Monday, September 28, 2009

The Emmy Awards program was great, due in large part to the host, Neil Patrick Harris. The format was original, the host was marvelous and the overall show was awe inspiring. While watching the Emmy's I couldn't help think, "What is it about the Hollywood crowd that the conservative right do not like?" Got me. I am extremely proud of the entertainment crowd for a variety of reasons. Being supporters of democracy and the American way of life was and is at the top of my reasons. Acceptance of all people, an appreciation of the individual and unique talents of all people and a dedication to the pursuit of happiness of all people is probably among the reasons for the disapproving nod of the conservative right. And these same conservative Republicans say that they are family value based and God fearing? Sounds like an incongruent perception of life to me.

As far as the 2010 TV season... Well a little disappointing. I was really interested in earnestly giving the new shows a fair shake. Most nights I was switching among two or three different TV channels trying to catch a glimpse of many of the premiers. Not only did I get tuckered out in the process, I became very disenchanted with the caliber of the shows as well as the types of shows being aired. It seems to me to be more of the same. I did like some of the comedies, especially my usual CBS Monday lineup. Some of the dramas were not too bad, but still the same old tired plots. The new shows, what new shows - more of the same, fewer actual comedies and dramas and more and more of those God awful reality gigs. Oh well, there's always cable news, TCM and The History Channel. I'll find something. 

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Big Brother is over. Jordan won by the way. Not my first choice, but a down to earth, middle of the road, wholesome young lady. Jeff and Jordan appeared on The Bonnie Hunt Show last Friday. They both are cool people. Jeff is probably one of my all time Big Brother favorites. He seems like such a nice person. He's an aspiring actor in Chicago. He and Bonnie Hunt had a lot to talk about, both Chicagoans. Well, the show is over for another year. What's next? The new TV season. Jay Leno? I've only seen bits and pieces, but not impressed. I don't think America is ready for Jay Leno in prime time five nights a week. No one is that funny. There are quite a few new shows that I'm excited over. I will be commenting on them in the days and weeks to come. There are some returning ones that I am anxiously awaiting, too. The Emmy's are tonight. Neil Patrick Harris is MCing.  He should be great. I've really enjoyed him in How I Met Your Mother and his other appearances. He has grown as an actor. I was just perusing the TV listings for this premier week. It occurred to me that many of the new shows that I have been excited about seeing are being aired opposite one another. That will present a slight problem for me. I'll probable watch two or three shows at one time, flipping back and forth throughout the airings. Within a week or so I will have formed definite opinions on the shows. It doesn't take me long to either love a show or dismiss it. Even if I like the show, that is not guarantee that I will be watching it avidly. You know me. I'm fickled. Many times I prefer cable news or an old movie on TCM or a repeat of an History Channel presentation over an otherwise more popular and timely option. For tonight, it's The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards all night long. Good luck Jim Parsons of the Big Bang Theory. 

President Obama made the rounds on the TV news shows this morning. Everything but FOX News, I wonder why? I think he should have included Fox. Why not meet Satan face to face? A The best defense is a good offense, or something to that affect. It's a sports or military adage. None of which I am familiar. But you get the point. The President should have met the number one conservative leaning news outlet head to head. Now that would have presented President Obama as a strong and confident player. In any case, I'm sitting out this health care dilemma. I'm going to wait for the final legislation and then comment on the bill. It makes no sense to form an opinion on something that is not final yet. I have no input in the legislative process. I have no influence in the final bill. So, I will wait for the congress to do it's job and for the president to do his job, then I will review the bill and it's affects on me. After all, President Obama has stated that the success or failure of his administration will depend on the opinion of the electorate. Each party has a role to play in a democracy. I know mine. Do you know yours? I wonder if the media and the loyal opposition know theirs? And are we all being true to the precepts of a Democracy? 

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Big Brother is at a low point for me. No more interest on my part. I will watch Tuesday's 2-hour finale, but I really don't care who wins. If I had to choose I would choose Kevin. Kevin seems like a genuinely nice person. He lied, he deceived and he played the game, but he did it with grace. He didn't enjoy the lies and deceit. He did understand that it was a game and he wanted to win, the $500,000. I've always thought that the grand prize was a little inappropriate for such a contest. Now a million dollars would be more attractive and would be more worth the effort. However, CBS does have other cash prizes. Second place gets $50,000 and there are other substantial prizes through out the game. I guess it does make sense to spread the wealth around a bit. The seventh vote for the winner is America's vote. I surmise that this was dreamed up due to Chima's demise. A jury of seven would undoubtedly prevent a tie. Anyway if you are so inclined go to the CBS Big Brother site and vote.

