Monday Musings - New TV Season Edition...

When it comes to watching TV, I have to admit to loving a GOOD documentary, and when it comes to documentaries, you just HAVE to admit that Ken Burns is about as good as you can get.

Whether it was his film about the CIVIL WAR, which in my opinion is the quintessential work, or his films about Twain, Jefferson, or even his work of the history of jazz, it not only tells the story, but put voices to all the faces that are involved.

It's as though YOU are there, as a part of it, rather than a casual observer.

Burns breathes new life into the pages of our history.

And he has done so again with his latest film: THE WAR, chronicling four America towns and the people in them who were affected by World War II. It follows four veterans of that war, and their reasons for signing up, and doing "what had to be done" in order to preserve OUR way of life.

With this film Burns strives to let us know the sacrifices made by everyone during this time in our history, as well as the fact that 1000 vets from that war are passing from us every day, and that if we don't tell their story NOW...we may never get the chance.

If you haven't watched it, it's much like this blog; you're missing too much for your own good. I'm recording it, not only for me, but also as an homage to MY departed dad, who served in India during WW2, as a radio operator in Barackpore. I'd kind of like to think he's right along side me again as I view it.

Thanks, Ken for telling the story that deserves to be told...lest we forget.

On the other side of the viewing coin, was the one-hour season premiere of FAMILY GUY, which did a marvelous parody of STAR WARS...probably one of the BEST I've ever seen. And I've been there (with Star Wars) since the beginning.

And as poignantly representative of WW2 as THE WAR was, this was hilariously off the chart. Talk about extremes...and in ONE NIGHT (at the same time) no less! The best part about this show was the ORIGINAL MUSIC by John Williams (who is even shown conducting the orchestra...on TATOOINE...freakin' sweet!), and the animation digitally superimposed over the original film was simply brilliant.

Of course, without giving TOO much away, if you can get past Brian and Stewie as Chewie and Vader (respectively) being as "vertically-challenged" as they are, it becomes perfect typecasting, as anyone who regularly watches Family Guy will tell you. Lois is Leia, Peter is Han, Chris is Luke with C3PO and R2D2 "played" by Quagmire and Cleveland. Obi-Wan is lovingly (mmmmm....mmmmmm) portrayed by the old perved up neighbor, Mr. Herbert, who always have a "thing" for any young boy, Jedi or not.It just makes you beg for the "sequel".

Nice going, guys. Very entertaining.

It's also premiere week all over the channels, so we get to see if Sara drowns on CSI, what is up with Shark's daughter, whether or not THE UNIT can ever get back together (in one piece), which HERO will survive and which one will die, and who gunning for "H" on CSI: Miami. Cliff-hangers galore. And of course we can't just have new episodes for old shows without completely NEW shows, which means even MORE "reality" programs to become video voyeurs with (yawn). When it comes to REALITY shows...I watch COPS, the show that started it all.

Well, that or the PBS home-repair shows. Can't get more REAL that This Old House, can we?

SO...enjoy the fare that's available on TV, skip the crap, and pass the pretzels!