Day 28 – First TV Show Obsession

As a lifelong fan of TV, it's hard to gauge what my first TV show "obsession" was.  Should I go with something from childhood like My Little Pony or Strawberry Shortcake?  What about a show I watched mostly in reruns, like Saved By The Bell (which most kids of the 90s know aired every day 4 times a day, and you betta believe I watched all 4 episodes daily, which means I have seen every episode of the OG SBTB at least a billion times) or Boy Meets World?  For this, I decided to go with the show I chose for me as Must See TV, even though the ads told me that's exactly what it was.

Friends

This was another show I watched with my family, but it was one of the first shows I really chose to watch that made me feel like a grown-up.  It wasn't a sitcom with kids my age in it, and occasionally there would be jokes that went over my head, but it was my appointment show.  Seeing as I was a busy kid in high school, it was hard to have appointment shows (what with the band practices or play practices or chorus practices or clarinet lessons getting in the way) (yes, I was that artsy kid), but this was the first.  It also helped carry me through my freshman year of college, which is always a weird, weird year.  My roommate and I would watch the late night syndicated reruns, and it was one of the first things we bonded over.  I still think of her every time I see The One After The Super Bowl.  It also also helped carry me through another tough time in life.  I was there for them, and they were there for me too.

Another fun fact: I'm somewhat of a Friends trivia genius.  I have retained a ton of information about these 6 characters, which is sad considering they aren't real people.  Oh boy, I may quote Scrubs a lot, but this show... this is my home base.  Brother once tried to challenge me to a duel.  He lost, though not by a landslide.  He was a worthy opponent.  I still kicked his ass, though.  So, take that.

credit to fyeahfriendsgifs.tumblr.com

Rumors circulated recently about a  Friends reunion.  Personally, I wouldn't want that.  I loved this series, even in its not-as-funny years (though, that 9th season finale!! SO funny!), but I think it ended on a perfect note for itself.  Everything doesn't need a reunion just because.  It would be fun to find out what the characters are up to now, but it wouldn't be the same, and it shouldn't be forced.

In closing, one thing I do when I'm feeling down or blue is watch blooper reels on YouTube.  I definitely frequent the Friends ones, because Matthew Perry is legit hilarious and Lisa Kudrow has a GREAT laugh.  I've watched them so many times, but I always laugh.

Day 02 – A Show That You Wish More People Were Watching

I like to believe that I have pretty standard taste in TV shows, but it's constantly proven to me that I don't.  This is especially true when it comes to sitcoms.  While I can find comfort in a show that uses the same tropes since Ozzie and Harriet graced the screen, I usually find that sort of thing to be boring and unfunny.  Show me something new, TV show.  Don't go for the obvious joke.  Earn my laughter.

There's been one show over the past few years that has done all of these things and more, and it always on the verge of falling into the nothingness.  That's why my show that I wish more people were watching IS:

Community.

I will admit that something's been a little off since it returned in February (which, incidentally, was also October 19th), but those first three seasons... well, that was a sitcom like they had never been done before.  It poked and pointed at the genre to find what makes it tick, and then it made fun of it.  The kicker for me is that it airs against The Big Bang Theory, which always kills in ratings and which I don't find to be funny in the least.  I've watched multiple episodes, and I just don't enjoy it.  They go for the easy joke while Community goes for "Remedial Chaos Theory."

If you haven't already, watch some Community.  At least watch "Remedial Chaos Theory."  If you don't laugh during the timeline when Troy gets the pizza... well, I don't know if we're allowed to be friends.

from thebrittaoftimelines.tumblr.com

30 Day TV Challenge Day 01

March sure did sneak up on me.  For the past 2 Marches, I have done 30 Day Blog Challenges, and I didn't want to drop the ball!  So, even though I've been the worst blogger ever lately and even though I'm not sure if anyone even checks these out anymore (um... do you?), I've decided, MARCH MEANS CHALLENGES.  I've done music, I've done books.  What other form of media do I adore and talk about a LOT?  Um... oh that's right: TELEVISION.

