Separated at Birth?
I had a hankering for some comedy at lunch yesterday and decided to watch an old episode of Newsradio on Hulu. It was the one where Jimmy James faked his…
Dancing on Carrie’s Grave
A photocopy from a 1998 "Word of the Day" calendar hangs on a wall in my workspace. The word for January 13 of that year is "schadenfreude." enjoyment obtained from…
Book Review: Born Standing Up
I have had satellite radio for some time now. The main comedy channel plays a fascinating variety of performers. Once in a while, they will play an old routine from…
Bumper Car Commute Within Reach
After almost 10 years, I have simply accepted my commute to Baltimore as a fact of life. I don’t even notice when co-workers talk about sleeping in until 7 a.m.…
#$!&@* the Heck?
NBC announced its new fall schedule over the weekend. The good news is that we are in the post-Jay Leno experiment era. The bad news is that the people who…
Book Review: Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About
I don't remember if I learned about Mil Millington through his website or his book first. Both have the same title - Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About.…
Making Myself Useful
I don’t like yard work. I spent a number of years trying to find euphemisms to look less lazy, but I have come to grips with this reality over the…
A Successful Date
Some things sound too good to be true. Take, for instance, the pairing of Steve Carell and Tina Fey in "Date Night." They both have honed their skills on well-regarded…
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
I generally try to avoid conflict. That comes naturally after growing up with four older brothers. It’s my survival mechanism.
I have extended this philosophy a little too far sometimes. I even don’t like to get in arguments with my TV shows.
When they have a plot that doesn’t interest me, I sit idly by far too often. When a new character comes in and ruins the chemistry, I bite my tongue.
Because of this loyalty to the shows I choose to follow, I tend to hang onto them a little longer than I should. I sometimes get angry at myself for sitting through a program out of sheer habit.
That has started to change, however. I have my own little version of attention deficit disorder to thank.
I broke up with two shows this TV season. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both are hour-long programs. I just don’t know how much I care about a program that needs 60 minutes each week.
Two Dimensions Are Fine
I take few things more seriously than my entertainment. That’s why I’m very close to having a big problem with the industry that makes me so happy.
Every generation has to find new ways to push the envelope. I completely get that. If no one took chances, the entire humor of “Superbad” would have passed right by us because that kind of shtick just doesn’t play in a silent movie.
I’m not saying the fine folks who bring us movies and television shows need to rest on their laurels. I’m just saying, enough with the 3-D stuff already.