Have you ever been surfing the boob tube and happen to realize that show you used to love is on and you thought it was canceled like… an eon ago? I happened to tune into the latest ‘Weeds’ this week, and oh man. What a disappointment. I have such fond, fond memories of getting baked in my college apartment and watching the entire first season back to back and giggling because I was like, SUCH a pot head. And, after watching the show un-high (would that be ‘low’? depressing…), I also realized that it was a damn good show. This sort of edgy and unbelievably hot suburban mom making ends meet after her hubby’s untimely death by selling pot in her beige, California neighborhood. Also, let us talk about a show with an awesome song and opening sequence: “Little boxes made of ticky tacky….” It was tight. That’s what it was. They even had different artists sing the theme each week for the second season, I believe. Elvis Costello below.
And now, it’s just too flipping absurd. I mean, one character is in Mexico after her daughter kidnapped her and no one would pay her ransom and they couldn’t sell her organs so now she’s like oh I’ll just live down here with my daughter’s boyfriend who is a Mexican rebel and try to organize (no joke) his machetes and handguns for him. And Nancy is like, oh I became involved with a Mexican Mayor/Drug lord and ratted them out to the DEA and now I’m pregnant with his baby…. Am I wrong to think, “Stoopid…”?
And, let’s face it. Quite a few beloved shows have jumped the shark. Sadly, The Office has run out of funny in a lot of ways. The first and second seasons had me puking up cheerios I was laughing so hard. And now, the writers, even with the glorious Ed Helms, can’t seem to find where they put their wit (although Ed Helms couldn’t make the Hangover funny either… ). The characters seem to have just run out of steam.
Even Project Runway (if reality shows can jump the shark) has plummeted into the absurd. I imagine the audition process used to be: “Do you make good clothes? Are you an interesting human?” Now, I think it’s more like: “Do you know what clothes are? Good. Now tell me the craziest thing you have put in your ear.” It’s the same reason that the nose-bleed girl was on America’s Next Top Model (but DAMN did I enjoy her):
But, while I’m on the topic of ANTM, my friend Liz Lemonazi and I discussed why it is the only show (other than Sesame Street, in my opinion) that is “impervious to shark jumping.” Because it has always been absurd. Because it is hosted by the Tyra beast and her minions. It’s a simple weekly shot of schaudenfreude as a woman. “Damn those girls are skinny… HAHAHA they’re so dumb and racist! I feel good!”
Is this the apocalypse of decent television? Will 30 Rick escape or is it next (even entertaining that though makes me cringe)? TV lords, please let me have my sentimental, stoned moments with ‘Weeds’ and reminisce about the Office episode when they hid Andy’s cell phone in the ceiling. I’m happy with that. I don’t want these dong-licking episodes to ruin it for me. It’s like watching Felicity after she cut off her hair…. enough, already!
