The Problem with Binge Watching

I love the concept of binge watching.  I do not however like to binge watch shows.  I cut the cord with classic cable but still stream entertainment from Prime and Netflix.  What can I say…I’m from the generation raised on TV that started with Saturday morning cartoons and grew from there.

I love the static it creates in my head. Even when I’m not invested in what I’m watching I like to have it on in the background.  To be an adult means you can watch whatever you want and melt your brain and all those weird things my Mom told me growing up.  Reading was better of course but being a dyslexic child I hated reading.  TV didn’t give me that kind of frustration that books did.  However it created other problems.  It was an addiction.  I can’t live without it.

Now they have binge watching.  That’s just pure evil genius.  I can pay for a service that lets me watch, commercial free, television shows and movies.  OMG!  This is heaven, right?

Well, no, it’s not heaven really.  It just compounded an already glaring problem.   I watch a lot of TV and get very little done.  Case in point.  I’ve been binge watching 6 seasons (23/24 episodes per season) of ‘Crossing Jordan’.  It’s a show much like my favorite go to show ‘Bones’.  It started out great.  I liked the premise and the characters but after season 2 they dumped Jordan’s Dad and the story of her 1/2 brother and well I continued to watch anyway.  It was the characters that kept me watching.  It was case after case with little background story line.  What I’m trying to say is it got boring.  I got through five season because I felt that at any moment things would get better.  They had to, didn’t they?

No they did not have too.  In fact, I skipped most of season six.   It was time to end this grueling facade I actually liked this show and just watch the last episode.  The big send off.  It was dumb but at least they all lived.

I also went through this with the show Drop Dead Diva.  I loved the first couple of seasons then it ceased to hold my attention.  Again, after five season I just stopped watching.  I just didn’t care what happened next.  Supernatural has a large fan base that love the show.  I stopped watching after the second season of redressing the same story lines.  Over and over it was the same creepy stuff but I never liked the lead characters.  I moved on.

I’m beyond the middle age point in my life and just can’t continue to waste my time on crappy shows anymore.  The frustration levels I am experiencing over this whole Crossing Jordan mess.  I had to watch Murder, She Wrote episodes to cleanse my mind of what I call The CJ Incident of 2019.

On a good note.  I’m trying to read more.  Just finished another book.  I will never be a fast reader because of my dyslexia but what dyslexia can’t rob me of is my imagination.  Books leave the imagery up to the reader.  I like that very much.

TV will always be a part of my life because I find it comforting.  I just hope to find it less annoying than it is now, lol.

My Panties Are In A Twist

I was reading that The Crown is re-casting the leads to different actors.  Claire Foy, Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby were perfectly cast as the Queen, Prince Phillip and Princes Margaret so why in heaven would anyone mess with that?

Aging the characters isn’t a good enough excuse.  Have the producers ever heard of makeup?  I’m really having a snit over all of this and I know it’s stupid but seriously why mess with what works?  Not sure I will continue watching this Netflix original.  I feel as though this will mess with continuity and really…not interested in that!

2018 Winter Olympics

I do not know why but this year I’m not as excited about the Winter Olympics.  Don’t get me wrong I’ve watched the Curling Matches but other than that I’m just not feeling it!

This saddens me because I usually love them.  I wish I knew what was different this year?

I watched some of Shaun White’s competition last night but found myself switching the channel to TBS and Big Bang Re-Runs 😦   Shaun White won the gold and I went to bed.  Maybe tonight will be better?

Gleek…Better Late Than Never

I have found the best TV Show and it’s over.  I’ve wanted to watch Glee for years but it went against other shows I watched so I never got on the Gleek bus.  Enter…NETFLIX.  The greatest thing about Netflix is the fact one can watch an entire series from beginning to end.  YAY!

I love this show!  The drama of High School mixed with singing and dancing.  It’s like a cool version of FAME.  It reminded me of another show I loved.  Freaks and Geeks was a great show that only saw one season but what a great season.

It reminded me so much of my first two years of High School.  It was 1979-80 and I was a freshman.  It was a time to find where you belonged in a sea of other kids looking for their place as well.  It was the best part of high school.  It can be hard but we all survived even if we hated the experience.  Then I remember the moment that I realized it was all coming to an end.  I was standing on the back stairwell and I looked down the stairs behind me and it was then I had no idea what to expect from life.

I survived it all.  I survived what life had thrown at me (so far).  I can look back fondly and smile.  Reuniting with old class mates and sharing stories like it was yesterday.  Yeah, I like smiling.

Also, I realized both of these shows took place at McKinley High School, lol.

