communication breakdown

Save Toby!

Sometimes I run across an idea so bold, so daring, that it inspires me and restores my faith in my fellow man. Yesterday, I ran across one of those ideas.

http://www.savetoby.com

I defy you not to laugh at this site. My only regret about the whole thing is that I didn't come up with it first...

So, just a few words about the Super Bowl last weekend. I had a good time over at my buddy Rob's place, lots of people showed, and a good time was had by all. In the spirit of the Sports Guy, I felt like giving out a few awards (thought not as many as he did, because he's more creative than me):

• Best Sports-related moment: Harrison's goal-line interception -This was awesome for several reasons. First of all, it epitomizes the Patriots. The offense was really sputtering, and it took a defensive play to really start the gears moving. But when they make a play, the always do it in style. You could just feel the collective Patriots defense willing themselves to cause a turnover, and it happened. Great teams seem to have that ability, and the Pats do it all the time. Plus, I distinctly remember feeling in the moments leading up to that interception that something was coming - you could just feel it. It was like the Eagles were flirting with disaster, because McNabb threw a near-interception just before that, and it seemed like the Patriots were preparing themselves for a pounce. When it came, it was intense to watch.
• Worst Sporst-related moment: Eagles' Final Drive (aka "The Six-Minute Drill") - Hard to pick anything else here. What a waste, building up all that excitement by getting close late (and covering the spread), even muffing the onside kick and getting the ball back, just to squander their time and bring the game to an anticlimactic end? Unfortunately, 20 years from now, that's what we'll all remember most about the Eagles' performance in this game.
• Best Story: T.O. silencing the critics - Love him or hate him, you've got to respect what he did on that field. On the biggest stage in the world, with a hobbled leg, he left it all on the field with 9 receptions for 122 yards against a solid New England secondary. You can question his on-field antics, but you can't question his heart or his passion for the game.
• Best commercial: AmeriQuest (Cat in the Kitchen) - This one had me absolutely rolling. I love to give marketing weenies a hard time, but every once in awhile, they just belt one right out of the park. I thought this was far and away the most creative commercial of the bunch, and when you toss in a good laugh, you can't ask for much more out of a 30-second advertisement.
• Best commercial (runner-up): Budweiser (Soldiers) - If you're spending 2.4 million on a commercial and not going to make it funny, then you better make it meaningful. Anheiser-Busch threw a complete curveball that marked an interesting about-face from their advertising tactics of the last several years. It was thoughtful, appropriate, and daring for a beer company. Good call.
• Worst commercial: MBNA - Am I the only one who was completely lost at the end of this commercial? Really, what were they getting at? Here's what I remember. It takes place on a football field. Gladys Knight is in it. That's about it - so, what does this have to do with a credit card company? Thank God I don't have one of their cards, or I might have to cancel it out of principle. They should take the 2.4 million bones they just spent on it and distribute it equally among their customers, as reparations for the embarrassment they've caused them.
• Best Party Food: Cheesecake Casserole - Or, as I like to call it, "angina on a plate". This was a tough call, because there were so many good foods (mostly desserts) at the party. But I had to go back for seconds on the cheesecake, and I remember thinking that it was worth having another piece even if it meant my stomach could explode. So I think that makes it the winner. The strawberries on top were a nice touch, too.

In recent events, I decided that it might be interesting to attend my fraternity's election meeting last night. Apparently I have a short-term memory and forgot how long such meetings run. But this one wasn't too bad - it only ran five hours. By the end I was thinking of walking into traffic. I am still glad I went though - elections always mark a turning point in the chapter's progress, especially when you have two radically different presidential candidates like we saw last night. It made for some really interesting discussion and it gave me some perspective on what the chapter is like nowadays. That's the good part. The bad part was getting home after 2 AM. Yikes.

We went out for some food afterwards at the ol' Steak 'n' Shake - it's been forever since I've been there. Between the double helping of that cheesecake stuff and the plate of grease I ate last night, I should probably go ahead and admit myself at the local hospital. Anyways, I bring up this part of the story for only one reason. Several of my buddies told me that, the night before my graduation, I was running around the fraternity house wearing a blanket as a cape, like a superhero. While that's pretty funny in itself, what's disturbing about it to me is that I have absolutely no memory of this. There could be a couple explanations for this. One, it didn't really happen and they just thought it would be a funny story. Two, it did happen and somebody spiked my drinks that night or something. Three, it happened and my brain decided it was something best not remembered. Right now I'm leaning towards #3. I get the feeling I'm going to be running for public office one day, and I'll be winning in a landslide until incriminating photos get leaked involving me and a cape. What a bummer.