I haven't lost interest in politics. I just felt like taking a break, at least for now. The bickering among the Democrats, Republicans and Independents over health care is dreadfully exhausting. I really think it's politics as usual gone mad. The Republicans are using any means possible to misrepresent the Democrat's plan. The conservative right is fighting with misrepresentations, deceit and point blank lies in an attempt to negatively influence the American public to oppose any kind of health reform. According to the conservative right, Obama must fail. How could any American put his or her trust into such a seemingly anti-American political party as the conservative right wing Republican Party and it's members? I would say that I am willing to support the intelligence of the American people, but I've seen that intelligence eroded many times by the deceit and outright lies of the conservative right. I am reserving my comments and opinions until the final health care bill emerges. At that time I will critique the bill and offer my comments. My trust is with the president. President Obama won the election by a sizable majority. Thus we as Americans should trust that he will do the right thing when it comes to health care. As President Obama has said, if a health care bill passes this year, the success or failure of that bill will be his legacy. He is the president. Let him govern. 

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Big Brother is about over. My favorites didn't make it to the final four or beyond. I don't think that my favorites have ever made it to the end of any of the shows. Maybe I lean towards the "good guys" and good guys aren't usually masters of deceit and gaming. Jordan, Michelle, Natalie and Kevin are the final four. Natalie won the HOH. She will probable put Michelle and Jordan up for eviction. She won't go against her near game long ally Kevin. Jordan got to the final 4 by tagging along with Jeff, the real brains. Jordan seems like a genuinely nice person. A little prissy, but OK. She just isn't a good game player. I don't think she should win. Michelle is a good player. I don't care for her personality and I think she would get on my nerves like she did with Jeff, but she's OK too. Natalie is a snake. She rolls with the person with the power, although she has remained faithful to her alliance. She has made it to the final four in spite of not winning a lot of competitions. She deserves to win, although I despise her for her whininess and deceit. Then there's Kevin, the good natured token gay. Kevin seems like a nice person too. On the outside of the house, he is probably a good representation of what "gay" is all about. He seems to be a person with morals and convictions. He has won his share of competitions. He seems to be genuinely concerned and regretful for his perpetrated deceit and lies. He did play the game well. So who do I want to win the game? Not sure, but I'm leaning towards Kevin.

I really do not like the Big Brother concept. I see no redeeming social qualities in the show. The game promotes deceit and the "player" philosophy. The game is by no means a mini cosmos of life in the real world. The real world, not the Real World on MTV. Or is it? Think about it. Maybe our world does work like Big Brother. In any case, the only possible salvation and redeeming quality of the show is the knowledge the housemates can learn about life and community. Hopefully, they as well as the viewers will come away from the show with a clearer picture of the right and wrong ways to conduct their own personal life. Or it's just good summer entertainment.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Big Brother night. This week is crucial for Jeff. He's on the block. The POV competition will air tonight, but according to the blog reports, Jeff does not win the power of veto. Michelle is the reported winner. What do I mean by the blog reports? Everything that happens in the Big Brother house is available on live video feeds from the Internet. Some people who subscribe to these feeds blog about the happenings in the house. Most do post the warning that if you want to learn of the latest results concerning the housemates on the TV airings, then don't read the blogs. I wouldn't spend the bread to subscribe to the feeds or any other feeds. I do read the spoiler blogs (as they are known) at times, usually when something exciting is about to happen. At those times I usually find the TV airings less than appealing. So, I try not to read the spoiler blogs. Anyway, it looks like Jeff will be evicted on Thursday. Jeff seems to be a genuine good guy. In my opinion he made one major mistake, backdooring, a Big Brother term, Russell. He did this out of outrage, mostly due to his partner Jordan. He left his guard down and chastised Russell for his remarks to Jordan. Also, he listened to Mutt and Jeff, Natalie and Kevin, and believed their concocted story about Russell's desire to "get" Jeff. Russell had continuously told the housemates that "this is a game". Jeff should have realized this fact and played the game to win, forgoing responses to Russell's contrived emotional outrages. Jeff should have realized that Russell is perceived by most houseguests as a mean, selfish and egocentric player. If Jeff were up against Russell at the end, I believe the jury would have given the win to Jeff. But that is the past. There's one hope for Jeff. A Big Brother surprise has been announced and will take effect this week, probably on the show Thursday night. Will Jeff have one more chance? I just don't think so. My prediction is for Michelle to win the game.