You Have Been Watching...

Although I rarely watch television, I am familiar with the identities of most of the stars and the names of the characters they play, even if the titles of the shows in which they perform are somewhat jumbled, interchangeable, and indistinct. This type of unconsciously absorbed, phantom knowledge must swipe its way through your cerebral cortex like an especially lardy supermarket cashier swiping a box of ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ laxatives through a barcode reader: charged to your account before you even realize you wanted it. All that will change, however, with the rabbit breeding-esque proliferation of large screen televisions in public spaces and the portable videophone. Very soon you won’t be able to avoid watching those shows if you take a train or plane or stroll through a shopping mall, and then these T.V stars will be as familiar to you as your own friends and family (and I’m referring to actual people, not your long-distance calling plan).

Comments

[Teen Outer Life]

TV stars are already more familiar to me than my own friends and family. They're a lot less embarrassing too.

Also, don't forget how cool it is to watch the TV screens on the head rests of the car ahead of you on the freeway. I watched an entire episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" that way the other day.

[KHH]

I've only seen two episodes of the Sopranos yet because that is only culture my workers watch, I have to sit through their endless talks about how cool the show is.

As far as "Curb" goes, it was recommended to me by my brother. So, I say to my Mom since I was over the house when they had a free cable showing of it, let's check this out. Needless to say it was the episode concerning "Happy Endings" (i.e., the "extra stuff" that happens during a massage session). Not exactly a fun hour to spend. So, I have sworn of that show as well, but am forced to listen to people blather on how great it is.

The Hatemonger's Quarterly had a great piece on how people's common sense now comes from two sources: the Simpsons and Seinfeld. Who needs the Bible for wisdom when you can reference Kramer?