Why is it that I can watch the same episodes of Futurama every night without becoming disinterested? I was nodding off at 2:30 this morning, but when I saw the Cartoon Network was showing the episode where Fry searches for his lucky seven-leaf clover, I kept waking myself up laughing. It’s actually one of the more dramatic episodes that tugs at one’s heartstrings, but the countless one-liners (“Dirt doesn’t need luck,” and “Man, I can’t wait until I’m old enough to feel ways about stuff.”) are plentiful enough that it’s still a comedy.
Is it the writing? Is it the characters and how they’re developed? Is it that the plot lines of animated programs aren’t bound by physical or environmental restrictions, which often limit live-action programs? Is it because Lindsey always tells me I remind her of Fry, what with my dim-witted loser personality? Am I just a super-dork who enjoys giggling at puns and well-timed irony? Perhaps a combination of all five…
The point is, the culture of television right now is reality shows, crime scene dramas, annoyingly “meta” shows about the television industry, and unfunny sitcoms, and the template for truly humorous programming is so accessible with hours of Seinfeld and Futurama (and to a lesser extent Arrested Development) airing daily. Are TV executives totally out of touch, or just lazy? It’s baffling that there aren’t better options for a consumers when we’re trying to relax. Instead I have to choose to either chart the inherent racism in Deal or No Deal, or watch reruns of shows I’ve already seen hundreds of times.
– As predicted, Pitchfork rated the new album by The Besnard Lakes an overwhelmingly positive 8.2. My exact prediction was 9.3, so I was slightly off, but I totally called the Brian Wilson/Beach Boys references. I’m honored to know Jace and I wish he and his wife great success, but I still won’t buy it, because I don’t feel it is as good as Volume 1. If I’ve learned anything from this exercise, it’s that even an idiot like myself could write for Pitchfork. And I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
