Tuesday, September 07, 2010
I have long been a major fan of the television show, Monk, which recently completed its final season. Since Mel and I chose not to have cable television many years ago, we have rented our television DVDs through the mail, so we carefully select what we watch. I'm always looking for new, clean, intelligent television shows to order on Netflix, and we love Monk. It doesn't give me nightmares, which is always a good thing. It is also funny at times, heart-touching at times, and the characters keep it a whole lot cleaner than most shows we've seen lately. Monk's tragic-funny personality has revealed some of the struggles, pain and trials of those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder. No, it doesn't go far enough to show the deepest parts of this tragic malady, but then it wouldn't be funny, it would just be heartbreaking.
Two things I have to watch out for are sex and violence on TV--not just shoot 'em-up violence, but detective shows, like NCIS--which we also love, by the way--which reveal far too much graphic detail for me. Mel, of course, can watch anything he wants, and he doesn't think he has nightmares. Since he doesn't remember his dreams, I don't know how he can tell. But since he deals with blood and gore and death and the underbelly of life at work, I guess he either has to shut it all off or go crazy. Since Monk is not a medical show, Mel is less vociferous about whether or not they've gotten the details right--never watch a true medical show with someone who works in the field. Crystal can attest to this, I know.
For me, the crux of a good show is the characterization, not necessarily the plot, although both are important. I don't care how well-detailed a plot is for a show, however, if I don't like the characters, I could not care less what happens to them. Like Colleen, I'm a Trekkie, and we've watched almost every Star Trek episode and movie available. Long live Spock! Data's a favorite, as well as Bones, Kirk, Captain Picard...and on and on. I remember actually having a crush on Chekov when I was a young teen. THAT is how long Star Trek has been popular.
As I said, NCIS is also a favorite because of the characters. Granted, I have to watch it with Mel's guidance because I close my eyes during the gory parts, and he has to tell me when I can look again. That's what I call a good marriage.
Despite some harsh--sometimes very harsh--language in two of our favorite shows, the older Becker, and House, make me laugh and nod my head. Both shows, because of the irascible main characters, are able to address many Christian themes without a great deal of harassment from viewers, because the main characters are outspoken about their lack of belief. I love how they do that. I'm looking forward to seeing if House continues to have those startling "aha" moments it has had in past seasons. We're still waiting on Season 6 to come out.
Any suggestions? I'm always looking for a new series to order and watch, something clean and funny without offending my intelligence or my values. Do you have any favorites?
Labels: Favorite TV shows, Monk
Hannah Alexander
posted at
11:52 PM
Comments (23)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I'm obsessed with reality shows where people change their lives. So I love "Biggest Loser", "Clean House", "Intervention" and the newest one, "Obsessed", which is about OCD. It is so great for characterization, because the stories behind how people get fat, hoard, do drugs or become obsessed is totally fascinating. People's pain and not dealing with it, leads to some weird behavior. Which makes for great characters: Monk anyone?
So after watching "Obsessed", I think I'm a little OCD. Which ticks me off, because why can't I have the kind that keeps a perfect house and organizes her kids into greatness? NO. I have to have the kind that sends me to the shopping mall, and buys pretty, sparkly things with no actual use. The kind that gets overwhelmed easily, and turns me into a useless blob, who watches too much reality television. My grandmother expected perfection, and I have some real issues with perfectionism, but you know, watching these shows, I think, well, hey, at least I've got it under control.
Oh my gosh, I'm like one of those people who reads WebMD and thinks they have every disease known to man. I need to start dwelling with normality. It doesn't help that I live in California -- where I am NORMAL. Doesn't that scare you? It should because we're moving East at an alarming rate.
So what should I be watching to bring me closer to the "normal" scale?
Labels: "Obsessed", Biggest Loser, Monk, OCD, reality television
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
It's a blessing...and a curse...
One of my family's favorite shows is "Monk", the OCD detective and he always says his gift is a "blessing and a curse". When doing the research for "Split Ends", I found out that really good hair designers cost a lot of money. The good was, of course, I had fabulous hair. Researching good hair gave me the blessing of knowing what makes a good stylist. The curse part was that I got addicted to good hair and I can't afford it. Not with four kids, the junior high school trip to Yosemite ($625!) Hello??? I'll be danged if I'd pay $625 to camp, but that's me. At least it's not me, that's the good part. I just have to pay for it, that's the curse part.
Anyhoo, I started doing my own hair. It started because the last stylist thinned my hair -- that never works. It didn't. So since about July, I have been cursed with bad hair. I figured, why pay for the privilege? So I started coloring it myself -- even highlighted it myself. Then...then I got cocky and I cut it myself. Sure, I couldn't see the back, but I could cut by braille, you know? Only I couldn't and now, it's even worse.
So I'm trying a new stylist, highly rated on Yelp.com and yet a little more affordable for camping trips that should come with a valet. He's actually trained in the same place that started me on my research for Split Ends. So I've got my before shot here. You can't tell how bad it is in the photo, but it's totally uneven and hacked up. Wish me luck!
Labels: Monk, Split Ends
I have long been a major fan of the television show, Monk, which recently completed its final season. Since Mel and I chose not to have cable television many years ago, we have rented our television DVDs through the mail, so we carefully select what we watch. I'm always looking for new, clean, intelligent television shows to order on Netflix, and we love Monk. It doesn't give me nightmares, which is always a good thing. It is also funny at times, heart-touching at times, and the characters keep it a whole lot cleaner than most shows we've seen lately. Monk's tragic-funny personality has revealed some of the struggles, pain and trials of those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder. No, it doesn't go far enough to show the deepest parts of this tragic malady, but then it wouldn't be funny, it would just be heartbreaking.
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