Tag Archive: home entertainment


CHEERSbigger

I admit it, I am an 80’s TV rerun junkie. Sometimes it is embarrassing to accept, though, that I’d rather sit at home watching The Golden Girls back-to-back than most of the new television content that’s out there.

Last night while I was watching Cheers (like ya do), it hit me. I watch faithfully and loyally because the folks from 80’s-TV-land are really just old friends and family as far as I’m concerned. Just like in the Neverending Story, where Sebastian was there the whole time with Atreyu on his fantastic journey; I was there with Sam Malone during both of his love affairs with Diane and Rebecca. When Arnold said “what-chu-talkin’ about Willis?” I knew what he was talkin’ about!

I spent most of my childhood watching TV…namely Three’s Company, Facts of Life, Roseanne, and the Wonder Years (but believe me there were many many more). Those characters are just as familiar to me as if they were my own family members and they have the ability to console me as much as my closest friends. I’m so thankful that they are forever encapsulated in time. Even though they’ve taken away Blockbuster, I’m stoked they haven’t taken away my 80’s TV reruns. I’ll cheers to that!

There's Always Money in the Banana Stand

Okay okay, so right when I put my foot in my mouth and bash Netflix, they come back and TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSELVES!

For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about (or are somehow blind to my above pic but yet still reading this story), Netflix is coming out with SEASON 4 of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Airing exclusively on Netflix on May 26th). I’m so happy I could cry. There have been rumors of this for years, and I know there is a movie in the works. I am just happy that we get to experience the mayhem and madness of a whole brand new season of Arrested Development one more time!

This show has a dry satirical humor that is definitely an acquired taste. Fortunately, the taste can be acquired by watching the show in its entirety from the beginning. The writing is incredibly witty, and the jokes build on each other. There are millions of inside jokes that can slip through the cracks if you don’t pay attention. Don’t dare miss an episode or you might not understand what’s going on because it travels so fast!

I predict this will be a hit. The comedy is sharp and the characters are even sharper. I own all three existing seasons on DVD and have seen every episode a hand full of times. Every time I watch an episode there is something new that I didn’t catch before and I can’t help but chuckle. This show is always funny, no matter what…so don’t forget, there’s always money in the banana stand!

Internet Killed the Video Store

“Internet killed the video store…I rent less and download more, pirated movies from ceiling to floor” lyrics by my friend Ryan Thompson, who doesn’t know I’m quoting him here. Clever lyrics for my clever title!!

I’m not delighted that Blockbuster got raped by Netflix. Now I can’t get any more of my old movies anywhere! It’s not even a fraction as easy as it used to be to just go down to the video store to rent a movie if you want to watch something like “Noises Off” (John Ritter classic!). Many older movies can only be found by purchasing them on Amazon or hope that a local video store might still have them. Even Netflix’s DVD membership isn’t completely extensive as they still don’t have many of the old films I love. It seems like there are only like 3 Blockbusters left and they only have movies that were made from within the last 10-15 years!

It might not be so bad if they had more to choose from on Netflix, however, they are definitely not a Blockbuster replacement in my opinion. Maybe it is just me but there is something I truly miss about walking down the aisles of Blockbuster to pick a movie or two to watch, I try these days but it’s just not the same.

This is a photo I took of the Blockbuster that used to be down the street from my Dad’s house in Redondo Beach (which was a Music Plus before that). Now it just sits there forlorn…longing to be a video store once again. Sniff.