The one without a title (a k a, my brain's numb from TV watching much)

I'm i the only one who gets irritated with the put-me-to-sleep entertainment reviews on our local dailies? You pore over them and you're still left puzzled as to whether you should watch the show/movie or give it a pass. It's almost like the authors were given the type of punishment where you have to write 101 lines like we used to in school. (OK, so we never got such a punishment in school, but sometimes i wish we had coz it sure beats chopping firewood no?) I just wish they wrote with feeling; like they actually watched it (hint: if you're a guy who can't stand desperate housewives, give it to someone who can at least give us a fair picture of what to expect) instead of sounding like they just copy & paste blurbs...

BUT to be fair, they get paid for it so they HAVE to do it, which automatically becomes a buzz kill...sooo, since we'll still be major broke arses this weekend, and staying home is the most pocket friendly entertainment option, I've decided to jot down a few of my recommendations for the weekend....

# 1. Deadwood: season 1,2,3 (A collector' s item in my books)
This is not only one of my all time fave shows, but it is also one of the dirtiest and most brilliantly written. This western drama series is set in the lawless town of deadwood during the gold rush era. The corruption, politics, shady alliances and power play disturbingly remind me of present day Kenya, except we Kenyans have better personal hygiene and worry too much what people think.
The profanity (used liberally & with gusto) will leave your jaw on the floor and the characters, who range from the vile to the quirky are all unforgettable.

2 reasons why i love this show so much?

2. The plot's tight and the dialogue is sheer poetry. You're left feeling like you're watching a wild west version of a Shakespearean play (that is if Shakespeare wrote it psyched and spectacularly drunk to his eye balls) ; the showdowns between Al Swearengen (chief villain) and the Sheriff are just as dramatic and the antics of characters like calamity Jane (the town drunk) and Mr. Wu (a businessman who doesn't speak English but juas 01 lovely English swear word...and no, it doesn't start with an F) will leave you in stitches.

And my # 1 reason? One Al Swearengen: This guy takes hustling up to a whole new level. He's ruthless, highly intelligent and cunning, so much so, you find yourself grudgingly respecting & rooting for him. And why shouldn't you when he's constantly & deftly delivering (in vicious tones) philosophies like:

"...pain or damage don't end the world, or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man-and give some back!"

Do I hear a liquid hallelujah everyone?

# 2. How i met your mother: season 1-5 (Also a collector's item)
Want to burst a gut laughing? this is your show. Why? because it is, simply put, LEGEN....waaaait for it...DARY!!!

# 3. Gossip girl: season 1,2,3
Fact: This is a show based on the YA book series (which i read & in my opinion, the show is sassier than the books) by the same name about a mysterious blogger who updates us on the lives of ridiculously rich, private school attending teens. (yes, the butch side in me nearly rolled my eyes at this, but its surprisingly entertaining, so don't be too quick to judge the book by its cover)

Fact: The show is a guilty pleasure teen drama (& way cooler than the adult soaps) so you're not supposed to take it too seriously. Hell, that's the whole point of guilty pleasure entertainment!!!!

Yes, i LOVE it. And yes, these teens drink, smoke, shag, manipulate, bully, and generally behave badly -yet they're still smart enough to care about not becoming losers with trust funds. The beauty of it is, It's a show that doesn't talk down to teens (i still remember how i used to hate that); it's awesomely sassy and hilariously over the top.

But why I'm I hooked to it? Because of Chuck Bass & Blair Waldorf. The 02 are superbly the nastiest, most manipulative self absorbed snobs currently on TV. Remember 48 laws of power?

Go right to law # 15: "Crush your enemy totally."

These two kids live by this law and i admit I love to watch them wreck havoc from the safety of my couch...their one redeeming quality? With Chuck & Blair as your friends, you don't need an army.

Warning: Parents will froth at the mouth over this one. But before they get into that first dry heave, let me play devil's advocate by reminding them teens have been behaving badly looong before there was gossip girl. And right now, you've got kids who lack the imagination, passion, discipline and drive to paint & realize their dreams in a world that is harsh and unforgiving. So yeah, you got bigger problems than teen shows.

Honorable mention (s): For those who love addictive, fast, no-nonsense ass-kicking, shoot 'em up kind of suspense dramas, i highly recommend 24....and there's a clock ticking...

And if you love the supernatural & the deliciously bizarre, do sample True blood. I'm currently eating up each and every episode.


But please don't just take my word for it... after all, I've been known to watch TV after having one or two (maybe three-ish?) highly suspect sippy sippies....



Mob wendos,


Nyambura


PS: Sesame street turned 40 yrs this month. Now that's a classic. I still love this show, and i salute KBC for introducing me to it coz it was the most creative education/entertainment combo show for kids i ever watched. I not only recommend it to kids, I'll watch it with the kids.