First, an item of business from last week to clarify. I’ve mentioned how much I enjoy the fact that so many former students read this column online from wherever they are. Last week, one of them, Matt Bartsch, sent me a thoughtful message regarding my comments on photos on Facebook of drinking. He talked about businesses wanting to see people who are social and enjoy being with other people and that those pictures often convey that. Matt’s astute observation leads to this clarification: pictures of falling-down drunkenness or references to drug use would be bad things. If you’re of age, and there’s a picture of you out with friends enjoying a beverage, there’s nothing wrong with that. Thanks, Matt, for opening my eyes to that!
Also, by the time you read this, my daughter Jayna will have turned 12. It’s amazing how quickly our kids grow up, and I’m very proud of the young lady she is turning into. Happy birthday!
This past week, Michelle and I watched the season premiere of Survivor, now in its 27th iteration. We’ve seen every episode of one of the first (unreal) reality shows! Maybe it’s the competition, maybe it’s the personalities, but we faithfully watch people on an island battling nature and each other for a chance at a million dollars.
So what does your resident waffle flipper watch when he’s not busy writing columns or correcting papers? I’m glad you asked! Other than Survivor, there are a number of other shows I’m excited about this season.
We’ll miss The Office, but a new show is on Thursdays called The Crazy Ones, with Robin Williams. I’ve always loved his zaniness, though my faith in new sitcoms is not very high. It seems tough lately to come up with something funny that doesn’t have to degrade every character to get a laugh.
I’m a super hero freak and have enjoyed all the Marvel Comics movies, so it’s no surprise to anyone that I’m highly anticipating Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD. It may not have super heroes every episode, but it should be good fun to explore the inner workings of the Marvel Universe with Agent Coulson and company. Along with that, I started watching Arrow on the CW last year and really wanted to NOT like it. I have never been a big Green Arrow fan in DC Comics, but this show managed to keep me coming back every week based on good subplots and also not taking itself too seriously.
Speaking of shows I didn’t want to like last year, there was also Elementary, a modern day version of Sherlock Holmes set in New York. After watching the latest BBC version of a 21st century Holmes, I figured nothing could measure up. I was wrong; while the CBS show is not to the level of its counterpart across the ocean, it is great fun to watch Holmes and a female Watson solve crimes CSI style. This might be the returning show I’m most looking forward to.
Michelle and I have also been watching the newest version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, an improv show that’s had many different versions. If you’ve never seen an episode, do yourself a favor and tune in or find an old episode online somewhere. You’re guaranteed to laugh at some point!
There are also plenty of cartoons that my son Anton and I watch together, including Teen Titans Go, Avengers Assemble, Ultimate Spider-Man, Hulk and the Agents of SMASH, Beware the Batman, Legends of Chima, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s great fun to pass on my love of cartoons to him!
Thanks to Senora Olson at school, we’ve been watching Modern Family and enjoying the exploits of this non-traditional group of people. I still struggle to see Ed O’Neill as anyone other than the famed Al Bundy though! But here’s the point. Sometimes a small suggestion by someone leads you to discover something wonderful, and Modern Family is something we might not have watched except for Senora’s suggestion.
There you have it! I’m not sure when I’ll have the time to watch all of these, but that’s what my DVR is for. If you ever run across a great show, let me know. I might wait until summer to watch it, but I’ll always take a look at something different. And hopefully, you might have found something new to try from my list!
Word of the Week: This week’s word is plutolatry, which is excessive devotion to wealth, as in, “The online player developed plutolatry while playing Farmville, before realizing none of those coins counted in the real world.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!