The Theremin’s Making A Comeback

The Theremin’s making a comeback and it only took 50 years.  Bean and I have some odd conversation…like this one.

Me (singing):  Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…nobody knows my…(not singing)…Oh this would be so much better if I had that Star Trek instrument that Sheldon has.
Bean:  What’s that called again?
Me:  It’s a Xenophon or a xylophone or something like that…what’s it called again.
Bean:  When we don’t know something we look it up. (click, click, click of the keys).
Me:  Oh you are looking it up?
Bean:  Yes see me on the computer…you always do that.
Me:  I do.
Bean:  What did you think it was called.
Me:  I don’t know. Xena-warrior-princess-phone
Bean:  It’s a Theremin.
Me:  Oh yeah…that’s it…a Theremin.
Bean:  I know, I just said that.
Me:  They are cool.

Sometimes I just don’t make any sense at all but I think she still loves me anyway 🙂

Later Bean and I discussed maybe getting a theremin.

I looked it up and then I saw you can get a How To Play The Theremin DVD for only 24.95.  Then  I really thought about it and I thought I would easily tired of it.  So I decided to play with my batman stuff instead.

Dexter

We have been watching all of the seasons of the show Dexter recently.  We just finished Season 4 which left me a little disturbed.  It must have also apparently made my wife a little uneasy as you can tell by our recent conversation.

Wife:  “Are you a Serial Killer?”
Me:  “Why do you ask?”
Wife:  “Just wondering…are you a Serial Killer?”
Me:  “No I am not a Serial Killer.  I could never be a killer…there really is no way of getting away with murder these days with Forensics being as good as they are now.”
Wife:  “Oh…Are you sure you aren’t a Serial Killer?”
Me:  “I’m sure I’m not a Serial Killer.”

Really I’m a lover not a fighter or in this instance…a Serial Killer.

DWTS…It’s Not Fun Anymore!

Last night I watched DWTS until I just couldn’t stand it any longer.  Then I watched something else.  Maksim Chmerkovskiy got into words with Len Goodman.  Len, Carrie Ann and Bruno all need to take a reality check.  Maks was right, he should have said what he said and the judges should just suck it up!

This season the judges have been rude, mean and above all else clueless.  Season Eleven was shaping up to be the most promising season of all of them combine for me.  This season the cast wasn’t laden with celebrities who have previous dance training.  I remember in 2010 when Nicole Scherzinger won.  I stopped watching after a little while because it was obvious who was going to win.  For me that is in no way fun to watch.  She wasn’t going to grow into it say…like…Kirsty Ally.  No she was a dancer.  Not formal ballroom but she has had choreography training for her videos and such.

This year the judges expectation of having the 3 people who just are perfect and fun and beautiful defied the reality of what we all were watching.  They gave us a band of misfits who are entertaining to watch…hello Carson Kressly!  You were a hoot!

Len was mean to Hope.  She’s a girl who plays SOCCER…she is not a dancer.  Her routines have been entertaining enough and she didn’t fall or make an ass of herself but while being judged Len with his snickered expression would dump on her.  In essence saying WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE!  He as much said that to Chaz Bono by saying there is only so far personality and public support will take you.

Bruno needs to sit his ass down and stop with the over the top inappropriate comments.  To quote a friend of mine…he’s acting the fool!  I guess the only judge I do not have a problem with is Carrie Ann.

Don’t get me wrong the judges do not need to have a lovefest with the dancers or the celebrities.  Constructive critism is always a good thing.  Instead Len is mean and sometimes surly because he’s been doing this for 50 years or some garbage.

Maks…you were correct last night.  You said this is an entertainment show.  When Len is being Len I’m not entertained.  I’m annoyed.  When I’m annoyed I won’t watch.  Maks wants me to be entertained not annoyed.  He wants to protect his celebrity partner from the harshness of Len and Bruno.   That is his job and he’s good at it.

Maybe we need a week of guest judges.  Just saying!

DWTS: The One Where Cher Is FABULOUS!

I wonder if I watched DWTS last night because I love the show so much or because Cher was going to be in the audience?  Okay both I guess.  So here is my break down of the show.

First…why do the judges love Rob Kardashian so much?  Yes he’s slowly improving but not enough to make him Super Rob.

The music choices were as challenging as a Chopped Mystery Basket with Squid Ink as one of its ingredients.  Here are my notes.

