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Robert Tamayo

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Taking Just Friends Seriously

I've like the Wayan brothers for a long time now. It started when my wife was recovering from a surgery and staying in the hospital for about a week. We didn't have much else to do besides watching TV, and Marlon came on. It quickly became one of our favorites, and the laughs we had for Marlon's hilarious antics helped to get us through that time. It's a shame the show was discontinued after one season.

To fill the void, we started watching the Wayan Brothers, their old show back in the 90s. The first season is absolutely hilarious. It seems the brothers were really able to shine in an environment tailored to their strengths. It seems that the second season suffered from some network interference, but it's still a good show. We actually haven't finished it yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

I think the two brothers are underrated for their comedic abilities. Though they make crude jokes, there is often a layer above them that makes some kind of satirical commentary on societal absurdities. 

For example, in Scary Movie 2, Anna Farris' character tells Malcom's oldest brother that she wants to be "just friends". Every guy knows this is just a way of being let down easily, but the Wayan brothers take this to the next level. Instead of feeling rejected by Anna Farris, Christopher Masterson takes it literally. He starts by immediately giving her a wedgie. Then he tells her to "think fast" and throws a football at her face. He is excited about having a new friend, and treats her in exactly the same way he would treat his male friends. The whole situation is a parody of women's tendency to want to be "just friends," and it shows how ridiculous that would be when taken literally.

Overall, I really enjoy their work. As comedians, they don't take themselves seriously, and their only goal is to make the audience laugh. I can admire that in any comedian.

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