I sat back on Sunday night and watched "Modern Family" dominate the first third of the Emmys. I don't see a single show on the new fall schedule that makes me think "oh yeah, that's gonna be worth watching." I see a ridiculous number of posts on "The Bachelor" and "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Got Talent" on my Facebook feed. It all makes me wonder if the current state of television is becoming more and more a statement on who and what we are as a society.
If you've ever brought up "American Idol" around me, you've more than likely heard me launch into a rant about how it's singlehandedly responsible for the degradation of our society. I'm half kidding, but seriously, I feel like the mindless crap that dominates network TV these days is at least partially responsible for the dumbing down of our society.
A simple search of the Googles will tell you that 18.6 million people tuned in for the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars last night. That number probably would've been higher, but 27.7 million people were watching Ashton Kutcher (yeah, the Punk'd guy) make his debut on Two and a Half Men. 27.7 freaking million people. By comparison, an absolutely brilliant episode of Breaking Bad aired on AMC on Sunday night. It drew 1.8 million viewers. Are you kidding me? 10 times as many people tuned in to watch Chaz Bono prance around than watched the best show on television? To quote Ron Burgandy: "I'm not even mad. That's amazing."
Critics and intelligent people the world over agree that shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, and predecessors like The Sopranos and The Wire absolutely blow the crap that they're currently spewing on network TV out of the water. I understand that not everybody has cable, but that's no excuse to have only 1.8 million people tuning in to watch a masterfully written, directed, and acted television show on a Sunday night. I understand that people want to sit down in front of the TV and completely zone out. They want to watch a show that doesn't require you to think, or even pay attention, really. They want to hear people sing, or watch them dance, and then have someone tell them "hey, that guy really sucked at singing/dancing!"
Yeah, Modern Family has its moments. I watch it every week, and it makes me laugh at times. But it's really comedy that panders to the lowest common denominator. Watching Modern Family win Emmy after Emmy was explanation enough why shows like Arrested Development fail. Anybody can sit down and laugh at Modern Family without thinking too much. Shows like Community and 30 Rock require you to actually think, and it's why they get almost cancelled every year.
I guess my point in all of this is that people, by and large, are lazy. It's a chicken and egg kind of thing. Did people get dumb and lazy because of TV? Or did TV get dumb and lazy because that's how people have gotten? At any rate, it's very frustrating. Listen, I have my guilty pleasure shows just like everybody else. I enjoy a good episode of The Challenge as much as the next 17 year old. I just wish people would keep them at just that - guilty pleasure shows. Instead, you get shows like The Bachelor drawing 30 million viewers, while quality, well-written shows (Chicago Code, anyone?) get canned. The shows that should be guilty pleasures are what people are basing their weeks around, and that's just wrong.
I can only say "the crap that's on network TV right now is garbage" so many different ways. I just wish people would take the time and effort to appreciate good television shows as much as they appreciate the terrible reality and poorly written shows that they watch. I feel it's my civic duty to implore you to watch Breaking Bad, or Mad Men, or Justified, or Boardwalk Empire, or Parks and Recreation. Yeah, you may have to get some blood pumping to the brain in order to do so, but you, and society, will thank me.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Arizona State 37 - Missouri 30 (OT)
Ordinarily, I'd be disappointed by a loss like this. Missouri didn't play great, battled back from a 2 TD deficit in the 4th, had the game won, and still ended up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. A month ago, this was a game I had down as a certain victory for Missouri. But based on the rash of injuries they suffered, and with the way they played against Miami-Ohio last weekend, I quickly changed my expectations. This wasn't a game I expected Missouri to win. I expected Missouri's defense to really clamp down and hold ASU to a couple of scores, and I expected Missouri's offense to struggle. What I got was the exact opposite.
For starters, I think we've got ourselves a quarterback at the University of Missouri. James Franklin looked like a completely different player than the one we saw against Miami. Last weekend, he lacked confidence. He was almost too afraid to make a mistake. Last night he played with confidence, he took chances, and he looked like a player that will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and have great success at Missouri. James Franklin kept Missouri in that ballgame when their defense was doing everything they could to keep ASU in it. Well done, Jimbo. And holy Henry Josey. I said all last year I thought he was Missouri's best RB. I think he proved that last night. I'd give the offense a B+ for last night's effort.