OK, last topic for today, but an important one. Maybe you'll disagree when you hear it, but it's my blog so I determine what's important. I find myself having to defend my love for The OC all the time. Here are the chief complaints I always hear about it:

• It is just another lame version of 90210
• Only 13-year old girls watch that show

I plan to briefly outline the reasons (in no particular order) why I consider The OC to be a good show. Through these, I will disprove the criticisms above and maybe get some of these monkeys off my back.

• 1. Music / Soundtrack - Not only is the music good, but it is utilized very effectively. Music is a highly underrated and often overlooked aspect of film and TV. When it's bad it can be ignored, but when it's good it can make a world of difference. I think the benchmark of a good soundtrack is whether or not it aids in eliciting appropriate emotions at the proper times, and I feel this is done magnificently on The OC. As an added bonus, they use a lot of music from new and undiscovered artists, and then provide them exposure through the show's website.
• 2. Good Humor, Good Drama - Simply put, I find this show hilarous. Now, keep in mind, it's a drama, not a comedy, so laughs are not the driving theme of the show - so it's not non-stop funny. But I think the writers understand the pulse of culture today and know what's funny. A good drama should (at least somewhat) reflect life, which is funny sometimes, and not-so-funny other times. Within the same show I find myself laughing a lot, but also empathizing a lot with the pain and conflict of the characters. The OC does a good job of balancing these polar opposites, which leads well into my next point.
• 3. Balanced storylines - I think this is vital to the show, and yet is probably its best-kept secret. Most people who do not watch the show think that it is nothing more than an expose' on the life of rich Californian teenyboppers. Nothing could be further from the truth. First, I will admit that one core of the show is following the lives of several teens in Orange County. Undoubtedly, this is going to involve awkward romances, bad relationships, poor decisions, and crazy situations. Is it cheesy? Sometimes, but not often. But there is another whole core to the show, just as important to its success, that revolves around the adult characters. Some of my favorite plotlines have dealt with adult topics. Then there are those story arcs that combine the two, which are usually excellent as well. The most notable example of this was the prevailing storyline of the first season, when the Cohens helped Ryan out of trouble and came to adopt him as their own son. There were some truly moving moments throughout that whole process. If you think this is "Orange County 90210", you're sorely mistaken.
• 4. Seth Cohen - Seth is one of my all-time favorite TV characters. I wouldn't do justice to his character to try and fully explain his personality here, but just suffice it to say that he is real. While he has a razor-sharp wit and obviously has money, he has real flaws. Maybe it's just me, but I can identify with Seth in many ways. Just watch once - you can't help but like the guy.
• 5. Theme Song / Intro - I separated this from the music point because I think they are different - they achieve different objectives. The theme song and opening credits are like the "pre-show show": while they have no effect whatsoever on the actual plotline, they do set the viewer's initial mood for the show. One of the little things I love about The OC is how they lead into the theme song. There is always a brief portion of the show before the credits, and they always find a great line or a priceless look on which to cut to the song. In case you haven't heard it, the song is called "California" by Phantom Planet. It's hard to verbalize this point, but all I can say is that it really gears me up for the show when I hear it. That's all a good theme song/intro should do. Contrast this with the intro for "Lost", which I despise (though I love the show). It does nothing to get me geared up, so I start emotionally flat and it is the show's responsibility to get me involved. With The OC, they have me hooked from the start with the intro.
• 6. Camerawork - Another underappreciated but vital aspect of The OC's success. I don't deny that many kids watch this show for superficial reasons, and that's OK. But my point is that, for the more discerning viewer, there's a lot more to behold. The camera work and set design on the show are fantastic. There are lots of little things that make this true - the camera angle on a close-up, the lighting, an interesting shadow, cutting away at the appropriate time - believe it or not, these are things that I notice while watching, and they really affect my enjoyment level. I take pleasure in seeing something well-executed and creatively done, whether it is film or TV. And believe it or not, The OC excels in this area.

So that's about all I can think of. Did I convince you? Frankly, I don't care. Actually, I wouldn't expect that I did - you can't make a point about something like a TV show with nothing more than words. You'll just have to see it for yourself. I feel that if you do so with an open mind, you'll probably enjoy it. Now, there's always the possibility that, in the future, the show could suffer a loss in quality, as all shows do. When that day comes, I'll be just as critical as the next guy. But what I can say is this - the first season is done and out on DVD, and I can say for sure that it is phenomenal. If you want a sure-fire example of The OC's potential, watch some of the early first-season episodes.

But if you get hooked, don't blame me...