1) People still really dig the show. We watched the Pilot and 1 the first night; 2 of the 3 noobs are actively excited about the next session, and all of the veterans are happy to be watching it again.

2) It takes a while, for some, until the unusual pacing and the weird genre-twisting clicks into place for them; until then, they're kind of trying to figure out what it is they're watching.

3) I remember now that the show was considered to be super-complicated at the time. To a high degree this is probably due to the storytelling style. People get hung up on why is Donna's mom in a wheelchair? are Shelley and Bobby afraid of her dad? why are there Norwegians? and the plots end up seeming way more complicated than they are.

3a) I guess you don't really see that kind of exposition that they do in Episode 1 to recap events and relationships so much in modern shows anymore. Maybe because shows are more consciously written to be watched over and over now, and it's assumed that viewers will find it easy to backtrack if they want. Missing last week's episode isn't the hassle it used to be; hell, if you miss by an hour it's already on the internet.

4) Apparently Coop is still the coolest guy ever.

5) How do HDTVs make the picture fit a widescreen format? In addition to the side edges getting stretched out as though you were projecting it on the inside of a cylinder, I think a little squashing is going on along the top and bottom edges, as well as a little trimming... Does it depend on the player, or is it the television? (This was a huge Sony Bravia, and it looked great; the upscaling from the player was fantastic.)

6) BOB crouched behind the bed still freaks people out pretty effectively.

7) Everyone wonders why Lucy works such long hours, but nobody wonders about Harry...

Interestin points.

Btw, is that Grace Kelly in your sig?

that's definitely Grace Kelly's entrance in Rear Window (a definite inspiration for Audrey to me)

Both of you have fantastic avatars.

It's been a while since I watched any of Peaks with a group. Probably ten years at least. But it was always exciting -especially the cheers for Audrey and Coop. I don't think I've ever watched the late episodes with a group since they first aired.

oh, how I miss it.

3) People get hung up on why is Donna's mom in a wheelchair? are Shelley and Bobby afraid of her dad? why are there Norwegians? and the plots end up seeming way more complicated than they are.

What kind of group is this?

I had a strange experience the other day when my two friends who generally have pretty good taste just didn't get the show at all and absolutely hated it... even going as far as to say it was poorly written... it's been the cause of many arguments since.

A pal of mine, generally my yes-man when it comes to entertainment, went "Oh my god, 80's" and couldn't get past the pilot. He's 20. It wasn't glossy and fast paced enough for him, I guess. Were we perhaps expecting Lost? I don't know...

3) People get hung up on why is Donna's mom in a wheelchair? are Shelley and Bobby afraid of her dad? why are there Norwegians? and the plots end up seeming way more complicated than they are.

What kind of group is this?

 That's what I was thinking.

(Btw, I think we need a smiley in between and  - the first smiley makes you seem very easily amused)

"Drunk" was probably the common thread.

But you know how there's sometimes there's a person who doesn't trust that things will be revealed, or thinks everyone else has inside information on whatever is being watched that is being kept hidden from them, and they ask for clarification a lot?  Maybe just for the sake of talking?  There was perhaps a little of that going on...

All good people, a bit disoriented from time time, but getting warmer now.

Should be able to knock back a couple more episodes this weekend.

We're done to the end of episode 4 now (Hank's call to Josie). 

1) The drug deal in the woods is about the first time anyone's been able to take Leo seriously as a threat rather than a brat.

2) I think Invitation to Love has made everyone understand that the show is conscious of its own corny moments, and that's granted permission to laugh at the comedy more.

3) Surprisingly, that "comedy" doesn't include Albert yet.  People just think he's a dick.

4) And speaking of comedy again, I never really realized before just how ruthless the writers were with making Leland and Sarah comic characters -- sucking the viewers in with that, and then turning the tone on a dime into something really mournful is something I knew the show did, of course, but it's really standing out this time around.

5) And speaking of comedy again, James just entering a scene has become a punchline all its own.

