Another loud voice in the Internet wilderness

I’ve had this said to me quite frequently recently. Just today my friend Ooga was amazed that I don’t watch this.  I tried to get into this,  I really did- but I could not get into it.  I have had similar conversations about Mad Men:

I love Mad Men. I’ve been watching it from the beginning.  Not a lot of my friends have been.  I stopped badgering people about Mad Men when I  realized I sounded like the folks who give me grief about True Blood.  The difference being of course that Mad Men is superior to True Blood (or so I believe-the way True Blood fans think I’m deluded by not watching their show). I’m having a similar problem with the programs on Showtime.  I’ve never seen an episode of Dexter, Weeds, Nurse Jackie or Californication (Which sounds like a remake of the old Brian Benben HBO show. Dream On). I’ve reached out to my local bootlegger Wonderbread Willie who was kind enough to hook me up with season one of Dexter so I  can see what all the fuss is about.

It’s great the way certain shows create water cooler moments the next day. (“Did you see what Tony did on the Sopranos last night? Can believe Samantha fucked that guy in the middle of Times Square on Sex and The City?) I used to think with instant info everywhere via facebook/email and the wonders of modern technology , those moments would disappear but they haven’t.  Instead of replying “No! I missed it!” one can say, “I’ll catch it on demand.”

I’m pretty selective these days about what shows I choose to fervently follow because of two shows in particular: The Class and John From Cincinnati.

Let me start with the latter. When The Sopranos went out like a sucker (don’t get me started), HBO decided to put this on after the season finale. It’s about a surfing family and the mysterious stranger who comes into their lives.  Nothing more needs to be said.  I watched this mess religiously, hoping it would pick up and become less crappy. No such luck. It lasted 10 episodes and got the boot after the season finale.  HBO passed over Mad Men to put this mess on. To think that those of us who worship the breasts of Christina Hendricks might actually have had a chance to see them on HBO. I’m shaking my head as I type this.

The Class- (Google it. There’s a great page on Wikipedia) also lasted all of one season and I loved this show.  So much so I regret not DVR’ing it thinking I could catch up in reruns.  My friend Melissa used to get on me about loving this how because like her beloved Friends it had no black people in it, and I was a hypocrite for supporting this show and deriding Friends. I didn’t care, I loved it and looked forward to seeing it on Monday nights. When it got canceled (and CBS waited until the last minute to do so)   I was heartbroken. Even more so than when the Yanks left 18,000 men on base against the Red Sox in the 2004 playoff series.

So now I approach new shows warily.

I never got into Heroes because I thought a Super Hero show would never last. I lucked out because it jumped the shark after the second season.

Lost I never got into either, but was thankful I didn’t after hearing people complaining about how confusing it had become.

Entourage I was into from day one and am happy about that.

Big Bang Theory? (Or as I like to call it The Sheldon Show) Love it.

How I met your Mother? Don’t care anymore. Ted is the most pathetic bachelor on TV. Neil Patrick Harris is the only reason to even think about watching that show. Yes I know he’s a gay guy portraying a straight playboy, but I buy into the character. At least NPH doesn’t have gossip columnists writing blind items about his “arranged” marriage (“if she stays five years its $50 million for her” , “Her ex boyfriend is the baby’s real father”,  etc.).