Grid Effect

Very, very little sleep last night, we came into work late once again and are all the better for it. We didn’t watch any television last night set aside Monday Night Football which, while the game was unmercifully boring, they had Russell Crowe in the booth giving a remarkably uncomfortable interview. What was most surprising about it, is that he willfully mentioned working with Denzel Washington before, but didn’t mention it was on this horrific Sci-Fi action film, Virtuousity. But, other than that, he just promoted American Gangster (which I’m seeing on opening night, there’s no way around this), and bantered about his rugby team that has a game in Jacksonville, but couldn’t land the Jags stadium as a venue, and is relegated to playing at University of North Florida, which I wasn’t even sure existed until last night.

Oh, speaking of dealing drugs in impoverished urban settings, The Wire is currently replaying there first season on OnDemand for those of you who might be interested. Really, if you like gritty and complex storytelling, then you’ll like this series. If you don’t like this series, then you’re nothing more than a despicable racist.
Anyhow, enough accusations, it’s OnDemand until October 29th, when I imagine they’ll post the second season. It’s late notice, but I just found out about it. Trust me, watch four or five episodes and you won’t be able stop. Seriously, its the TV series equivalent of Pringles. Anyhow, if you want to get caught up before the fifth and final season in January, this is the easiest way to do so. Assuming you have HBO OnDemand. Synopsis of most recent episode here.

Speaking of The Wire, David Simon is quite the rabble rouser. And it sounds like he has a former boss who’s going to be portrayed a bit unfavorably. This is probably the worst show to be illustrated as an indifferent prick on, because it means you are really part of the problem.

Not that I want him to, but, given the context of the series, doesn’t Omar eventually have to die? Or since he doesn’t adhere to any set of institutional laws, does he get a pass?

Not sure if anyone saw Colbert on Meet The Press, it was like GOB and Michael Bluth discussing the future of the family business. In other words, it was damn funny. Apparently he’s broaching some legal issues if he continues his mock presidential campaign.

An interview with David Chase. Who, as I long expected, somewhat resents the more shallow portion of his audience. I can sort of sympathize. I mean, he makes this groundbreaking introspective series about the American experience, and it gets turned into a “who’ll get whacked next?” guessing game, so the contempt is somewhat warranted from that standpoint. But, at the same time, when the series debuted, Tony was presented as someone the audience was supposed to celebrate, not condemn. And, set aside his initial portrayal, those people made David Chase an extremely wealthy man. Yeah, I know, money isn’t everything. But we don’t see him turning it down.

A comparative piece between Mad Men and Damages. Never watched Damages, not sure why, I think because Ted Danson was playing a dramatic role, which we’d have a difficult time taking seriously. I guess that’s my problem, but I simply can’t watch Sam Malone involved in some elaborate murder plot. Kind of the same reason I couldn’t watch Larry David in a Scorcese movie. Sorry.

That’s it for this morning, we’ll get to the Mad Men season finale tomorrow, since there isn’t shit worth watching tonight and we’re going to see Into The Wild anyways.