MickeyBrains
In any given group pf people one can usually pick out the usual "types." There's the heart, the person who actually holds the group together. There's also the leader- sometimes the same as the heart but not always. Then, sometimes, there's even the brain(s) of the group.
Even a passing familiarity with C-SPAN will tell you that not every group is actually blessed with anyone who could be said to be the "brains of the group." And just to even things out, some groups will have more than one.
Groups on TV are like groups in real life this way. On Star Trek everyone recognized Spock to be the brains of the group- or at least the brains of the landing party. A good argument could be made that Scotty was also part of the brains of the Enterprise crew. Scotty's miracle fixes pulled their collective asses out several times, and his expertise was vital to keep the lights blinking in the right order.
Sometimes it's a bit tricky; on Family Guy Stewie is certainly a genius- but he's an evil genius, using his genius to plot Lois' death and to conquer the world. The real brains of the family are Brian. After all, who would you rather rely on? Brian drunk off his ass, or Peter on his very best day?
Then there's a show like House M.D. where all the regulars are very bright, though in this case Dr. House is so brilliant in puzzling out the diagnosis that he stands out in the brains category. On the other hand, almost the entire rest of the cast has had to act as the "heart" at least two or three times to hold the group together against the pressure of House's misanthropic personality.
In sitcoms there's an endless, soul-corroding list of shows where no one could be considered the "brains," not even among the production staff. Very rarely a crew of clueless incompetents can be done funny (e.g. Police Squad!, which was the basis for the Naked Gun movies) but too often the sitcom is left to keep re-re-re-repeating the same joke that simply wasn't funny enough the first time. Most of us have to deal with brainless morons- induhviduals or in packs- often enough for their entertainment value to be worn out already.
And again, just as in real life, having a brain in the group doesn't necessarily mean that the others- or even the leaders- will listen to them.
Even a passing familiarity with C-SPAN will tell you that not every group is actually blessed with anyone who could be said to be the "brains of the group." And just to even things out, some groups will have more than one.
Groups on TV are like groups in real life this way. On Star Trek everyone recognized Spock to be the brains of the group- or at least the brains of the landing party. A good argument could be made that Scotty was also part of the brains of the Enterprise crew. Scotty's miracle fixes pulled their collective asses out several times, and his expertise was vital to keep the lights blinking in the right order.
Sometimes it's a bit tricky; on Family Guy Stewie is certainly a genius- but he's an evil genius, using his genius to plot Lois' death and to conquer the world. The real brains of the family are Brian. After all, who would you rather rely on? Brian drunk off his ass, or Peter on his very best day?
Then there's a show like House M.D. where all the regulars are very bright, though in this case Dr. House is so brilliant in puzzling out the diagnosis that he stands out in the brains category. On the other hand, almost the entire rest of the cast has had to act as the "heart" at least two or three times to hold the group together against the pressure of House's misanthropic personality.
In sitcoms there's an endless, soul-corroding list of shows where no one could be considered the "brains," not even among the production staff. Very rarely a crew of clueless incompetents can be done funny (e.g. Police Squad!, which was the basis for the Naked Gun movies) but too often the sitcom is left to keep re-re-re-repeating the same joke that simply wasn't funny enough the first time. Most of us have to deal with brainless morons- induhviduals or in packs- often enough for their entertainment value to be worn out already.
And again, just as in real life, having a brain in the group doesn't necessarily mean that the others- or even the leaders- will listen to them.
