"Dallas" is still dull as dishwater....

Oh, the 1980s. When not everyone could have cable television and even if you did, you didn't have 800+ channels of crap from which to choose your evening's entertainment. Back then, people actually made plans around their favorite television shows. Well, unless they were wealthy enough to own a VHS or BETA video recording machine to record a show for them, commercials and all. No DVRs. No commercial skips. Watch it when it airs or wait until rerun season and hope the episode you missed is there.

I had to explain all of that to Youngest Son tonight as Husband sat on the couch (and for over an hour did NOT fall asleep!) and watched the new series of Dallas on TNT. He was a big fan of the show back in the 1980s and wanted to see how stupid....I mean....good the modernized show would be. Of course, when you get the old actors on there playing their old roles, you can't help but remember what the show used to be and wonder if they can actually get it to be that good (or bad) again.

Now, I didn't watch Dallas when it was on in the 1980s. The only episodes I ever watched were when J.R. was shot (because, who didn't watch that one?) and the one when Southfork burned. That episode I was somewhat sort-of forced to watch because I was at a sleepover at a friend's house and all of the other girls loved Dallas but I had no idea who anyone was other than J.R. and Bobby. Oh, and I did see the episode when Bobby comes back in the shower -- but that was a rerun many, many years after it originally aired.

So, I'm watching the show with Husband and it's as goofy as ever. Youngest Son asked, "Is this a male soap opera?"

Yes, Son. Yes it is.

Nighttime soap operas like Dallas, Dynasty, and Falcon Crest were heavily watched by women but they were designed to get the men-folk into the sittin' room to watch as well. They weren't as silly as the daytime soaps, but you still knew that every scene had to have someone looking off into the distance as if they're thinking, "Did that cat pee in the litterbox?" (it's an acting trick) while the camera either gets closer or pulls back before the scene changes. Or before a commercial came on. Or before another ad for the same show you were watching came on to preview the next week's episode. As if you'd miss it....

So, yeah, I'm not particularly thrilled with the new version of the old show. I liked how they tried to keep the intro credits the same with the music and scenes of Dallas (Texas). But, a neat intro does not a great show make. I might give it a few more episodes before I totally write it off as a bad job. Seeing Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy talking about what Miss Ellie did or didn't want with her will is still interesting. Goofy, but interesting.

More Mythbusters tonight

Tonight there will be a rerun of the "Duct Tape Island" episode of Mythbusters on Discovery Channel. I've already written a review of it and it still gets lots of hits every day. I keep seeing strange questions in the "Search Engine Terms" on my Stats page that refer readers to my blog.

IMPORTANT NOTE -- If you're looking for answers about something in the show but I don't already have it in the body of the post, feel free to post a question in the Comments section! Then I'll let you know if I have any information about it and/or get the answer for you! I don't mind answering questions!!

The rerun of the popular episode will be right after the premiere of their "Men vs. Women" episode. No idea how that one is going to turn out but I'm sure it will be interesting. And controversial. I know there's a lot things considered easier for men that I'm able to do than most of the males I know. And I know some guys who can do a lot of the "lady-type" things better than me (laundry, housekeeping, etc.). If the episode is decent, I might post a review tomorrow.

That's all for today. It's been cold and dreary outside so I've decided to curl up on the couch (yes, the cursed couch!) and let myself fall asleep. Hasn't happened yet. Will have to change spaces before the shows air tonight.

100th Post!

I'm actually stunned I made it this far. If this were a television show, they'd have a big cake and a special episode. If this were a birthday, I'd get a letter from the Governor, Senators, and possibly even the President. If this were an anniversary, it would be covered on all channels, both cable and network, in one way or another.

On the other hand, I always knew I'd get this far. Yes, having ADD makes it difficult to keep myself focused and I can always find something else to do instead of sitting here and typing something. However, also having OCD makes me get up and type at least a little something every day because I can't stand the thought of having a date without a post. That just wouldn't be organized and I'd never forgive myself. Of course, if the reason were something I couldn't control -- severe illness, natural disaster, death -- then I could cope with it but would still be disappointed.

So, what have I done to make this event special? Nothing, really. I took a nice nap today. I did the special effects makeup for my friend again. I watched tonight's episode of Mythbusters where they tried square wheels on a truck. I think they needed a four-wheel drive truck, but no one asked me. The episode of Unchained Reaction (theme = flight) is boring....again. I don't really see the show going for another season, but there's already worse crap on TV so what do I know?

I'm looking forward to watching the National Geographic special with James Cameron about the Titanic. Yes, I know it's the 100th anniversary of the sinking. Yes, I know the movie was hideously long and all you really needed was the last third of the movie where the ship hits the iceberg and the sinking. There was a Broadway musical made about Titanic and I've never seen it. I don't think I will either because I can't imagine what the songs would be. "Glub, Glub, Glub! This water is cold!" or "Are You Getting My SOS?" Even Cameron said that his pitch for the movie was "Titanic plus Romeo and Juliet." I don't remember teenage suicide in Titanic but if you're going to try to cram a love story into a disaster, it's better to go big or go home.

Time to plant myself in front of the television and become one with the couch. Let me rephrase that -- become one with the loveseat. The couch has already claimed its first victim of the night. Better poke Husband so I'll be able to hear the show without having it turned-up so much that it annoys the neighbors across town.