Posted by Duke_of_Fluke at 194.129.43.14 on February 14, 2000 at 00:19:16:
In Reply to: Comic relief? Yes, but posted by JewElmo on February 14, 2000 at 00:01:53:
: Stereotypes? No. They are cult comic icons for many reasons, one being their originality. And while they have no real character development, they do have inner selves. They are portrayed as one dimensional characters, but that doesn't mean they can't have motivations for their actions? Pretty much everything else about your point, though, I agree with.
: -JewElmo
I disagree. Being a stereotype doesn't mean that you can't be funny, well-written or without decent motivation. Here in the UK, Jay may well have been the first of his "type" that I saw, but since then, there are so many others, it's unbelievable. Take TV - The Jerry Springer Show is full of Jay-a-likes, usually less coherent, original or witty as our boy, but similar nonetheless. Then there's music, bands like House of Pain, Kid Rock, Korn and The Bloodhound Gang - all of them with a similar Jay ethos. So Jay is a stereotype - the type of frustrated white kid into drugs, chicks, rap n' RAWK.
He's also a typical hapless sidekick stereotype on a simpler level - Lou Costello (I think that's the right one - the short one), Jerry Lewis, etc. Every good double act has the cool one and the uptight one - Jay's cooler than most but he's more uptight than Bob. He's Murtaugh to Bob's Riggs, he's Nick Cage not Sean Connery, Cameron not Ferris, etc.
I'm not saying he's an obvious stereotype, but rather a brilliantly observed, well-crafted and characterised stereotype.
Shit. Must work. Adios!