6) I wasn't sure the effect of the Red Room scene in 2008 would be as strong as it once was, but yeah, it is.  We needed to take a pie and coffee break to let people reset their reality meters before continuing.

7) Folks love the llama.

Enjoying your posts on the subject, Jamie. Curious to hear how the viewers respond to later developments....

BTW, for Helvetica fans, check out this:

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/4123/

1) Jacques's Clue Cabin is a definite laff riot. Red drapes! Music in the air! Blood! There's Waldo! Here's some photos! Twine on the floor! Broken poker chip! All jammed into twenty seconds on the slowest-paced show on television!

2) Leland's dance at the Icelanders' party was pretty comedically popular as well, as were the "everyday, once a day, give yourself a present" scene, and Big Ed's costume.

3) Late-80s sweater fashion has been much discussed, and Maddie's glasses are a consistent target of mockery. I've noticed that a lot of the regular characters have uniforms of one sort or another that keep them out of the fashion trends of the day, which are mostly left to groups like the Icelanders -- and because they're non-natives, they sort of get away with it. I find myself wondering if this was a conscious strategy to prevent the show from aging too awkwardly.

4) Maddie dressed as Laura, at the gazebo, is built like a linebacker. Never noticed before, until someone pointed it out.

5) With Cooper's red-drapes trail, the interrogation of the log over tea and cookies, and the general second-tier nature of the usual crime-solving signposts, the question "Cooper's not really a normal detective, is he?" finally surfaced.

6) One person noticed the way Nadine looks at her wrists in the bon-bon scene, and called the suicide attempt as soon as she showed up onscreen in the prom dress.

7) We've picked up a few more viewers since starting; every week someone finds out we're watching and wants to join, and has to race through the first part of the show to catch up to where we are. We started as six, now we're at nine, possibly ten. From this point on, though, it'll become tricky for newcomers to get on the boat, I suspect -- too much solitary homework.

And thus did we reach the end of season one. Onward into the breach!

I'm jealous of the fact that several people want to watch TP with you, Jamie. I brought it up a month ago, and one person was interested, but school work has put the kebosh on that.

However, a group of people want to introduce me to Labyrinth while they get baked.
Sure, guys. And then we can watch this David Bowie movie I brought...

3) Surprisingly, that "comedy" doesn't include Albert yet. People just think he's a dick.

I can see that after episode 2, but after no. 3 and 4? That's just... bizarre. How can you take "I've had about enough of morons and half wits, dolts, dunces, dullards and dumbbells" seriously? And "I've got compassion running out of my nose, pal!" always cracks me up. One of my favourite quotes.

5) How do HDTVs make the picture fit a widescreen format? In addition to the side edges getting stretched out as though you were projecting it on the inside of a cylinder, I think a little squashing is going on along the top and bottom edges, as well as a little trimming... Does it depend on the player, or is it the television? (This was a huge Sony Bravia, and it looked great; the upscaling from the player was fantastic.)

Whoevers DVD player you are watching it on is incorrectly calibrated.  I just had a huge arguement with some guy on Facebook because he posted a picture of Twin Peaks on his 50" widescreen TV, and I told him it was calibrated wrong... he didn't believe me.

Here's the jist. If you're watchign the show, and it's filling up the widescreen TV, then it's not calibrated right. On my widescreen TV, the show displays properly (that means there are black/grey bars on the left and right). Any other configuration will either crop the top and bottom off to fit the width, or it will stretch the sides out to fit the width of the screen, or some combination of both.

Ebert says it best in his article "It's NOT because it is on TV, dummy!" Here's a link:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/COMMENTARY/70925003

Basically, all these people with new widescreen TVs don't know what they're doing. They get a new TV and want everything to fill it up, even though that causes people to look like Mayor McCheese (ie, people's head's are stretched wider). 

Basically, all these people with new widescreen TVs don't know what they're doing. They get a new TV and want everything to fill it up, even though that causes people to look like Mayor McCheese (ie, people's head's are stretched wider).