I know they've had some injuries on defense. Jacquiese Smith and Will Ebner going out last week really hurt Missouri. But I think I can count on one hand the number of times that Missouri put significant pressure on the quarterback. They looked great stopping the run, but it felt like that big bastard could sit in the pocket all day without the defense even attempting to get to him. Also, Missouri's secondary played friggin' terrible. It's never been their strength, but there were blown coverages and flat out bad coverages all over the place last night. So much so that I heard my friend Daniel utter a phrase I never thought I'd hear a human being utter: "I wish we still had Carl Gettis." I love Dave Steckel, and I think the defense will get healthy and pull it together, but last night was not a shining moment for them. A solid C- performance for the Defense.
Holy hell, what a game for Trey Barrow. A 74 yard punt? Are you kidding me? And Grant Ressel is still a great, great placekicker. I feel bad for him. I don't put the 2 missed FGs on him, I put them on the coaching staff (but I'll get to that in a minute). Special Teams Grade: B
I love Gary Pinkel. Athletics-wise, he may be the best thing that's ever happened to my alma mater. But last night, I think he and his assistants absolutely got outcoached. I don't care about the timeout he called that some people think "iced his own kicker." You can't ice a guy like Grant Ressel. Play calling on the final drive (didn't it seem like they were content to just let Ressel kick a 48 yarder for the win? That ain't a chip shot, kids) was atrocious, and I'm not sure they were aware that you still only get 4 downs to get a first in OT. I love what the man has done for our program, but he and his assistants are too stubborn for their own good sometimes. I'd give the coaching staff a C for last night's game.
Overall, I'm pleased with the effort the boys put forward. It was huge for James Franklin to go into a hostile environment like that and play the way he did. Missouri's offense came together last night. The defense needs some work (and needs some guys to get healthy), but it'll be fine. They didn't quit and should have won the game last night. I thought I'd be pissed when I woke up this morning, but I actually feel pretty good about the game. This team will be fine. I've still got them down for 9-3 (additional losses to OU and Okie Lite).
With all that being said, I should mention that I know very little about football. I've never played the sport, nor do I know much about the intricacies. I know less about football than any of the other 3 major sports (4 if you count The Challenge). So take my rant for what it's worth. Go Tigers!
For starters, I think we've got ourselves a quarterback at the University of Missouri. James Franklin looked like a completely different player than the one we saw against Miami. Last weekend, he lacked confidence. He was almost too afraid to make a mistake. Last night he played with confidence, he took chances, and he looked like a player that will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and have great success at Missouri. James Franklin kept Missouri in that ballgame when their defense was doing everything they could to keep ASU in it. Well done, Jimbo. And holy Henry Josey. I said all last year I thought he was Missouri's best RB. I think he proved that last night. I'd give the offense a B+ for last night's effort.
I know they've had some injuries on defense. Jacquiese Smith and Will Ebner going out last week really hurt Missouri. But I think I can count on one hand the number of times that Missouri put significant pressure on the quarterback. They looked great stopping the run, but it felt like that big bastard could sit in the pocket all day without the defense even attempting to get to him. Also, Missouri's secondary played friggin' terrible. It's never been their strength, but there were blown coverages and flat out bad coverages all over the place last night. So much so that I heard my friend Daniel utter a phrase I never thought I'd hear a human being utter: "I wish we still had Carl Gettis." I love Dave Steckel, and I think the defense will get healthy and pull it together, but last night was not a shining moment for them. A solid C- performance for the Defense.
Holy hell, what a game for Trey Barrow. A 74 yard punt? Are you kidding me? And Grant Ressel is still a great, great placekicker. I feel bad for him. I don't put the 2 missed FGs on him, I put them on the coaching staff (but I'll get to that in a minute). Special Teams Grade: B
I love Gary Pinkel. Athletics-wise, he may be the best thing that's ever happened to my alma mater. But last night, I think he and his assistants absolutely got outcoached. I don't care about the timeout he called that some people think "iced his own kicker." You can't ice a guy like Grant Ressel. Play calling on the final drive (didn't it seem like they were content to just let Ressel kick a 48 yarder for the win? That ain't a chip shot, kids) was atrocious, and I'm not sure they were aware that you still only get 4 downs to get a first in OT. I love what the man has done for our program, but he and his assistants are too stubborn for their own good sometimes. I'd give the coaching staff a C for last night's game.
