Notes from the Counter Programming

[FunBobbyMucha]

Well, another Superbowl completely ignored and unmissed by me. That's a lifetime record of 39 for 39! In case you gridironers ever wonder what else is on, what the rest of us have to settle for, here's a quick run down:

I was busy in my studio and flipping channels to avoid commercials, so none of these were watched in their enterity--NBC's granite-faced news magazine host was shadowing some American Idolesque music biz guy as he trolled for pre-teen Britneys and Justins (had you switched over, you could've seen the Ghosts of Halftime Shows Future). It was creepy but not enough to be terribly compelling, all nine year olds in camel toe gear.

Notting Hill. This movie grew on me the second time I caught it, and so I'll come back to it for specific humorous moments (the roommate mistaking mayonnaise for yogurt, Hugh Grant being shuttled thru the press junket). Comedy Central is showing Saving Silverman, a bad movie about the universally familiar dilemma of Pal-Meets-Succubus, Pal-Falls-for-Succubus, Succubus-must-die. Hate the movie but love the intent. Man, is Jack Black fat...

HBO is showing Ocean's 11, and I'm WTF'ing. I never pegged this as a movie women watched, but then again there is the Clooney/Pitt/Damon factor. I'm seeing O11 in a whole different light. Next up, STD and the City.

The WB is polluting the culture with the Surreal Life. I switched past fast, but not fast enough to avoid the sight of a shirtless Ron Jeremy (shudder). VH1 is advertising Moulin Rouge, but actually playing an episode of "Bands Reunited." I think it's the Alarm. Old and British, at any rate.

Alec Baldwin has just arrived as the Ugly American star in Notting Hill. Hugh is crestfallen.

Finally, finally, at 9:30, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Not a great episode, but it does feature David Schwimmer playing himself. He's not the "totally different from Ross" guy he and others have always claimed, from what I see. Thank you Larry David. Thank you for being the zeitgeist of a self-centered and neurotic nation. Sigh.

Next year I gotta remember to rent some videos.