What I’m…: Special Wednesday Rules! Edition

*******SPOILERS LIE BELOW FROM LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV, SO IF YOU TIVO’D OR TAPED STOP READING NOW***********




*******SERIOUSLY I’M ABOUT TO DISSECT AND PRAISE/RANT ABOUT LOST, ALIAS, AND A FEW OTHER WEDNESDAY NIGHT SHOWS*************




*******OK CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED, AND REALLY, SHOULDN’T YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WATCH THE SHOWS BY NOW. I MEAN ITS FRIDAY FOR CHRIST’S SAKE*****************

…Watching
The Wednesday Night of Death- I’m a simple man who enjoys simple pleasures. On Wednesday night I cooked myself a simple but tasty pasta dish and opened a nice bottle of wine. I settled down in front my TV at 7pm CST, to enjoy my meal and catch some quality entertainment. I was planning on watching the Amazing Race, Alias, Lost, and Top Chef, and while I expecting to enjoy these shows I wasn’t expecting anything that would blow me away. Ooops! You can call me TNT 'cause my expectations got blown up.

I started my night with Alias. Now if you read my column on the demise of Alias you’ll remember I lamented the mishandling of Arvin Sloan. Stop the presses because my prayers have been answered. There have been signs that Sloan was slipping back to his dark ways but its all been for his sick daughter. Once she was cured Wednesday night you figured that’s it end of story. Thankfully Sloan recaptured his Rambaldi obsession and in a moment to remember was forced to choose between his daughter and his obsession. Kudos to both actors but especially Ron Rifkin for his portrayal of Sloan. While clearly torn the scary nasty way he literally pushed his daughter aside for the chance at discovering Rambaldi’s greatest mystery was heart wrenching even for people like me that have been crying out for evil Sloan. The voice over at the end really set the stage for the series endgame. Plus we lost a character that clearly would have been interesting to follow if the show had continued another season when Renee got her throat sliced by dopple-sydney. (Death count: 2)

Next I watched the Amazing Race which I recorded on my DVR. This season has been classic Race and a welcome change from the Family Edition where they raced almost exclusively in the U.S. I think the reason some reality shows fresh is because the players find new wrinkles in the game play. For example, I’ve never seen one team cancel another’s taxi service, let alone 2 teams. As a viewer it makes you wonder why that’s never been done before. While no one died on the Race I’m sad to say I think the hippies hopes died when they finished last again. How do you run a race with no shoes? Poor hippies. (Death count: 4)

The race was a nice pallet cleanser before getting into Lost. This season has moved more slowly then the first but I haven’t seen that as a negative. It’s allowed the show to focus more on character moments and to ponder the bigger questions, and I mean ponder. I figured it was all set up for an intense final month with plot turns and revelations but nothing could prepare me for the final 5 minutes on Wednesday. The whole episode seemed like a set up. I figured Henry would overpower Ana Lucia take her gun and kill her. I even thought Locke might turn on her and help Henry. Michael? Holy shit! Libby next? Shocked silence. Is Michael one of the Others? Is he doing the Others bidding to get Walt back? Is he trying to use the massacre as a rallying point to convince the rest of the Oceanic folks that the Others must be taken out? By the way I’m guessing no matter which option comes true, the description he gave of the Other’s camp was completely erroneous. Can’t wait to sit down next fall and watch the whole second season in a short time span I think that will really be where the show sparkles. (Death count: 6)

Finally I wrapped my evening with Top Chef. Yet another reality show I swore I’d never watch. The thing is I love cooking and food and after stumbling across…you guessed it…a Saturday mini marathon I found myself tuning in. No super appealing reality characters but watching them cook and listening to the judges is a lot of fun. Plus, who would have guessed the twist ending where Tiffani stabbed Leann. (Death count: 7)

Sometimes the idiot box can almost make you forget that it's an idiot box.