A Deviation of Course

This blog is devoted to TV, one of my favorite media. But life is not something quite so easy to fragment and compartmentalize. Thus, I have elected to deviate from our usual course and share with you something that I found eminently worthwhile; something capable of piercing my veil of misanthropy and enlivening my soul in a way I forgot possible; in a way that even TV cannot. I recently had the pleasure of reading a little-known gem of a book, published in small numbers, and hardly circulated. The book is called The Well of Being: a children's book for adults (written by Jean-Pierre Weill and available here). I would not want to rob you of the journey that this book promises to embark you upon with my own musings and reflections, so I will resist the urge to pummel you with my analyses. But rest assured that this book has layers upon layers and something for everyone - that is, everyone who values thoughtful living. To put it simply, this book is music for the brain. I hope you will take the opportunity to explore for yourself everything that The Well of Being offers, in the meantime please enjoy a preview of the book in the video embedded below.

Human Target 201

This is a really fun show that I enjoy despite its unbelievable plot. I don't hold it against the show because its based on a comic book and doesn't take itself too seriously. Christopher Chance is our complicated and incredibly gifted hero, trying desperately to redeem himself for his seedy past. Along with the help of a retired police detective in Laverne Winston and a badass combination of nerd and cold-blooded killer in Chance's past associate Guerrero, Chance runs a private security firm specializing in high-risk cases. Actor Mark Valley makes an excellent choice for the role of Chance with a gnarled but still debonair sense about him and his impressive acting range.

This week's episode, the series premier, made quick work of tying up its loose ends from the season finale and moved to the more pressing issue of resetting the stage for season two. Judging from the hurried efforts to end its culminative progression from last season and turn back the plot clock, I get the distinct sense that those behind the show did not expect to be renewed for a second season. I certainly am glad that its back though. Another fun episode in line with its predecessors.

Episode Rating:
6 (Above average TV)

Episode's Best Line:
"I'm not very bright." - Christopher Chance

South Park 1414

Episode 14 - Créme Fraiche

Wow. Dirtiest episode of the season by far. Medical Fried Chicken was one thing, but this is something entirely different.


Créme Fraiche focuses on Randy Marsh and his erotic obsession with the Food Network. Beginning with with a hilarious parody on porn, I found Randy's actions reminiscent of certain scenes from Over Logging (s12e06).

Fed up with having to fix Randy's mess (both in the metaphoric and figurative sense), Sharon leaves the house and acquaints herself with the "Shake Weight" - the newest "as seen on TV" workout gimmick. Shaking a dumbbell shaped weight, the Shake Weight gives the user a very literal practice for a certain explicit act. And the voice controls make for a flattering Stephen Hawking.

A familiar remark is heard at South Park Elementary - "Hello there children!" "How's it going?"
Is this a return of the beloved Chef ? No - it's Randy, who has turned from geologist to school chef to continue his love of cooking (Remember, Chef died in The Return of Chef - s10e01).

Culminating in the ultimate culinary battle royale - "Hells Kitchen Nightmares Iron Top Chef Cafeteria Throwdown Ultimate Cookoff Challenge" - and with appearances from Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsey (Or, Eric Cartman), Jamie Oliver, and Paula Deen, the Shake Weight saves Randy and Sharon's marriage...

Special shout-out to the spoofs on the progressive and corona beer commercials.


Episode Rating:
5 (Average TV)

Episode's Best Line:
"I know, because I don't know that! That's what I'm saying!" - Randy (After Sharon blocks the Food Netork with parental controls)

Modern Family 208

This is one of the few comedies on TV that are consistently good. A cross-sectional trip through modern American multiculturalism, this show follows the story of one very diverse and quirky family. Well, its really three interrelated families. You have the patriarch Jay Pritchett and his much younger beautiful Columbian wife Gloria, as well as her child and Jay's adopted son Manny. Jay has two children from his first marriage, Mitchell and Claire. Mitchell is gay and in a committed relationship with his longtime partner Cameron with whom he has adopted a Vietnamese baby named Lilly. Claire belongs to the most traditional and perhaps most comical family of the bunch. The show tends to focus most on this family, with Claire being married to husband Phil Dunphy, and the two of them raising three children in Haley, Alex, and Luke.