Without further ado, I bring you:

Day 01: A show that should have never been canceled

This has always been a problematic phrase in my opinion, because what "should" and "shouldn't" be canceled are two very objective things.  I don't think lots of shows should have been canceled, but with hindsight, I'm glad that they were so those actors could go onto better things or that show can be remembered as being something greater due to its limited selection of episodes (the latter is why Firefly isn't my choice right now).  I decided to go with one show (and one honorable mention) that didn't get the chance it deserved by the people running the network.  They didn't listen to the critics, they didn't listen to the audience, they ignored the multitude of awards, and they unceremoniously tossed it into the TV Graveyard.  At least it was only mostly dead.

Of course, I'm talking about Arrested Development.  Maybe the show would've lost some of its fire a few more seasons down the line.  Maybe we wouldn't have loved it with the great nerdy fervor that we do.  However, I don't believe Fox understood the show nor did they give it the opportunity it truly deserved.  They prematurely shot their wad on what was supposed to be a dry run if you will, so I'm afraid they had somewhat of a mess on their hands.

Thank goodness for Netflix who will come in and help change many of those poorly chosen words.

Honorable Mention

from thesearemyfavorites.tumblr.com

Just trust me on this.  Do you love Adam Scott?  And Lizzy Caplan?  And Ken Marino?  And Jane Lynch?  I know you do.  You also SHOULD love Martin Starr and Ryan Hansen.  You should've watched this show when you had the chance... except Starz didn't tell anyone it was on.  Stupid Starz. I'm positive all of these actors have moved on to bigger and better things, but you should really see them all together, hating everything, serving hors d'oeuvres in their pink bowties. 

[Fantastic Five Fridays] Five Shows You Were Referred To By Other People

It's Friday, I got a job, I got other things I need to write BUT I was in the mood to blog and The Weekly Enthusiast has yet ANOTHER great topic and so here I am again.  Should I really be writing when I'm the creator of sentences like that one?  It's too late now because here I gooooooooo.

Since I am kind of crazy about TV, I usually choose my own shows and make recommendations to others.  That's why it's so fun when people recommend shows to me.  It's like they know me or something!  Here are my top 5 (except it's really 6) shows as recommended by people who get me.

1. Lost and The Office.  Referred by: The Hubs

Yes, I know that's two shows.  No, I don't care.  I decided to lump these two together because they were both recommended by the same person, and they both seem to be following the same course.  That is, they started out strong but haven't kept that same momentum as the years go by.  We've basically stopped watching The Office but I'm sure we'll put in the effort to see the finale.  It's just... not the same.  Though, of course, I do still love Jim and Pam.

As for Lost, well... the first season of that is one of the best ever.  I kept with it much longer than The Hubs did, though I tried to break up with it in the third season and then Jack was all WE HAVE TO GO BACK and so I said OKAY LET'S GO.  

stinking beardy jack and his jears.

2. True Blood. Referred by: my brother and sister-in-law

During the summer of 2009, I took up residence at my brother & sister-in-law's house while Hubs and I looked for a place to live.  This coincided with the second season of True Blood.  Bro & SIL thought it might be up my alley, so they invited me to come watch it them.  My first episode was Episode 2.02 "Keep This Party Going," which begins with a disembodied arm spurting blood and smacking a character in the face. A character who is chained to a pole in a dank, dirty basement somewhere.  I was like, humna?  Oh, it cracked me up.  True Blood is pretty nonsensical, but if you're read the books... well, you knew that was coming.

Cheers, hookas.

3. 30 Rock. Referred by: my OTHER sister-in-law.

Back when this first premiered, Hubs and I gave this a shot.  It just didn't work for us then.  So I ignored it, despite all the Tina Fey references.  So last Thanksgiving, OSIL is like, Jessica, honestly, you need this.  YOU NEED THIS.  And the rest, as they say, is something about night cheese.

