Life without television

Life without TV is not as bad as some of you may believe. When we moved, I decided that my shitty 19" set was not going to make the journey across country. It just wasn't worth it, I probably paid $50 for it brand new, and its tuner was starting to go I think. I also knew I would be getting new laptop, which would have a DVD player in it, so I could still netflix movies and shows.

Now, maybe it is a function of the age we live in or some other such profound thing, but for the most part, I have lost the attention span to sit through a 2+/- hour long movie, unless it is something I am dying to see. And with HBO and Showtime, and even ABC and NBC occasionally, putting out some good shows these days, my netflix queue is almost entirely composed of products of the silver screen. Let me also say that I just cannot be bothered to actually watch shows, even when I did have a TV, at their regularly scheduled time. For one, I hate commercials, so that right there rules out anything on the networks. For two, I hate waiting a week or more in between episodes. For three, and most importantly, who can schedule their lives around a fucking tv show? Certainly not me, and if you do, you are probably lame and you definitely need to get out more. I think I would like TiVo if I had a nice flatscreen and wasn't a poor grad student. So instead I just rent all the shit I missed when it was on the air originally in DVD form. That way if I want to watch 6 episodes of something back to back to back to back to back to back (is that six?), I can. I can watch at night or in the morning or whenever. You get the idea... moving right along.

Because my little profile over there on the right says 'pop culture critic,' I am going to give you a little rundown on what I am watching these days. Feel free to disagree with my assessments in the comments.

LOST, season 3: I think pound for pound, this is my favorite. I know, it makes no sense and it never will make sense. I know, it starts story lines only to then start new ones and never finish the older ones. I get all the criticisms. But two reasons why I am so damn addicted: (a) because it is a perpetual cliff hanger, which only really works because (2) they do such a damn good job on character development. The whole flashback bit, giving backstory and depth for all the main characters before they landed on Gilligan's Island, is what really sucks me into the show. I love/hate Sawyer, I wanna make babies with Kate, I wanna kick Jack's ass in something (chess, competitive sport, doesn't matter) to wipe that smug look off his hero face. Most of the time I wanna punch Locke in the face or groin for being so arrogant, and then there are times when I think he is the best character on the show. Now, given all of that, I have no doubt that since it is on network television, it will run 2-4 seasons too long, become a mockery of itself and piss off all its real fans. Wait for it. I reckon Season 4 will be the last good season, if it doesn't suck.

Weeds, season 2: Probably my second favorite. I don't want to make babies with Nancy Botwin, because she is a horrible mother, but I do have a GINORMOUS crush on Mary-Louise Parker. Wowza. I totally get how Conrad, against all better judgment, goes into business with a chick who is dating a DEA agent. She's hot and seductive and she sells grass, too boot. The brother-in-law, kids, and neighbors all make for great comedy. Hilarious, smart show. A++

Deadwood, season 3: Got a little too pompous in the third season for my liking. At least once an episode, more often 2-3 times, we'd be treated to one character or another's inner monolougue, as he or she sat there, usually drinking whiskey, talking to hisself/herself about whatever in Shakespearian English. That was just totally unbelievable to me given the education level these folks must have had, since this period piece was set in a prospecting boom town in the the wild west (Deadwood, South Dakota). AND, it was just a terrible season finale (which also doubled as the final installment of the show). I was not a huge Sopranos person--mostly because I started so late I couldn't squeeze in the earlier seasons in time to catch up with the current ones--but for me the last episode was a let down on Sopranos Finale proportions. What a fucking let down. [Spoiler alert] I mean c'mon, shoot Hearst for chrissakes, Bullock, you goddamn wussy. You are supposed to be the baddest mofo in town (ok, well Swearengen was badder, but he didn't share the sheriff's temper), and instead of killing the bastard you just give him the stink eye as he leaves town. Boooo, more violence! You can't end a gratuitously violent show with a goddamn staring contest, just doesn't make sense.

Heroes, season 1: Took me a few episodes to get into this, but I am digging it now. Not too much to report here. They obviously figured out the Lost formula makes for good network TV. Ensemble cast + Good char. dev. + cliff hanger = Entertaining program. Pretty simple, no?

Rome, season 2: As a sort of history nut, I love this show. Critics agree, it's an amazing period piece drama set in Ceaser's Rome. HBO and the BBC (the co-producers) loved it too, only problem was it cost a couple of million each episode to make so they had to scrap it after two seasons. Great actors, historical accuracy in the storylines, and amazing sets make this one top shelf in my book.

Freaks & Geeks, season 1 (and only): I think it was at least a year, probably two, ago that my pal James recommended I add this to the queue and check it out. It was a short lived program on NBC in 2000, written and produced by the now famous Judd Apatow (40 year old v-card, knocked up), that because it as too good for network TV only lasted one season. It is set in a suburban Detroit neighborhood in the 70s or early 80s or something along those lines, and is primarily a high school coming of age type of show, with an ensemble cast of kids who are either freaks or geeks. Think of it as That 70's Show, except intelligent and without a laugh track. In fact, forget I ever made that reference, because this show is actually really good.

I used to watch Entourage but that show went to shit. And if they ever release the second season of Huff on DVD I will definitely pick that up, I love that Hank Azaria (and his wife is hot). I really liked Arrested Development, another show that was way too good for TV, and that was probably my intrduction to netflixing shows instead of movies. Never got into that Larry David bit, for some reason or another I just don't find him very funny. Similarly, I am the guy who never liked Seinfeld. Crazy, I know. What else am I missing? Any recommendations?

UPDATE: I REALLY like Heroes now, I get the hype. I was a comic book fan growing up (ok, still) so I love that whole angle. Also, the Hiro makes me laugh laugh laugh.