• Ricki Lake/Derek – This girl can dance!  She’s my pick for the big dance.  Ricki is lucky because Derek is a perfectionist/genius.  Their song to dance to was the theme to Psycho and their dance was the tango.  It was AMAZING!!!  Unlike some of the oddities we witnessed earlier in the evening it was a masterpiece!  Well done!
• Carsen Kressley I love you and your boyish charm.  Don’t ever stop being fabulous.  Your rendition of Pirates of the Caribbean was comical and delightful…I just couldn’t figure out what dance you were actually doing.  I give you a 10 on entertainment and a 7 for the actual dancing.
• Chaz sweetie…you have heart but are sorely lacking in any rhythm.  On a side note…you have tiny feet and it makes me giggle like a school girl.
• Poor Hope Solo…she has potential…she needs to just give in to Maks and let him drive the truck.
• Nancy Grace you were robbed and beat up by the Judges.  Your performance was amazing.  I’ve been shocked by you each week.  I may not like your show but I like your dancing 🙂
• Chynna…sweet Chynna…get out of your head…think like a Baldwin.  A twinkle of the eye, a skip in your step let the dance fairy guide you.
• David Arquette…your daughter is cute and your ex-wife is cute.  That’s all I have for David Arquette.  Oh and hey did you see his sister Patricia cheering for him…I really liked her show Medium.
• JR…I love you.  Your dance was fun and I loved it like I love you.  This is my lovefest!

All and all it was a groovy good time made all the better by her awesomeness Miss Cher.

p.s. 2-Broke Girls is hysterical and if it gets canceled I’m never watching CBS again…well except for NCIS!

DWTS – 2011 – Week Two

Chaz Bono lives to dance another day.  Yeah for Chaz.  He’s not the best dancer but there are way worse dancers on the show right now that should be eliminated before him.  So yeah for you Chaz.

Best DWTS quote of the week come from Chynna Phillips.

“Sorry Jesus I have to curse.”

It’s okay Chynna…I’m sure Jesus understands.  I think Chynna has what it takes to make the finals but its early on and anything can happen with the public voting.

The bottom two were okay with me this week.  David Arquette is entertaining but he’s not a natural dancer and Elisabetta should stick to the runways.  If found that the most glamorous models they’ve had on the show have limited natural rhythm.  Weird…their profession requires such grace but as I found out from Rob Kardashian there is a difference between WALKING and DANCING.

On to Rob.  The judges loved him…I did not.  He walks when he’s supposed to be dancing.   Right now he looks like a square peg in a round hole.

This week Carson wasn’t so great but he’s fun to watch and it’s too soon for my man to go.  He makes me want to tune in next week just to see what he’ll do next!  I LOVE YOU CARSON!!!

The top of the pack is definitely Hope and Ricki Lake.  Hope had an awful costume and horrible shoes.  Over all she was just okay.  Her outfit did nothing to help her situation.  Bean said she thought if she had been wearing a dress we wouldn’t have noticed the stiffness in her legs so much.  I totally agreed.  She’s dancing with Maks so she should do well.

Ricki’s got Derek so again I’m not too worried I think she’ll just get better each week.  But I’m most excited by JR Martinez!

JR played Brot Monroe on All My Children but beyond that he’s having so much fun with it all.  He’s got a great partner in Karina and I just love him!  I want him to win the trophy!  He’s a soldier who fell into an acting career after the most unthinkable thing happened to him.  He’s one of us who worked hard for a dream and never let life get him down.  Oh and that boy can DANCE!  I don’t care what the judges said about his performance this week…JR was AMAZING!!!

Judge observations this week.  I’m glad that Bruno kept his shirt on because that was just scary stuff!  Len needs a nap because he’s getting cranky and Carrie Ann has been extremely agreeable and happy since she got engaged 🙂

It’s September Bring on the New Shows

Last night kicked off the new TV Season.  It is September that dictates what and if I will be watching the telly for the rest of the year.  Don’t get me wrong I’ve got my favorites:

• Chopped (It always makes me hungry…even when one of the secret ingredients is Squid Ink)
• Pawn Stars
• Ghost Hunters
• Storage Wars/Parking Wars (These shows are interchangeable for me…A&E has got the wars)

I’m a big Buffy fan from back in the day.  I named my dog Willow if that’s any indication of how much of a fan I am.  I was also a big fan of Sarah Michelle Geller when she played Kendall on All My Children.  The kid’s got talent.   Last night her new show Ringer premiered on the CW.  I’ve got to say…I wasn’t wowed by the promos but I’m glad I watched last night.

This show is filled with intrigue and mystery.  SMG plays twins and just when you think you have a feel for the characters another twist is revealed.  Loved it, can’t wait for next week.

Next week brings on Season 9 of NCIS…Wahoo!!!