4. Doctor Who. Referred by: my aunt, uncle, and cousins

Technically, they didn't refer it to me so much as they watched when I was in their house and I was like, ooh this looks kind of random, and then they kept on watching it every time I was there and then Christopher Eccelston was on Heroes and I sort of adored him and then it was on Netflix so I thought, what the hey?  I still have so many episodes to watch because Hubs decided to take this show over with a vengeance, but I still love it.

Why, hello there.

5. The West Wing. Referred by: pretty much everyone ever

Everyone needs to watch this show.  It's the best.  The cold opens are some of the most exquisite moments that television has ever given us as people.  Watch it.  CJ Cregg, I love you.

[Fantastic Five Friday] Five Favorite TV Kisses

Blanket spoiler warning, although every kiss I'm about to mention aired in 2007 or earlier.


I love TV.  I love kissing.  I love blogging lists.  I love The Weekly Enthusiast for starting this blog meme.  This one's a no-brainer, people.

Pushing Daisies, S1E3 Aired 10.17.2007, "The Fun in Funeral"
also known as The Cellophane Kiss
Ned and Chuck's relationship is one of my favorites, because it's so damn sweet and so damn heart-breaking.  He cannot touch her because if he does, SHE WILL DIE.  They must find creative ways to show their affection that do not involve actual skin-to-skin contact or else Chuck becomes The Lonely Tourist Dead Charlotte Charles once more.  And, since this is a Bryan Fuller show, it's gotta be quirky as can be.


Veronica Mars, S1E18 Aired 4.12.2005, "Weapons of Class Destruction"
also known as First LoVe
Logan and Veronica had been doing this strange and crazy dance around one another for a few episodes before this, building up the tension as all the best shows will do.  She had been helping him out on a case, and he dropped many of the bitter feelings he had in the past for her.  It all culminates in this awesome sweeping kiss that you don't see coming just as much as you do.  None of the videos would let me embed the actual kiss, so here's what I've found.  THIS VIDEO is the lead-up to the kiss, which you should watch because it includes a mulleted JTT (YES!) and Logan calls him "Jump Street" and it's just good to have back story.  THIS VIDEO is the kiss itself.  It looks like the picture below, but... you know... moving and stuff.

Like this, but with more kissing.

Friends, S2E7 Aired 11.9.1995, "The One Where Ross Finds Out"
also known as That Scene That Always Plays Whenever Anyone Talks About Ross & Rachel
Before they became a veritable punchline, Ross and Rachel's will-they-or-won't-they carried quite the punch.  I'm a big ole Friends fan, still to this day.  I remember watching the build-up to this for weeks (yes, when it aired back in 1995 when I was just barely 14 years old) and my baby-teenage heart was FIT to BURST.  And then, it happened.  Oh my, did it happen.  Watching the video of the kiss still gave me chills, even this many years later.  Again, unable to embed so entire scene can be viewed RIGHT HERE.

Well, hello there, Dr. Geller.

The Office, S2E22 Aired 5.11.2006, "Casino Night"
also known as The Night I Yelled at My Boyfriend For Making Me Love This Show
Y'all.  In doing my research for this entry, I just fell down a serious Jim and Pam rabbithole, and THE FEELS.  THEY ARE OF THE KILLING KIND.  I'm such a Jim and Pam fangirl.  This is another that I remember so SO well.  I remember watching their relationship unfold, breaking my heart piece and piece as it went, because I never thought Jim would be able to get the girl.  They were too tentative, too shy, too good at their little dance that they couldn't see around it.  So it's Casino Night, and something in Jim sees that this is his moment and... Pam says no.  And I cried like a little girl, hands pressed to my mouth, tears streaming down my cheeks.  But fear not, True Believers!  It wasn't over yet!  Actions speak louder than words!  THIS VIDEO is a poor quality version of the kiss itself, but the below video is so so sweet, and it's rocking the Ingrid, and you can see the kiss again starting at about 2:36.


