“I’m in the Front Row, the Front Row, with Popcorn . . .”*
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TONY! Or Soul Patch. YMMV.
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I love 24. I know that, in the end, all will be well and Jack Bauer will once again end up saving the world, but I actually have to wait 17 more episodes to see the denouement?
Between 24, Carnivale and Joan of Arcadia, there seems to be some relief from stupid television like American Idol, The Bachelorette and sundry others. The only downer in my triumvirate of greatness is that Joan of Arcadia is apparently inviting the entire Duff family to appear on their show. Great Bah! in their direction from Michigan-land. The show is good enough already – their concept of God is one of the most pleasing I’ve ever seen outside of my own imagination (in which God and Jesus could star in a very amusing sitcom). They didn’t need to pull a publicity stunt to draw in the young masses. As a result, I skipped last Friday’s new Joan and ended up watching repeats of Carnivale for a while. Really, when you’d rather see someone pulling pieces of flesh from their scalp until they pull their face off to reveal Nick Stahl underneath as opposed to watching God make snarky remarks you make a mental note of to use on your loved ones, you know the powers that be at the show fouled up majorly. Yes, that was quite the beautiful run-on sentence, wasn’t it?
That said, no matter my quibbles with casting choices, the action, direction and writing on these three shows are excellent. The actors are all performing wonderfully (teen pop stars excepted). For someone who watches television for a living, it’s a testament to these three shows that I actually want to waste an hour on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays in front of the TV. I can’t say that about other shows, even my once-beloved CSI.
Now, I hope Dead Like Me fulfills the expectations that I have for it. It’s in my brother A’s Netflix queue – I’ve seen one episode on a free Showtime Weekend and enjoyed it. Then again, it has Mandy Patinkin ("My name is Inigo Montoya!) in it – what’s not to like? He was my sole reason for watching Chicago Hope once upon a time.
Okay, time to stop the television with pity blathering and get back to listening to my Brian Vander Ark CD. Big thumbs up to this one – I bought it at Borders in December on impulse. In case you’re having trouble placing the name, he was the frontman for The Verve Pipe ("The Freshmen") – this is his solo effort. I’ve always liked his lyrics and voice; good to run to, good to write to when I’m writing in an honest-to-God journal. Must get back to that.
*Beginning of the chorus to Alanis Morisette’s "Front Row" on her Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie album. Favorite part of the song is when she speaks of raising the roof. Given her connection to Wings fan David Coulier, I always think of the Wings winning the Cup in 1997 and 1998. The CD came out in 1998. Really, it reduces me to cosmic tears. So pure, such an expression. ;)