can we discuss some of your favorites?
I also hear a lot of Three Stooges in there......and a wee bit of Popeye!
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 22:00:10 GMT -5
4. How did you like the little touches that linked the story to everyday Blue Moon life? Which was your favorite link?
My absolute favorite is the doorway to Petruchio's......done exactly like the door to Blue Moon.
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 22:08:37 GMT -5
5. I know I am predictable…..what is your favorite quotable quote?
There are some definite gems in this episode......besides the one in my signature...I love the repetitions of "WRONG PLAY!"
I also like the writing on the box with the axe..."In case of shrew, break glass".
"I likest a band that playeth the oldies."
"And where there's a will....... there's a won't!"
And almost every line when Petruchio and Kate first meet is filled with great double entendre.
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Post by diane on May 19, 2009 22:17:55 GMT -5
Jen mentioned the script.
The copy of this one I have is commercially available and is the first draft dated 10/21/86 for the episode that aired November 25.
It is remarkably close to what aired. In fact, there are about three dropped scenes, that I am thinking were mostly due to time constraints...and would not have done much to enhance the story.
And then there is THIS one......which speaks for itself:
Kate: If I be a wasp, best beware my sting.
Petruchio: My aim is to pluck it out.
Kate: Aye, if the fool can find it.
Petruchio: Who knows not where a wasp wears her sting. In her tail.
Kate: And how might the likes of you pluck it out?
Petruchio: With my charming tongue.
Kate: (disgusted) Your tongue in my tail?
Petruchio: (shrugs) Hey, it's in the play. So is "bearing" asses, pin pricks, and a hen and her combless cock.
and then....
Petruchio: Thought I'd do them all at once.....make it easy for the censor....but now.....
He lunges across the sofa at Kate.
I'm thinking this didn't make it past the censors, in spite of the moment of recognition for them!
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Post by beesnbears on May 19, 2009 23:28:32 GMT -5
Sorry gang, the game was a nail biter, but we won!! I will tune in tomorrow. Sleep tight.....don't let the bed bugs bite.....
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Post by jpen on May 19, 2009 23:44:58 GMT -5
3. Besides the obvious Shakespearean connection, there are many things in this episode influenced by classic television (at least the classics of my youth). Can we discuss some of your favorites? I also hear a lot of Three Stooges in there......and a wee bit of Popeye! "I yam what I yam....and that's all that I yam..." ;D Love it! Seems to me like the writers must've had a ball with this episode...almost anything goes...but they still managed to produce a cohesive whole. Dang. It just hit me all over again how very, very clever this is.
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Post by beesnbears on May 20, 2009 8:04:39 GMT -5
1. Is Atomic Shakespeare a “Maddie and David” story? Do the characterizations ring true? Do we learn things in any prior or subsequent episodes that show up in the teleplay?
As someone said, GGC was inspired by "Taming of the Shrew", so yes, I do think it is a M/D story. Even though this is not a dream sequence, it does show how David/Petruchio tries to tame MAddie/Kate and while doing so realize they love each other for who they are...kindred spirits, warts, faults and all!
I don't think we necessarily learn anything new about their relationship. And like what Gray said, it is unfortunate that D/M did not figure out their relationship like K/P in the end!
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Post by beesnbears on May 20, 2009 8:05:57 GMT -5
2. How do you like the title? What do you think it means?Interesting. One post on the episode thread mentioned it to be like George Clinton’s Atomic Dogs song by his Funk group with their fancy costumes and over the top acts. Others consider the Atomic part as in Atomic Bomb, where they take the established Shakespeare play and blow it all to hell! I kinda go with the latter. Agree. It was the 80's and Moonlighting....nuff said!
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Post by beesnbears on May 20, 2009 8:13:37 GMT -5
3. Besides the obvious Shakespearean connection, there are many things in this episode influenced by classic television (at least the classics of my youth). Can we discuss some of your favorites?
This episode is so fun!! I was like some when it first aired, all I wanted to see was D/M. I probably did not get all of the jokes, either! Now, I laugh through the whole thing and am more touched by the "kindred souls" scene than before.
Love the Honeymooners, Three Stooges references. ;D
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Post by beesnbears on May 20, 2009 8:17:16 GMT -5
4. How did you like the little touches that linked the story to everyday Blue Moon life? Which was your favorite link?
My favorites were the door slamming and pairing up Bert and Agnes's characters. Also, it was very clever to open and close the show through the TV of the kid who was a ML fan! "That's okay, it wasn't any good tonight anyway!" ;D
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