Gilmore Girls, S4E22 Aired 5.18.2004, "Raincoats and Recipes"
also known as That Time I Squeed So Loud I Terrified My Neighbors
No TV list of mine is complete without one GG reference.  And you know it had to be Lorelai.  What I adore about Luke and Lorelai as a pair is that it wasn't so hit-you-over-the-head obvious as TV couples usually are.  Yes, it was established in the pilot that Luke was a dude that gave Lorelai The Feelings, and yes it gets pretty properly hinted at over the course of these 4 seasons, but it didn't take over the plot as a whole.  Not until the end of Season 4, and suddenly Luke Can See Her Face, and that surly, hat-wearing diner owner is DONE.  Love it.

[Fantastic Five Friday] Five Characters To Which I’ve Become Too Attached (TV edition)

In looking through my blog reader today, I saw a post that intrigued me about five tv/movie characters to which the author was too attached.  Then I found out it's a weekly blog meme started by The Weekly Enthusiast.  Then I remembered my blog and thought, "Didn't I used to write about TV shows and stuff back in the day?  I should do that again!"

AND SO, without further ado, here are "five" characters from television shows that I wish were real people so we could be super BFFs for all time.  I wanted to get all random and oddball on all of you (which I kind of do as far as show choice) but sadly, the majority of these are main characters instead of side characters.  DEAL WITH IT.

5.  The Piemaker aka Ned, Pushing Daisies

Print by Nan Lawson, which you can buy here!

There were 2 reasons I was dying to watch Pushing Daisies before it aired- Bryan Fuller and Lee Pace.  These two had worked together on a fun, quirky, supa random show I (of course) adored called Wonderfalls. I didn't like Lee's character that much at first, but he slowly grows on you, and I give all the credit to that to Lee's awesomely awesome acting talents.  The more research I did on him, the more he impressed me.  Pushing Daisies was no exception; it only made my love grow stronger.  If I'm awake, I'm missing this show.  It's always in my brain.  In fact, it's affected me so much that I unconsciously wrote one of the boys in a story to  look like Ned without realizing it and then I saw these and was like, "YEP. WHOOPS."  #sorrynotsorry

Favorite Ned quote:
"Everything we do is a choice. Oatmeal or cereal, highway or sidestreets, kiss her or keep her. We make choices, and we live with consequences. If someone gets hurt along the way, we ask for forgiveness, it's the best anyone can do."

4. Seth Cohen, The O.C.

gif found on tumblr, duh

I had such an addiction to this show when it first aired, like... serious.  It made my week.  I would tell people not to call me, bother me, make plans with me while this was on.  Because of Seth Mother-f-ing Cohen.  He was the nerdy dream boy for a whole generation of girls just like me.  Sweet and sensitive and did I mention SO NERDY?  Big ole swoons from me.  Then, the whole show went downhill too fast, and I broke up with it and it wasn't pleasant and I still haven't see the last 2 seasons.  I'm waiting for the Seth Cohen comeback because I know it's coming.

Favorite Seth/Ryan conversation:
Ryan: Sometimes I think you talk just to make sounds.
Seth: Well, sometimes, I do.

3. Cory & Topanga, Boy Meets World

LITTLE BABIES!!

I love Boy Meets World more than anyone should, really.  I know it's cheesy and predictable and very, VERY 90's.  But I don't even care.  I'd like more cheesy, predictable sitcoms if they were written with so much sweetness and honesty and inside jokes and if William Daniels was in them.  Life doesn't have to be all art films and emo things and THIS IS MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I'VE EVER SEEN.

Cory and Topanga are the OG OTP, IMO.  They were endgame back in the sandbox.  And they knew it, and they weren't afraid to show it.  I never doubted that their love was true, or that what they felt didn't feel supremely real to them.  It's the embodiment of first love, and more power to you if you can find something like that.  I also believe all bromances on TV today owe a lot to Cory and Shawn.

Be careful what you wish for, Cornelius Matthews.
"That's just what I want - to be Topanga's boyfriend. And then we can name our children Chewbacca and Plankton."

2. Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars

again, thanks tumblr

I already knew who I wanted in the #1 spot, but this one was tough.  I ended up benching Buffy (I KNOW!) for V. Mars, but I'm not going to apologize.  While I do adore Ms. Summers, I always felt an attachment to Veronica because she's just a normal girl trying to do right by her and her people.  She was a normal goody-two-shoes who managed to bag a bestie like Lilly Kane, score a date with Lilly's brother Duncan... and then her whole life fell apart slowly but surely due to nothing she did.  Instead of falling to Earth in pieces, she picked herself up, dusted herself off, and made sure that crap didn't happen to her again.

What I most love about Veronica is how vulnerable she really is, because she certainly presents herself as ten pounds of badass in a five pound bag, and how terrified she becomes when that vulnerability brings itself to the surface.  She'll let little glimmers of her true self shoot through that intense armor, and it's like magic.  Sadly, that's the reason she and Logan have SUCH A HARD TIME being together.  He wants to protect her; she's not going to stop doing what she does best.  Fight angst fight- them's the breaks when your love story is epic.

"Tragedy blows through your life like a tornado, uprooting everything. Creating chaos. You wait for the dust to settle and then you choose. You can live in the wreckage and pretend it's still the mansion you remember. Or you can crawl from the rubble and slowly rebuild."

1. Lorelai Gilmore, Gilmore Girls

Oy with the poodles, I have such a crush on Lorelai Gilmore (and also on Lauren Graham too).  Lorelai is completely and totally cah-razy, but she wears it so well.  More than any other character I've ever known, I wish Lorelai was real so I could be friends with her.  I think we'd really understand each other.  We could drink coffee and hide out indoors and watch/mock tons of movies and laugh at the same jokes and tease Luke while he fixes things.  I'm legitimately sad that can't be my reality.  OH, TELEVISION.  How you've ruined me.

Much like V.Mars, Lorelai uses her wit and her charm as her mask because she's so very, very vulnerable.  She's been so burned in the past by Christopher, by her parents, by nearly everyone, that she basically trusts no one but Rory.  When she is happy, I cheer with her.  When she is broken, my heart breaks too.  There are certain episodes of Gilmore Girls that are beyond difficult for me to get through because a- Lauren Graham constantly and consistently knocks performances out of the park and b- I identify with Lorelai very very much.  She makes mistakes.  She has flaws.  She knows it, and she knows when she's making a bad choice but she doesn't always stop herself.  She's so complex, I friggin' love it.  I started watching Parenthood because she'd be on it (and Peter Krause too!!), and I'm thankful for her casting all the time.

So... those are mine!

Something's Comin', Something Good.

It's that time of year again!  What time?  The new TV season, of course!  Yay!  I love New TV Season!

This year, I've decided to break up with Grey's Anatomy, despite how much I enjoyed most of it last season.  My Thursday dance card, even with DVR, is just too full.  Plus, I have to make way for new shows to love. This year, my shows are: HIMYM, The Sing-Off (full season YAY!), Glee, New Girl (because I swear it's about me...), Raising Hope, Parenthood, Community, Vampire Diaries, and The Office.  Man, do I love New TV Season.

So... my first happy of the year comes from (der) Glee.  More specifically (der), Blaine.  Darren Criss sang my absolute FAVORITE song from West Side Story last night, "Something's Coming."  I think it's just the most perfect song from WSS.  Tony is so sweetly excited about what's to come, and he doesn't even know what it is but he knows it's going to change him, to make him better.  The music pulses along in the background, and I grin every time I listen to it.  When I heard Darren would be doing this, I was, needless to say, really damn excited.  Upon first listen, though, I was simultaneously impressed and dissatisfied.  I just thought it was done better in the movie.

Then, when I saw the performance last night... well... just wow.  He blew me away... So, for your viewing and aural pleasure, I've included Darren/Blaine's version below, as well as the Richard Beymer/Jimmy Bryant version for comparison.  I couldn't find a video from last night's Glee (or figured that when I found out, it would be immediately taken down), but you can watch it here.  (Thanks, tumblr!)

I'm such a girl.

