"not so much" 'no'

[Joel S. Berson]

At 5/26/2010 12:18 AM, Baker, John M. wrote:
>I believe it was first popularized by Paul Reiser in Mad About You,
>starting in 1992, and subsequently taken up by other comedians.  The
>earliest example of which I am aware is from an episode first aired
>on 9/30/1992:  "As a couch, I liked it.  And as a 'love seat,' not so much."

Are we distinguishing 'not so much' = 'no', 'not any', not at all',
from 'not so much' = 'not as many as', 'not as much as' -- which the
above seems to be and which even I might use?  Or is it 'so' vs. 'as'
that is interesting?

Joel

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