I PAID FOR THE ENTIRE SCREEN AND YOU BETTER FILL IT!

My father and my sister both insist on stretching all 4:3 images to 16:9 and it's driving me mental. I don't think they even notice how weird people look any more. Some channels still broadcast non-anamorphically and if my father watches a movie on one of these channels, he doesn't zoom the image but instead watches a stretched image with black bars on the top and bottom of the image! The worst of both worlds. Aaaargh! Thankfully, Norwegian television broadcast even the news in anamorphic 16:9 so it's getting less and less of a problem. But I don't want to ever watch Twin Peaks at his house. I'll lend him an old 4:3 TV if he's ever going to watch it.

1) Jacques's Clue Cabin is a definite laff riot. Red drapes! Music in the air! Blood! There's Waldo! Here's some photos! Twine on the floor! Broken poker chip! All jammed into twenty seconds on the slowest-paced show on television!

Wow, what TV shows do you watch? I'm always astonished by Twin Peaks's breakneck pace in the first season... seems there's a major plot development in every scene. The pilot and episode 8 are pretty slow paced, but aside from that.... Ever seen an episode of Lost? The most exciting, fast paced episodes are nowhere near the pace of any Twin Peaks episode... Sopranos also has a much slower pace, as does My So-Called Life... really I find it hard to think of any serial TV show as fast paced as TP.

QUOTE 3) Late-80s sweater fashion has been much discussed, and Maddie's glasses are a consistent target of mockery. I've noticed that a lot of the regular characters have uniforms of one sort or another that keep them out of the fashion trends of the day, which are mostly left to groups like the Icelanders -- and because they're non-natives, they sort of get away with it. I find myself wondering if this was a conscious strategy to prevent the show from aging too awkwardly. 4) Maddie dressed as Laura, at the gazebo, is built like a linebacker. Never noticed before, until someone pointed it out.

 For heroic knitwear check out the film "Heroes of Telemark". Kirk Douglas gets stride through fjord landscapes, blow up Nazis and wear incredible Nordic knitwear.

 As for the glasses, well Iguess the idea is to disguise SF so Maddy doesn't look like Laura and so when she takes off the glasses we notice the resemblance more. Also, I guess the idea is that Maddy is the nerdy, less cool cousin, hence to prominent glasses - though the log lady's aren't far behind...

And have you ever noticed Lucy's chunky shoulder pads (usually in cardigans)? 

QUOTE 3) Late-80s sweater fashion has been much discussed, and Maddie's glasses are a consistent target of mockery. I've noticed that a lot of the regular characters have uniforms of one sort or another that keep them out of the fashion trends of the day, which are mostly left to groups like the Icelanders -- and because they're non-natives, they sort of get away with it. I find myself wondering if this was a conscious strategy to prevent the show from aging too awkwardly. 4) Maddie dressed as Laura, at the gazebo, is built like a linebacker. Never noticed before, until someone pointed it out.   For heroic knitwear check out the film "Heroes of Telemark". Kirk Douglas gets stride through fjord landscapes, blow up Nazis and wear incredible Nordic knitwear.  As for the glasses, well Iguess the idea is to disguise SF so Maddy doesn't look like Laura and so when she takes off the glasses we notice the resemblance more. Also, I guess the idea is that Maddy is the nerdy, less cool cousin, hence to prominent glasses - though the log lady's aren't far behind... And have you ever noticed Lucy's chunky shoulder pads (usually in cardigans)?

I noticed, too, that Maddie was pretty consistently 80s, with her huge tortoiseshell glasses and such (strangely enough, I found them quite appealing).

As for main characters, Ben Horne is the only one I can think of who dressed pretty "modern" for the time the show was on. His power-gear and track suits were very trendy for high powered businessmen of the 80s (take a look at the movie "Wall Street" and you'll see what I mean). I wonder what the decision was behind making Ben's wardrobe contemporary and dressing "Brother Jerry" like a French-hillbilly pimp?
 

