Things that I like

The Sopranos
Quite simply, one of the best. television. shows. evah.

Maybe it's the writing. It's definitely the acting (especially the brilliant James Gandolfini and Edie Falco.)

But mostly? I think it's about the story. And about the way it's told.

Sure, Tony has mommy issues. And daddy issues. And rage issues (on which point, I am reminded of Melfi's observation - likely unoriginal - that "depression is rage turned inwards").

Then again, who doesn't?

But what's consistently rewarding about this show is that it treats the viewer as an adult. It recognizes - and, in in its own twisted, bizarre way celebrates - that our imperfections are what makes us human.

And interesting.

The West Wing
 Sure, it's slipped a little in the last couple of years. And yes, it's true - John Wells is no Aaron Sorkin.

And it's also true that it's almost impossible to imagine how the show will continue without John Spencer.

But even bad West Wing? Is still better than 98.6% of the rest of the shit out there.

Television Without Pity

The perfect, quintessential use of the Internet - as a community-building tool. And what better excuse than television? You don't feel like quite as much of a freak when you go on-line and see that hundreds, sometimes thousands of other people have shared your experience. Whether you agree or disagree (or feel neutral towards) their view, you share something with them. And that has inherent value.

This was also the first place I sought solace after the death of John Spencer (see above).

Old game shows
What can I say? This - along with big band music - is one of my guilty pleasures. Press Your Luck is like televised gambling (the game board even looks like a slot machine). The Price Is Right - hoary and tacky though it may be, and owing more than a passing debt to Let's Make A Deal - reflects the greedy essence of American capitalism. Which is what both fascinates and reviles us at the same time. And Match Game? I mean, c'mon - tell me that no one was on dope when that show was conceived. Or during its production.

Music I'm enjoying at the moment

• Audioslave (totally tweaks my inner arena rock groupie)
• Green Day (or, for the purists among you - good, straight-ahead rock with nods to the Sex Pistols and The Clash among others; what could be bad?)
• John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk Live at Carnegie Hall (the standard against which all other jazz performance should be measured)
• Y108 (after a couple of years of listening to the other guys, I decided that there is, in fact, such a thing as too much Led Zeppelin and Van Halen)
• WDRV (The Drive) from Chicago (for when I'm feeling a little more mellow - complete with reliable streaming audio, except on Thursdays)

Web sites that make you look smart

• Internet Movie Database
• Metacritic
• AllMusic
• Dead or Alive

Comments

[Julie]

Larry,

Your class was thinking of you when we found out that the West Wing was cancelled....

I hope you're doing O.K. with the news...

Julie

[Webdude]

Thanks, Julie. And to your classmates - my deep appreciation for their sympathy, as well.

It's odd, but I really did find myself mourning John Spencer's death much more actively than the passing of the show itself.

Perhaps it's like that horrible moment when you find out a loved one has a terminal illness. That shock can be amost as devastating as the ultimate demise, if not moreso.