But That Makes No Sense At All

I like to tell people that I am my own best contradiction. Nowhere is this more evident than in my taste of entertainment. I simply love some things that I shouldn't love.

Don't believe me?

Music: Escape

I love the song, "Escape" (aka the Pina Colada song). Love it! I should hate it—and no, not just because it's awesomely cheesetastic in the way that only a 70s pop song about a personal ad (or tube tops with terry cloth shorts) could ever be. No, I should hate it because I'm not a big fan of infidelity. I'm not a fan of it in real life. I'm not a fan of it on television. I'm not a fan, period. I should hate this song because essentially, it's a couple (married, I assume as he refers to her as his "old lady") who decides that they are bored so they take out a personal ad to find more interesting partners. You know how they react when they find out that the other has tried to play extramarital hook-up? They laugh and say, "Aw, it's you". Yeah, no bloodshed whatsoever—that's as unlikely as someone asking me out. Also, they have clearly never spoken to each other because they were unaware of some basic facts like affection for champagne and getting caught in the rain.

As an aside, I should also hate this song because they expound on the virtues of making love in the sand on the dunes of the cape at midnight. Perhaps they were under the influence because a) midnight is way too late to muster any kind of real energy, b) midnight at the beach is freaking cold in LA and c) you'll be removing sand from unmentionable places for years. Also, if you are even semi-famous, TMZ is recording you.

I should hate this song. And yet, I don't. It is on my gloriously deranged iPod. In fact, I was singing it in the car today. Loudly. I might put it back on now.

How am I still single?

 

Television: Breaking Bad

Anyone who has ever met me knows how incredibly anti-drug I am. I've never seen good come from it (other than for genuine medical reasons, obviously). I hate what the "recreational" money goes to support. I don't want to be anywhere near people doing it. I've heard the "addicts give recreational users a bad name" from too many people—usually right before they damaged something or someone permanently.

I love "Breaking Bad". I think it's one of the best television programs on air right now—writing, acting, technicals, everything is done so incredibly well. Now, you could argue that the reason I love it is because, given the events of the show, anyone who has come into contact with Walt (and meth) has seen their lives go spectacularly to shit. I'll admit that works for me. I like that I don't have to be cheering for the protagonist because what he is doing is horrific. But I was in from the beginning. I was in during the early justifications. I was in the first time I yelled, "No!!!!!!" at the television (because I erroneously believe that television is interactive and will listen to me). And I think I'll be there no matter where they take it.

With that in mind, I'm going to be hurling some questions at the creator of "Breaking Bad" on September 18. Vince Gilligan will be front and center at a charity Q&A to be moderated by director Michelle MacLaren. All the proceeds will be going to help those afflicted by lung cancer. No RVs required. Details on tickets are here: http://www.ibginc.org/conversationseries

 

Television: Californication

Hmmmm infidelity and drugs (awww, Lew) abound. Yet, there is no denying its appeal. Sure, some of you are saying, "You love everything David Duchovny does". Ha! Well, that's clearly not true, but I do love him in this part. I love that in the midst of a binge, Hank is surrounded by literary imagery. I loved the Gatsby-infused story of the second season. I loved the sirens circling Hank at the end of season three. I find it interesting that so many people claim that Hank is just David. To me, that just proves that Duchovny is actually a pretty skilled actor—how else would so many people who have never met the man be convinced that he and a character are essentially living the same life? You have to be doing something right to make that look so effortless. But most of all I love the premise—a man had everything he wanted in life and lost it. I want to know what he does after realizing that self-loathing and self-destruction is never self-contained. Sure, a tiny part of me would like someone to point out to Karen that if she hadn't cheated on Hank to begin with (and left him to marry another man), the current chain of events would not have occurred (her own behavior has taken her pretty far away from victim), but I'm also fine to just go where the story takes them. And I'm hoping that I get to do that for many years to come.

 

I think it is clear; my contradictions are awesome! No, if you will excuse me… "So, I wrote to the paper… took out a personal ad…"

Kate