In her earlier days, she who must be obeyed was a bit of a party animal (or so it would appear from the occasional stories she tells me, which I am sure have already been heavily censored). But years of the crushing boredom associated with living with me have worn her down. She doesn’t smoke, rarely drinks, and her favourite post-work occupation is curling up on the sofa in front of the TV. Naturally, I would rather be out on the town, laying down some extreme dance steps, indulging in a variety of barely legal substances and cavorting with a variety of barely legal women; but apparently the marriage vows do not support such activities. So instead I dedicate hours to searching out suitable entertainment to keep her entertained.
It is the time of year when the Americans have retreated indoors and stopped doing whatever it is they do during the summer months, and the TV channels are launching their new series in search of advertising revenue. A good time to find time-consuming fodder for our evenings on the couch.
Entourage, now in season five, is a light comedy covering the antics of an up and coming movie star and his entourage of hangers-on. Purportedly based on the experiences of Mark Wahlberg who acts as producer, this series is worth watching for the lifestyle, cars, woman, and the well-meaning but ethically dubious talent agent played by Jeremy Piven. Sharp script and half an hour of mindless fun.
Prison Break. The first season gripped us, the second season annoyed us, and we gave up on season 3. Season 4 is a slight return to form, but it is hard to avoid the plot holes. At the end of every episode we declare how stupid it is, but then still watch the next one. A guilty moronic pleasure.
True Blood. Tale where vampires live among us, and are stigmatised in the same way as other minority groups. Alternates extreme boredom with occasional gore and lashings of vampire sex. Vaguely fascinating, your granny wouldn’t like it.
Desperate Housewives. OK, this is she who must be obeyed’s choice; but I have to sit through it and admit to finding it tolerable at times. This season is less fun since Eva Longoria has been turned from a sex goddess into a frumpy housewife. * The Office*. Not the UK version, but an American take which should have been awful but has turned out to be brilliant thanks to the prescence of Steve Carrell, some fine writing, and the appealingly appalling character of Dwight Shrute.
I do look to the UK TV for some content, but they just can’t match the Americans when it comes to dramas. But we do watch* The Restaurant*, where eight, mainly incompetent, couples battle for the right to open a restaurant with Raymond Blanc. Every week, there are cringe-inducing displays of how not to run a restaurant, and hard to understand uttering from Monsieur Blanc who has failed to master the lingo of his adopted country.
When she who must be obeyed is not around, I try to find time to catch up on some other series I have missed. Antony has lent me The West Wing and The Sopranos, both of which are excellent. I am working through The Riches, and I have yet to start on House or The Wire.
Then there are the unplayed PC games, the unplayed Xbox games, the music I need to listen to, the books I have yet to read.
Too many entertainment offerings, not enough time.
Comments 🔗
2008-10-23| Fatbastard saysI’m a big fan of Monsieur Blanc and his series, but where in hell does he find these incompetant people from? Still, entertaining series.
2008-10-25| Billy the Brush saysnot billy but “baby sister” Jan
Try to get a 3 parter called Sunshine - highly reccomended in work and available for money on Play.com and likely all the freebie providers
Sorry to hear of your accident and wish you well
Jan