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Home Free: My 'Extreme Home Make-Over' Obsession

January 25, 2007

We’ve all seen it, and I don’t know about you, but “Extreme Home Makeover” gets me a little misty: the loving family that’s fallen on hard times, the sob-inducing backstory full of tragedy and heartbreak, the inspiring preservence against all the odds. And as I sit there, soggy Kleenex in my hand, I say to myself: if only these poor, wonderful people had a beautiful house to call home.

Well, in the words that launched a thousand product placements: Move! That! Bus!

I admit it. I watch “Extreme Home Makeover.” And I also admit that I weep like a child every time it’s on. It’s gotten so bad that I well up when a see a promo for an upcoming episode.

But that doesn’t change the fact that I feel a little uneasy while watching these families outfitted with state-of-the-art kitchens and plasma televisions. I just cannot shake the feeling that these poor, troubled families are being exploited for our entertainment, and that their well-being and the future of their housing is being treated lightly for the sake of good television, and for the desired tear- jerking reaction from the audience.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think there might be something a little creepy and almost sinister about “Extreme Home Makeover”?

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Chasing The Clouds Away: Loving Sesame Street

January 19, 2007

As I sit, watching this season of “American Idol,” my young daughter stares at me, wondering why I’m cringing.

In fact, now that she’s old enough to turn the television on and off by herself (soon she’ll be setting my Tivo for me), I find myself watching television through her eyes. And as reality television gets crueler and nastier, and as network dramas get bloodier, I wonder if there’s ever going to be any meaningful backlash.

Will the American television audience will get tired of dead bodies and talentless singers, and if that even happens, will there be programming for them?

Of course, should America collectively turn off their televisions, our networks would figure out the cause of the problem and remedy it, but my question is this: is there anything on television that I can watch with my daughter that isn’t too adult, isn’t trying to sell her (and, in effect, me) toys, or isn’t grating to my ears after watching a few minutes?

The answer is yes, and I’ve known what it was all along, but time let me forget: there is no better, smarter, funnier, more genuine or creative show on television than "Sesame Street".

I remember watching Big Bird, Ernie and Bert, and Oscar when I was her age (I won’t divulge exactly how long ago that was… this is “anonymous”, after all), and loving every minute of it. I can still recall some of the songs that are now etched into my brain (in a good way, which is rarely the case with children’s music, as any parent knows), and feeling like I was watching something magical-- a puppet show or a play-- just for me.

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24 Returns: Jack is Back.

January 16, 2007

He’s beaten, he’s worn down, he’s not the man he used to be. But Jack Bauer is back for the sixth worst day of his life. And this one is really, really bad.

Fox once again presented “24” with a special 2-night, 4-hour (get it … 2-4?) premiere. The network has wisely held the series to a beginning-of-the-year debut the past three years preferring to show all 24 episodes on a weekly basis without a break. It has also started each season with a major event: The broadcast of the first four hours over two nights, literally jump-starting the new season. This showcases the show in a format fans have become accustomed to seeing in the DVD boxed sets, viewing multiple episodes in one evening.

(Creators of “Lost”, “Heroes”, et. al. are you paying attention?)

As premieres go, this two-night total emersion into the life of Jack Bauer at first lacked the power of the season five premiere in 2006, which started with a literal bang: The assassination of former President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), an integral star of the series for its first four seasons.

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24 Things I Learned From Watching 24

January 10, 2007

The world of Jack Bauer is a harsh one, but it’s also an incredible learning experience. Here are twenty-four things I learned from watching the last five seasons of 24. You can watch season six starting January 14 and learn stuff yourself.

1. From the moment Jack Bauer “punches in” on the 24 timeclock, you just know this is going to be the worst day of his life.

2. Jack Bauer is another in the line of great spies with the initials J. B. (ala James Bond and Jason Bourne). Coincidence? Not.

3. Terrorists really have it in for Los Angeles for some reason. Is it Paris Hilton's fault?

4. The Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) has severe workplace problems — bombings, nerve gas attacks, etc. — and is more than likely in deep trouble with OSHA.

5. There’s always a mole in CTU. It must be an entry-level position.

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