I'm not sure exactly what I like about the show because they do some of the same things that annoy me in other shows but when they do them I absolutely love it. They have their go-to shtick and running jokes and I'm a sucker for it all. It may well be that the appeal lies in the acting, which is truly spectacular. They manage to sell me on their characters and antics, and they make it all very believable - even in its elaborate embellishments. This week's episode revolved around Manny's (my favorite character) birthday and his unsettling epiphany that he was born an old soul. Each family and character is made at first to attempt 'repair' of their eccentric personalities and ultimately to come to grips with them through their family roles. In the end, many laughs were had in watching this truly American tale of introspection, evolution, and family.

Episode Rating:
6 (Above average quality TV)

Episode's Best Line:
"Well I've forgotten a lot of things in my life, but what Jay said hit me pretty hard... I'd forgotten to have a childhood." - Manny

Law and Order: SVU 1209

A good episode of SVU. It always is. This week's episode has the unplaceable feel of earlier seasons. Naive youth, sly scum-bags, police-DA tensions, and controversial new tech combine to create formidable and thought-provoking entertainment.

Stabler and Benson run security at a student rally educating woman to prevent rape when the gathering is upended, ironically, by one student's raucous allegations of rape. The detectives detain the suspect and launch an investigation that exposes both the university's gross negligence, and the slipperiness of the suspect. Dodgy police work and judicial misgivings derail the state's case. When the picture clears to show conviction seems beyond reach, the investigation is forced to take on another insidious angle in hopes of justice. The chase was fun, the story unsettling, and the methods both disturbing and enchanting. Once again, Stabler and Benson deliver.

Episode Rating:
7 (Lower end quality TV)

Episode's Best Line:
"Well that doesn't mean its true. Whoever rants the loudest on the internet wins." - Detective Munch

NCIS 808

Another week and another good episode of NCIS. Continuing with the theme of the paternal interference in Gibbs' team, this week's episode centered around Ziva and her estranged father, Director of the Israeli Mossad, Eli David. Eli is coming stateside for a meeting with top US intelligence brass and has to contend with a clandestine Palestinian hit squad hunting him. Despite Eli's preference to keep his security arrangements within the elite unit of Israeli agents sent in advance of his arrival, Gibbs is tasked with his protection.

 Ziva is forced to confront the man who she feels abandoned her and always coldly put country above kin. In a brief but loaded encounter, Eli explains that he believes Ziva abandoned him, that he has always been open to and hoping for a reconciliation, and that he is the greatest victim of his heavy national responsibilities. Ziva responds with a suppressed tear and continues about her mission. Like father like daughter indeed. The episode ends on a cliffhanger  with Director David AWOL and presumably in great peril.

I think what I liked most about this episode was the evenhanded portrayal of the two sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel was not portrayed as a war-torn desert battlefield but a modern, first world  country. The Israeli's are portrayed as jaded, prickly, and consumed by self-preservationism, but not cruel. An inspired speech on the national struggles and oppression of the Palestinian people is delivered by one of the apprehended Palestinian agents to round out the perspective presented. Both sides were human, both bore both noble and cynical motives, and the situation at large was seen as complex. All told, another fun and engaging NCIS experience.

Episode Rating:
6 (Above average quality TV)

Episode's Best Line:
"No. Of course we are sleeping together. Its just nothing serious." - Mossad agent Malachi Ben-Gidon

Lie To Me 306

A pretty good episode. Lightman is still a deadpan character, Tim Roth is still a supremely limited actor, and the producers still seems to lack direction, but a pretty good episode. For all of this show's character deficiency, it finally scored a victory with John Stafford, the self-help guru and cult leader who is this week's villain. At times I found myself wishing I was watching a show that cast him in the lead. Otherwise a pretty standard episode. Leaving Loker and Torres dramatically under-attended and wasting time on Lightman's overexposed, uninteresting life. No great pain or pleasure.

Episode Rating:

4 (Acceptably mediocre)

Episode's Best Line:

"The goal is transcendence. Believe and be free." - John Stafford