Grid Effect

We didn’t watch Hard Knocks last night. Well, we tried to, we got about fifteen minutes into it and our computer started to draw more and more of our attention to the point we weren’t paying any attention to the documentary series. We had high hopes for this one, but with the Cowboys, it’s almost like we know the people involved to a point that anything they do that is generally away from the public eye either doesn’t surprise us or feels forced. The Chiefs are an organization that usually toils away in anonymity. We might get on the bandwagon later, but for last night at least we were happy to be off of it.

Also, it feels like this is as good of a time as any to mention that we are writing over here now as well. I’m not sure how large the crossover audience is for a television blog to a fantasy football blog, but this shameless plug is worth the effort regardless.

A few news items to kick off the morning.

Some guy that was rejected on The Bachelorette will be the new bachelor for The Bachelor. Oh boy! I can’t wait to see how he reacts with the shoe being on the other foot, they’ve probably only done this a couple dozen times now. One good piece of news from this story is that there are so few people willing to do these shows (or at least this franchise) they have to keep dipping into the same pool. Or else they think a recognizable face will help bring in an audience. Whatever, we are feeling optimistic today.
Mad Men: still down a million viewers from the premiere. I don’t know why this is still reported on given that we already covered it after the second episode, but there it is. Either the New York Post was late in covering the non-phenomenon that is sinking ratings after a premiere, or they were completely unaware of it two and a half weeks ago. Bang up job, NY Post.

We haven’t watched The Apprentice in a couple seasons, and we probably watched if for four more seasons than any intelligent person would have, but with Dennis Rodman scheduled to be on the next Celebrity Apprentice, we’ll probably make this appointment television. Finally, The Dancing With The Stars concept (that is, throwing C-listers into a random competition that they have no background in, and watching the minions flock to their TV’s to feel superior), offers something enjoyable for Grid Effect.

If he doesn't show up looking like something out of "Demolition Man", we're going to be very disappointed.

Jermaine Clement, who plays a dimwitted version of himself on Flight of The Conchords, got hitched this past week; crushing the dreams of progressive twenty-something women all throughout the burrows of Brooklyn and Manhattan. ‘Tis a sad day, for the tragically conforming non-conformist women of the tri-state area. Also, we need to stop with all the marriage announcements on this website.

Italy, with all their gorgeous coastlines, delicious food and spirits, history and nightlife, has seemed to forget how much natural entertainment they have in their country. What’s my evidence? They’ve taken to protesting American hospital dramas, most notably ER and Grey’s Anatomy. One, who the fuck watches these shows for realism? I once went out with a girl that consisted of me watching an episode of ER so long as she watched an episode of The Sopranos. In short, the portrayal of a hospital in ER was closer to that of a nightclub than a medical facility. I swear to God, at one point they were listening to some Bob Marley knock off and a couple of them were dancing around.

And two, the complaint from one protester went, “These programs are teaching viewers inaccurate views on medicine”. Um, I hate to be the one to inform him, but this makes his career much more valuable in his country and the world over. If no one knows what they are talking about and you are an expert in it, especially something as vital as health care, then you are virtually indispensable. Sit back and enjoy it, and quit concerning yourself with Katherine Hiegl performing surgery in a bikini on some absurd ABC melodrama.

Might watch Hard Knocks at lunch. Jury’s still out.