I apologize for my lack of a review on Monday... at some point this week, I will make up for it. I'm still not 100%, but it puts me in mind of the things I do when I'm sick to cheer myself up... or at least to distract myself from the discomfort.
It all revolves around the TV, of course...
I have talked to a few people recently who enjoy The Lord of the Rings, but one has this feeling when one gets started that he/she has to keep going through to the third movie. But, who has time for that? What is that? Nine hours on your behind staring at a screen?
When you're sick, that can be nine hours of blissful distraction. I remember I had a pretty rotten cold on a rainy day in autumn. I could hear the rain tapping on the dry leaves while I sat in my room and watched the saga unfold. I remember the way that day of rest felt better than hundreds of very productive days...
I also appreciate this age of recording entire seasons of TV shows on DVD. It really makes the sick day go by... We no longer must settle for the one or two back-to-back reruns on cable. No feeling like you have to be awake for it, either. You can always rewind a DVD and start and stop a show whenever it's convenient for you.
Besides, I think I like shows that are no longer aired on regular TV. I love my 60s-70s variety shows... a time when a healthy majority of people on screen actually had to have real talent to be behind a camera. My favorites, at the moment, are The Dean Martin Show and The Muppet Show. So many great singers, actors, dancers, and comedians appeared on both shows.
The genius of Dean Martin was his ability to do it all. It didn't matter what you threw at the man, he could roll with it. He was multi-talented enough to keep up with anyone whether he had to sing, act, or attempt to dance. There was a great relaxed feeling about the show... a lot of mistakes were left in to both give the feel of a live show and to add a "realness" that made one feel as though the performers were having just as much fun as the audience.
This particular sick day or two, I've been enamored with The Muppet Show. Jim Henson- way to show those elitist academics wrong! Our programming has died with you. Your style of puppetry took over and dominated childrens' entertainment for years. You inspired quite a number of great talents to your artform... and what brilliance to create a children's program that adults can enjoy, too! Not to mention, though the episodes and movies appeal to an adult sense of humor, parents are largely comfortable with the humor. It talks pretty covertly to subjects kids can't really understand... I remember the difference when I watched the Muppet Caper at the age of 19. I could remember what I thought was funny as a kid, but then watching it as an older person made it a whole new movie.
My new favorite episodes on The Muppet Show feature guest stars George Burns, Bernadette Peters, Madeline Kahn, and Dom Deluise (Well, okay... the Bob Hope episode was pretty funny, too). The show takes their pure talents and colors it with the silliness, absurdity, and admiration of the Muppets.
I know some people push through when they get a cold or feel rotten... but I take it as a sign that I need to slow down or stop thinking. These jewels that modern technology has made available to us soothes all sorts of ills.
So, I'll get back to them in hopes to write something worth reading tomorrow.
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