Put the remote down, Chuck Sambuchino exhorted. Of course I agree with the advice, much as I
agree with sensible diets, daily exercise, and respecting my elders.
Was Mr. Sambuchino aware, however, that the very day after
the NCW conference, Xfinity launched a free week of premium channels, including
HBO? Game
of Thrones, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, the list goes on. Without
naming names, some have been known to cram multiple seasons of multiple shows in
seven short days and nights during this annual rite. Yet here was a respected author, survival
guide extraordinaire, declaiming the dangers of mindless TV. He was quite emphatic. Doth he protest too much? Was Mr. Sambuchino, in fact, a covert agent
deployed to increase television viewership via the timeless tactic of forbidden
fruit?
The timing was suspicious.
Hearing Sambuchino’s admonitory voice in my ear, I reviewed
the options. To win the argument in my
head, it was imperative to select shows that would teach me to write better,
without me actually writing. With such worthy criteria in mind, I narrowed
candidates to The Newsroom and John Adams. My viewing would not be a mind-suck, but a
Master Class in script-writing from award-winning writers. For Free. Hah! I didn’t even need the
remote because I didn’t change channels! Don’t try your defeatist tricks on me, Mr. Gnome Gnasher.
Settling in, I started with the second season of The Newsroom. Would Will and Mac finally get together?
Speaking solely for myself, I don’t know anyone, much less an entire roomful of
people, so persistently snappy, snitty, and witty as Aaron Sorkin’s
creations. A fact I found myself slightly
grateful for, although my hint of
weariness with his characters could be due to watching nine episodes nearly
back to back. Normally, I might've broken it up with another show, but I was being responsible.
Damn you, Chuck! Not
only must I suffer the typical guilt engendered by turning on the flickering
screen, but now the ghost of the keynote speaker from a conference I paid good
money for keeps popping up like one of his sneaky little red-hatted attackers,
denouncing my frittering time away on free cable. Wavering between I shouldn't be watching!
And, I could've watched so much
more! I couldn't completely enjoy myself.
Due to time constraints, I was cut off after Episode 3 of John Adams. Fortunately, I already read David
McCullough’s fabulous book, so I know how it ends. Plus, AMC just launched a new show based on a
Revolution-era spy ring, so I can still fill up on rebels and lobsterbacks in
judicious weekly segments. Naturally, I
won’t let it stop me from writing. Chuck
should be proud.
Valerie Arnold is a writer of mysteries as well as a real estate agent with RE/MAX Alliance of Northern Colorado. Call her if you are selling/buying a home and she'll weave a mysterious tale for no charge.
3 comments:
Love this Valerie! I am glad it isn't just me haunted by the Keynote Ghost of conference past.
Ah, yes, the intentionality of picking shows "to help me write better"….love it! Keep the blogs coming with the creative commentary. What wonderful shows to inspire.
Post a Comment