"I know the risk, but I have to know her."

When I first about The Vampire Diaries show on the CW, I was not really excited.  It had the look of another ridiculous vampire thing (which I love, but didn't know how CW would handle that), the lead girl only had Degrassi to her resume (not very promising as far as quality of acting goes, though good for a marathon of cheese on a rainy day), and the man vamp guy portrayed one of my least favorite characters in the first season of The O.C.  However, I watched the first few episodes, and I was really, really pleased.

Then I "became" a huge snob, and I decided to let go of it due to the fact that it's not broadcast in HD in our area.  I know, I know, my wallet's too small for my fifties and my diamond shoes fit too tight, but still.  The visual of the show is so dang dark, it's hard to watch in standard def.

I have been literally devouring the first season over the past few days, and I'm almost caught up to current 2nd season shenenigans.  There's no way for me to watch this show live, since my TV Dance Card is already full at 8 pm on Thursday, but me + TVD + the interwebs = best math ever.  Either way, I think the show is great.  It's just the right amount of cheesy teenage goodness without being irritating, and it's actually mostly well-written and well-acted, even for the reservations I already mentioned.  I do think that all these modern-day romantic vampire leads really owe everything to Joss, though.  Angel was around long before Stefan and Edward, both paper- and plot-wise.  I'm also glad I can read Cindy's TWoP recaps.  She used to do HIMYM and Lost recaps, and so I missed her snark in my life.

However, in my binge, I had what I think is a super idea.  A quick Google search shows me I'm not the first person to think of this concept, BUT I don't see it on that list, so I'm going with original.  It's The Vampire Diaries Drinking Game.  The rules are simple: drink whenever someone mentions "145 years" or "1864," and you will be tanked in NO time.  Bonus drink if a Salvatore is shirtless ;)

"No."

I quote Ron Donald, caught red-handed with poo shoe.  Starz has decided to cancel Party Down.  You'd think at this point in my life, with all the cancellations I've had to deal with, I'd find a better way to handle this.  Alas, no.  Just like Arrested Development and Pushing Daisies before it, one of my favorite shows is now in the TV ether.

I've been watching all the videos uploaded by Stupid Starz that I can see on YouTube, and while I wish I could post the video of the cast acting out the play from Steve Guttenberg's Birthday, it's not there.  However, in complaining about this tragedy on Twitter, I found out that I'm in good company.  Chuck Klosterman, the hilarious author of one of my faves Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs says, "The fact that Starz just canceled PARTY DOWN makes me want to blow up my TV, followed by the entire state of California."  Dan Harmon, writer and creator of fave show [thankfully STILL ON THE AIR] Community simply says, "BOO."

I agree, funny dudes.  BOO.

Ventin' & Plannin' (the original Wishin' & Hopin')

Having another one of those frustrated days.  Every time I feel like I have a hold on this feeling, I have a day like this that thrusts me right back into the pit.  It's such a pain.  I'm just so... burnt out.  I'm so irritated and frustrated.  The worst part to me is that I'm irritated and frustrated about a topic that I can't discuss on the interwebs, but this is my best way of expressing myself and dealing with things, which then makes me more frustrated, and there was an old woman who swallowed the fly.  Blah blah.  I could write it down, but I'm nervous to write it down because THAT'S how I make crazy discoveries about myself, and I really don't want to have one of those epiphanies that backfires.  I don't know why she swallowed the fly.

This isn't helping.

I just feel like I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, more than I'm used to dealing with.  It feels like it's starting to cave in, though it's probably not.  The stress and anger and issues of the past few years seem to have just piled up, and I feel unable to stop it.  It's like a self-inflating balloon... which I don't know if that even exists... maybe a better metaphor is one of those inflating punching things.  You know, the ones with the weighted bottoms so where you can just punch it and punch it and no matter how hard you hit it, it keeps popping up and mocking you with its stupid clowny face?  Ugh, THAT is what it feels like.  Like I'm punching this crap as hard as I can to make it GO AWAY, and yet it KEEPS COMING BACK.  When will this feeling end?  When will I feel like I'm finally on some kind of track?  I don't care about my instinctual feeling that everything will turn out right; I want to know WHEN it will.  Errrrrrrrrrgh.