We had to skip a week, but the group at large was anxious to get back to it.

1) Though we've picked up a couple of new recruits along the way (one of whom had never seen it before and crammed to catch up), generally the ones who are complete noobs are the ones who absolutely will not miss an evening.

2) The new/new recruit is really zeroing in on Leland, and is grabbing tons of evidence to that effect, including ideas I hadn't considered before; for example, as an actor herself, she's really noted Ray Wise playing two distinct styles even in the first few episodes in a way I never consciously processed until inspired to look for it.

3) With shredded artichokes, grated parmesan, some chopped-up onions, and some mayo, you can make the most amazing baked artichoke dip, which is fantastic with toasted pita pieces.

3b) Firefox spellcheck doesn't recognize "parmesan". Nor "spellcheck".

4) If my peeps are paying attention to the directors they aren't mentioning it, but the Lynch episodes are definitely the ones that get the strongest reactions and the most discussion. Cooper On The Floor and Senor Droolcup was a big hit.

5) Bobby's Shatnerisms are getting a lot of attention. I'm so accustomed to the meaning and so far past the form at this point that I just take the scene with his father's vision in the RR as a banal conversation that turns touching and gives the Major a new dimension, but Bobby's facial expressions as he becomes overwhelmed were drawing huge laughs on Saturday, and in a room full of fresh eyes I could see it too.

6) Similarly (maybe), while some of the comedy, drama, and tension occasionally hasn't aged well enough to stay effective, Bob Over The Couch freaked people out pretty effectively, So did Ronette's flashback at the end of Episode 8.

7) Nadine's very popular right now, and I'm wondering how far everyone will follow her into the high school scenario.

8) Just you. And I. Together. Forever. In love. Holy crap. Everyone. Singing it. The rest. Of the night. Screaming. With laughter.

9) However, there's no James hate. General agreement with Laura that he's dumb, though.

No Audrey Horne is the coolest?  Back in my day (oh boy, I sound old at 32) we'd cheer every time she came on screen -especially after the Battis closet scene, the cherry stem, and the "I'm Audrey Horne and I get what I want!"

 This sounds like so much fun!

Parmesan with parmesan. Did you capitalize it? It's named for a region.

No James hate, eh? Well they say hate is learned.  

Parmesan. Hey, you're right!

As far as Audrey, folks are a little meh about her. The ladies, anyway... and it's mostly couples attending, so maybe the corresponding menfolk are muted in their appreciation? Lucy's got a strong fanbase, largely despite her lipstick shade...

Since I'm back, I'll use it as an excuse to mention that Andy's Plank Dance and Albert's Gandhi Speech were crowd-pleasers.

I expect a certain amount of James hate will be retroactively applied once She Who Must Not Be Named has been around for an episode or three...

3) With shredded artichokes, grated parmesan, some chopped-up onions, and some mayo, you can make the most amazing baked artichoke dip, which is fantastic with toasted pita pieces.

Try it with fresh sourdough bread. The crustier the better. It's orgasmic.

I wish I had a group of noobs to watch TP with. The closest I can get is the two coworkers I coerced into buying the gold set so I could have their postcards. One had never seen the show before but the other had borrowed my S1 Artisan set in late '06 and was dying to see the rest of the series (after the condition my set returned to me in, I refused to lend him my S2 Paramount set. Grrr). So far none of us has been able to find an agreeable time to watch the show as a group, so they've been each working their way through at a pace of about an episode a week. At least I get to receive their feedback and questions every Monday, so that's nice. One of the guys has taken to watching it very early every Saturday morning before his wife gets up because he tried watching it while she was awake and she'd join him and then pepper him with a million inane questions WHILE the show was still going. He finally told her she was too stupid to watch anything other than Friends. (sounds mean, but I've had the displeasure of knowing her for five years, and she really IS too stupid for anything more complex than half-hour comedies or whatever Nickelodeon has to offer).