If you ask me the state of TV shows these days is pretty pathetic. Pretty much every channel runs reality shows, or "CSI: Nepal". There a couple exceptions of course - like The Family Guy(which doesn't really even count as a sitcom) or Reno 911 but the lack of good writing and good ideas is so glaringly evident I almost feel sorry for the networks.
That being said two new shows have shown up that have won me over. Both of them are part of the FX network lineup so you'll have to have cable to watch them.
The first show is "Starved." I have heard people describe it as Seinfeld but with eating disorders. While I can see where someone would draw this comparison they are doing a huge disservice to the show.
It has gotten some major flak in the media for "poking fun at eating disorders" but most of these media types like to leave out the fact that the creator/writer/main actor in the show himself struggled for years with an eating disorder, so it's not like he isn't writing from experience.
What I can say about the show is that it is absolutely hilarious, at times incredibly crass, and at other times incredibly moving. I can't recall a 30 minute show that managed to make me laugh out loud multiple times and shake me emotionally through its underlying seriousness. You might find that in an hour show if you're lucky but a 30 minute show that has commercials? - that's good writing. Any way if you can handle crass humor (one episode involved colonoscopies and another had a minor story line where the main male character accidently injures himself when he decides to shave, eh hmm, down there).
The second show I've really been enjoying is called "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". This one is just plain funny. Three Guys and One girl run a irish bar in a run down area of Philly. You can view promo clips of the show at fx's website which will do a better job of describing it than I will.
Sitcoms
A Million Little Pieces
Part of having this month break before starting school that has been nice is that I have had a chance to sit down and do some reading - something that I really haven't be able to do for a while.
I just finished a book called A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. READ IT. The book is excellent. It is a memoir, and starts of with the author waking up covered in vomit and blood, with a huge hole in his cheek, his four front teeth missing, and sitting on airplane with no idea where he has been or how he got there. It is his story of his six weeks in one of the best rehab clinics in the country. He is as he says "A Drug addict, an alcoholic, a criminal."
The book is brutal, vivid, honest, and true (in every sense of the word).
It haunted my thoughts since I began reading it, and it has continued to do so since I finished it.
It is at times funny, but always serious and thought provoking.
You don't have to take my word for it though here is a link that has an essay written by James Frey, but also a collection of some of the emails sent to him from people who have read his book:
http://www.anovelview.com/james_frey.htm
A couple of the emails:
I'm not an alcoholic, an addict or a criminal but this book meant so much to me The honesty, truth and simplicity that emanates from it is absolutely shatteringThank you and happy late birthdayCarma from Beirut, Lebanon
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thank you for pulling from my head and my heart what I could not form into words. It was like reading the teleprompter of my thoughts, my life, my pain, my journey. The words flowed without the constriction and confines of literary rules and was just REAL. TRUTH. The inconcievable made material. I am sending a copy to my family so that they can see inside the nightmare that is my mind; thank you James Frey for giving them this window.....
Courtney
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I’ve never been addicted to anything other than potato chips. Never understood addiction or addicts, other than I despised both. I’m about as close to Mrs. Cleaver as you can get –a lifestyle I chose in an effort to work as hard as I can to make sure I’d never be like my mother, who is an addict. She infuriates me, saddens me disappoints me, worries me and I love her in spite of what she does. I’m as close as I ever will be to getting it thanks to James’ book. But the sad truth to reconcile is that my mother may never get better. Lily’s outcome made me cry from the depths of my being. Not to sound hopeless, but the truth I realized in this book is an addict must simply chose or not chose their drug of choice all the while wrestling with the drug’s mental and physical hold on them. I can see why many more fail than succeed. I can better see my mother for the human being she is, rather than the addict I’ve written her off to be. I don’t know what steps I’ll take towards her, but I’ll make some with a smarter head.This book will be required reading for my two boys, once they are old enough to grasp it. Thank you, James - I’m thankful I came across your book. Holly AbshireFairbanks, AK
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There are many more but take a look for yourself. Best book I have read in a while.
Dungen
On a whim I picked up an album by the group Dungen yesterday called Ta Det Lungt.
It's great stuff!
The best way I can describe it is Jimi Hendrix meets The Kinks.
This guy sounds like he could have stepped out of the 60's. The music encapsulates everything that was good about 60's rock and psychadelia. Better yet, he doesn't sound like he is just imitating the style, he embodies it and this is a very subtle yet important difference.
The musicianship is exceptional as the main guy is very well trained in multiple intstruments.
As far as the lyrics go, well it is all in Swedish so you can't understand a thing(unless of course you speak Swedish). Some native speakers have said that his lyrics aren't very intricate or complex, so in this case ignorance is bliss I guess.
Either way there is a nice mix of lyrical songs and pure intstrumental tracks.
If you are curious you can actually watch a video for the first track of the album here: http://videos.antville.org/stories/1183536/
I'd highly recommend you check them out.
More Good News
I just heard from my realtor and it turns out the place comes furnished, so I will have a matress, futon, closet, chair, and potentially a desk as well.
This is really great news for me since I did not ship my furniture out since it would probably have cost more for me to ship my furniture then it would to just buy new stuff.
Now I don't have to spend any money on furniture! This of course makes me really happy.
Everything just seems to have fallen into place with this room - one less thing to stress about =).
Pictures of my place
Well, after owning my camera phone for 4 months I have finally figured out how to send pictures to my computer.
So I thought I would take advantage of this feature and show you a few pictures of the place I will be renting.
The top two pictures are taken looking right and left down the street that my room is on, and the bottom picture is of the front of the building I will be living in. My room is on the second floor (those bayside windows on the right are my room.
The other good news is that since I will not be able to move into Sept. 1st my father has been kind enough to let me unpack my computer, so I will be able to regularly update things in the meantime.
Progress
Well I found a place to live! Unless something goes drastically wrong I will finish the paperwork the beginning of next week and be able to move in on Sept. 1. It's a nice little place in a really good area of town that is within a 15 minute walk of the BU campus. The downside is I have to use a laundrymat, although there is one less then a block from the room, and you are not allowed to cook in the building. Considering I barely cook to begin with, I'm not really bugged about the cooking part. There are a lot of nice little resteraunts within 5/10 minutes walking distance, so it's not like I can't find food and of course I can continue to make all kinds of sandwiches, produce etc which can be stored in the fridge they provide.
All in all I am really happy that I stumbled upon it (quite by accident) now I just have to wait a couple weeks before I can actually move in =(.
Well I'm Here in One Piece
Flight went ok yesterday and I am here in one piece. Now I just have to find a place to live. I've got a month to get things all in order so I am sure things will go well. Will be back soon!