57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)
I’ve been thinking about what to post for T.V. Thursday and as the ideas came through (mostly sitcom-centric) I discovered they all had something in common: they were all shows that have gone off the air. My last TV post was about NewsRadio, a show that is off the air. I referenced Arrested Development, another show – off the air. How long before I get to “Night Court” and “Wings”? Does anyone still care about the high-larious Judge Harry T. Stone? Does anyone still think that Tony Shaloub is actually Italian, since his Antonio Scarpacci was so good? Just me?
I think there are two parts to my dilemma.
One: I have children and if the shows aren’t animated or aimed at kids, we aren’t watching it. We spend dinners watching “Drake & Josh” which at first we just didn’t get and now, after repeated viewings, we have kind of grown to like (much like the time my brother, who owned a boom box when we shared a room, forced listenings of Al B. Sure’s “In Effect Mode” on me – clockwork orange style – to the point where I actually like it now. I also curl up in the fetal position when hearing it but that’s another story.). I enjoy Spongebob possibly more than my boys do as well… but that’s just cause he’s funny.
Two: There really isn’t a lot on right now that I would like to watch. It’s been a while since we watched a show regularly. We used to watch The Sopranos but as soon as Ralph put the beat down on his pregnant stripper mistress, the Mrs. kicked it to the curb, which meant that I pretty much did as well. We recently got into “Heroes” and the first season was really, really good. The second season… eh, not so much. It finally started to get good right when they cruelly had to cut the season short due to the writer’s strike and now… now we have the bane of my existence flooding the channels: Reality T.V. I hate HATE HATE HATE Reality T.V. Now I know that’s a lot of hate to be throwing in or at one direction but, I feel that it has been merited. But really, I should be clear. I hate the fabricated drama of reality T.V. I also hate that I easily get sucked into it. Second season of American Idol… I’m ashamed to admit it but I got sucked in. Hard. I hated myself for it but I managed to salvage what was left of my dignity and root for the fat American Idol and he won! I felt vindicated for a little while… but I still hated myself in the morning.
So where does that leave me? A bunch of shows that I don’t like and the only ones that I do, they don’t make anymore. I guess there’s always the Food Network (Alton Brown FTW!).
That is, unless Spongebob is on.