Overall, I'm pleased with the effort the boys put forward. It was huge for James Franklin to go into a hostile environment like that and play the way he did. Missouri's offense came together last night. The defense needs some work (and needs some guys to get healthy), but it'll be fine. They didn't quit and should have won the game last night. I thought I'd be pissed when I woke up this morning, but I actually feel pretty good about the game. This team will be fine. I've still got them down for 9-3 (additional losses to OU and Okie Lite).
With all that being said, I should mention that I know very little about football. I've never played the sport, nor do I know much about the intricacies. I know less about football than any of the other 3 major sports (4 if you count The Challenge). So take my rant for what it's worth. Go Tigers!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Why Start a Blog?
First of all, I should say that I absolutely detest the word "blog." Really? That's the best we could do? Blog sounds like something you'd get a side of in a Vietnamese restaurant. But whatever.
My wife and I were on a walk last week, and she says "I think you should start a blog." I say "Ok. Why?" She responds with something like "because you write well, you have unique opinions, and I think people would read it." Translation: You were on the newspaper staff in high school, and you're cranky enough that people might actually get a kick out of your quirky complaints.
I am fairly opinionated when it comes to most things. Music, Politics, Pop Culture, Society in general, etc. But really, the thing that drives me the most is sports. My life moves from baseball season to football season to hockey season to the most glorious of seasons: college basketball. Sports are what keep me going when it's 8 degrees outside with 2 feet of snow on the ground.
So why did I title this thing "The Jaded Sports Fan"? Well, let me share with you my favorite sports teams, and see if you can figure it out:
So that's where the name comes from. I was going to name it "The Travelling Cowgirl Blog" but some goofus already has that name.
I'll be discussing more than just sports, though. Those who know me know that I don't really shy away from expressing my opinion. In fact, I really don't like anyone or anything. So maybe my wife was right. Maybe I will be good at this. You'll have to come back and find out!
My wife and I were on a walk last week, and she says "I think you should start a blog." I say "Ok. Why?" She responds with something like "because you write well, you have unique opinions, and I think people would read it." Translation: You were on the newspaper staff in high school, and you're cranky enough that people might actually get a kick out of your quirky complaints.
I am fairly opinionated when it comes to most things. Music, Politics, Pop Culture, Society in general, etc. But really, the thing that drives me the most is sports. My life moves from baseball season to football season to hockey season to the most glorious of seasons: college basketball. Sports are what keep me going when it's 8 degrees outside with 2 feet of snow on the ground.
So why did I title this thing "The Jaded Sports Fan"? Well, let me share with you my favorite sports teams, and see if you can figure it out:
- The Kansas City Royals - Last made the playoffs in 1985. I was 5. Have finished above .500 once since I can remember. Perpetually in "rebuilding" mode. Pretty much the worst franchise in professional sports.
- The Buffalo Bills - Really? You need an explanation here? 4 straight Super Bowl losses, followed by 17 years of damn near unwatchable crap.
- The Buffalo Sabres - Brett Hull's BS goal. The phantom goal. Team bankruptcy. Lots of early playoff exits.
- Missouri Basketball - Tyus Edney. Quin Snyder. Scandal after scandal, and disappointing season after disappointing season. Frank Haith's gonna turn things around, though, right?
- Missouri Football - Hey, I absolutely love what Gary Pinkel has done with our program. With that being said, I think we're in for a lot of losses in the Fart.com Bowl in the coming years.
So that's where the name comes from. I was going to name it "The Travelling Cowgirl Blog" but some goofus already has that name.
I'll be discussing more than just sports, though. Those who know me know that I don't really shy away from expressing my opinion. In fact, I really don't like anyone or anything. So maybe my wife was right. Maybe I will be good at this. You'll have to come back and find out!
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