The DVR-Clearing Project

Books

• Continuing to read Petropolis and Harry Potter, but had to focus a lot on TV watching since yesterday.

TV

• The Bronson Pinchot Project – Sometimes unexpected words catch my attention on the cable program guide listing. Apparently two of them are "Bronson" and "Pinchot." Pinchot is an actor best known for playing Balki in the 80s TV show Perfect Strangers, but has appeared in many other TV shows and movies, such as Beverly Hills Cop and First Wives Club. According to the DIY Network on which the program airs, Pinchot has a secret life in which he has been "buying neglected old homes and buildings and restoring them into eye-catching masterpieces." And now we can watch him do it. The moment I happened to tune in, Pinchot was talking about adding Greek columns to a house. Balki would have loved it! But wait, there's more… There's also The Vanilla Ice Project. Yes, that's right, the 90s rap/pop one-hit-wonder previously known for stealing a baseline from Queen for his song "Ice, Ice Baby" has quietly been working in the home improvement business for the past 15 years buying, renovating, and flipping homes. His show is doing so well, in fact, that it's already on its 2^nd season. When I clicked on it, Ice (a.k.a. Rob Van Winkle) and his team were busy renovating a bathroom for his daughters. After assessing what was coming together well, and what wasn't, he said, "If there is a problem, Yo, I'll solve it." He did! The groan from his team was slight, which tells me that either the setup was scripted and they're all in on the joke, or it happens so often that they can't even be bothered to be annoyed. God, I hope it's the latter. I'm not particularly interested in home renovations, but I'm fascinated that these shows exist.
• The Good Wife – I like this show, but I'm probably alone in liking it most when things are going relatively well for our heroine, Alicia Florrick. Yes, I understand the basic concept of a drama is that there is, well, drama. I DO understand that. But doesn't Alicia have enough to deal with already without increased emphasis on the fact that hot, young lawyer Caitlin is gunning for her job (and possibly her mostly unrequited lover, Will Gardner)? The show is smartly written and wonderfully acted, so I'm sticking with it, but I both look forward to and dread watching it. Sometimes it sucks being an optimist.
• Thursday night shows – 30 Rock was fun, but not spectacular. Parks and Rec was wonderfully squirm-inducing with Leslie's drunken interview. The Office is piling up on the DVR. That may be my next marathon.
• Modern Family – I did it! I'm caught up. And I'm all the better for it. The final episode of the bunch, "Leap Day," was my favorite. You wouldn't think an old setup about how women get crazy on their monthly cycles would have me in fits of giggles, but then you probably don't know me and/or the talent of the Modern Family writers. There's also the wonderful doomed-to-go-wrong party planning in honor of Cameron's birthday, which happens to fall on leap day:

 

[Couple Mitchell and Cameron being interviewed]

Mitchell: I've spent the last four years trying to figure out what kind of party to throw this one.

Cameron: Oh, honey, you know I'd be fine with just a nice casual evening at home with you.

Mitchell: Don't, don't even. No, no. That's what he said last time.

[Flashback to four years ago. Mitchell enters with a DVD.]

Mitchell: Okay birthday boy, what's it gonna be, rom-com or horror? Or we could do both and watch Maid in Manhattan.

Cameron turns and starts to dial the phone.

Mitchell: Whatcha doin?

Cameron: Canceling our baby.