Surprisingly, that DID help.

Lots of TV tonight, and I'm loving my DVR because of it.  If I didn't have it, I'd be dooooooomed.  It's a delicate process, and this two hour Grey's has really thrown a wrench in the usual clockwork of Thursdays (I originially typed "wench" instead of "wrench" and now I can't stop laughing).  So, at 8, it's live watching Bones and taping Community, at 9 I would LIKE it to be live watching Grey's and taping The Office, and then I'd like to watch the taped stuff tomorrow.  HOWEVER, I'm fairly certain I'm gonna lose that battle, and we're gonna live watch The Office at 9 followed by the recorded Community, and I'm gonna end up staying up later than I want to finish this crazy Grey's. From the 7 minute clip I saw on Hulu, it looks VERY similar to the plot of ER where Carter and Lucy got stabbed, which is like my favorite ERs ever, so... I'm pretty much stoked.  That might sound a little disturbing, but I don't much care.  I'm so excited.  I'm so... scared.

How I Updated My Blog

So remember like 5 months ago when I said I was gonna update this and change the "format" and all that?  Yeah, that went well, right?  Sure it did.  I'm trying something new this time and actually updating, and I'll do my best to update everyday.  There's really no excuse for my lack of updates, since I still have no job and basically no friends and therefore lots of time.  

However, since I have been wishing I could write for a pop culture outlet or something similar, I thought I might actually try that out on my own.  From time to time, I'll be posting my opinions regarding the shows I watch, the movies I see, good albums (or bad) that I may hear, and general ponderings on life in these United States... though different than the Reader's Digest versions.  And for starters, check this out.

It is a well-known fact amongst my friends and loved ones that I have a predilection for television addiction.  In fact, I sometimes hold off on shows that I hear are particularly good and engrossing to save myself years of sedentary couch time, but I usually fall victim anyway (see also: LOST).  However, it has been quite a while since I have been interested in a laugh-track sitcom, especially one on CBS.  Due to the writer's strike and the complete lack of ANYTHING on television (also since we are apparently Amish and don't have cable), Jack and I have taken to watching whatever's on.  This has led to hours of Deal or No Deal and other mindless variations.  So, when we flipped to How I Met Your Mother one Monday eve, we chose to watch it since it was the only non-reality show on at the time.

I am so glad.

I've had friends tell me for a while that this is a funny show.  Due to my previous addictions and the large amounts of DVDs on the shelves in our place, I tried to stay away.  I had plenty of Scrubs, The Office, Gilmore Girls, Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, and 10 whole seasons of Friends to entertain me (and that's just scratching the surface).  It didn't matter.  Something about HIMYM stuck with me, and it wasn't just Neil Patrick Harris.

HIMYM is one of the first shows I've seen that seems real.  It's less like a show and more like watching videos of old times.  The dialogue is the first thing I noticed that seemed believable.  The gang all talks like other people my age.  They have their own set of lingo, and that is certainly the case with my group too.  After that, I found myself drawn to Lily because we are so much alike.  She starts out as the lone girl in a sea of silly boys, dating a guy she's been with all through college and beyond.  She's fun and silly, and she can joke and drink with the boys.  It wasn't until later in the first season that I really saw myself in Lily, when she goes out to a bar with Robin and no one hits on her or even notices her, but they certainly notice Robin.  I don't mind not getting hit on by random strangers, but at the same time... I'm not invisible.  When I saw that, I knew this was the show for me.

So now, I'm addicted.  Sue me.  It's gotten to a fever pitch almost, where I have the third disc of the first season coming in tomorrow via Netflix BUT the mail doesn't get here until almost 4... and we just bought the second season with a Target wedding gift card (thanks Paul & Stef!)... so we'll just have to work backwards.  Eh, whatever.  It's not like I've got anything better to do.