Dear Readers,
There are few things that would cause me to divorce the Boy, but I think I have found the one that could be most threatening to our marriage: Doomsday Preppers.
This is a new show on the National Geographic channel that "explores the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it." After watching glimpses of this show--to which the Boy eagerly watched--I wouldn't really call them "ordinary." No, these people all have a little bit of crazy in them.
Now, I love all sorts of reality TV, but the combo of Hoarders + Extreme Couponers + Doomsday Fanatics is a little too much for me to bear. Especially since the Boy has some survivalist tendencies to begin with. Sure, I can understand preparing for things--having a car emergency kit, having canned goods on hand in case it storms/snows and you can't get out of the house for a little while, having some water in case of a hurricane--but I draw the line at stockpiling 50,000 lbs. of food and acquiring an old school bus so you have an additional "house" in which to live. That's a totally different kind of preparedness--one that's prepping you for a lot of mental health treatments.
Luckily, we're not all that outdoorsy. It's really hard to find ice for your cocktails in the middle of the woods, so we tend to stay close to civilization. However, that doesn't stop the Boy from talking about getting a compound in the middle of nowhere and going off the grid after he's had a bad day at work. With a show that exposes other people who feel like this and are doing something about it, I worry that he thinks we should start preparing for a oil crisis or financial collapse or massive earthquake too.
Besides, he doesn't need "Doomsday Preppers" to teach him methods of getting through a disaster. He should just watch "Survivor" for that.
Your pal,
Jill
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
DVR Update
Dear Readers,
I'm cleaning off the DVR tonight. I vaguely remember a New Year's resolution about getting the DVR emptied. How am I doing?
Well, I'm at something like 56% empty. Not bad, not great. I'm making progress, though seriously, that's only helped by the fact that somehow the DVR erased a bunch of movies I'd taped and had never been in the mood to watch.
Finding out that I'd lost "Donnie Brasco" and "Zoolander" and "Up," was a little disappointing, so I've been on a bit of a crusade to work on the backlog that's still on the DVR. Unfortunately, I've got several episodes of "Glee" and "30 Rock" to burn through, and it's up against "Top Chef" and "Project Runway" and new seasons of "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race."
And I've got a stack of books to read.
Perhaps I should be a little more judicious with the delete button.
Your pal,
Jill
I'm cleaning off the DVR tonight. I vaguely remember a New Year's resolution about getting the DVR emptied. How am I doing?
Well, I'm at something like 56% empty. Not bad, not great. I'm making progress, though seriously, that's only helped by the fact that somehow the DVR erased a bunch of movies I'd taped and had never been in the mood to watch.
Finding out that I'd lost "Donnie Brasco" and "Zoolander" and "Up," was a little disappointing, so I've been on a bit of a crusade to work on the backlog that's still on the DVR. Unfortunately, I've got several episodes of "Glee" and "30 Rock" to burn through, and it's up against "Top Chef" and "Project Runway" and new seasons of "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race."
And I've got a stack of books to read.
Perhaps I should be a little more judicious with the delete button.
Your pal,
Jill
Thursday, January 5, 2012
How Much Do You Need?
Quote of the day: "As long as you're no longer living in a garage and shitting in a popcorn tin ---- how much money do you fucking need????"
My friend Missy sent me an e-mail complaining about the new stars of "Celebrity Apprentice." Not that she watches the show (though I sometimes do), but she was procrastinating, saw the list and then marveled at how Botoxed and/or Photoshopped everyone looked....and why in the world was Adam Carolla stooping to do this show.
I responded that he probably needed the money to maintain his lifestyle, not to mention his little business venture of having his own broadcast studio.
Missy then responded with the above quote, which has had me chuckling ever since.
Money's been a hot topic around the house lately, since it's time to talk to my accountant. Did I make more money this year over last? Yes, but that's still not saying much in the grand scheme of things. I did make more than my first job out of college, which is progress, though if you think a file clerk racks in the big bucks, you'd be sorely mistaken.
Still, my business is improving, and I'm fairly content with this year's results, considering the effort I put in. Would I like to make more money? Well, sure. There are a ton of things I want to do and buy, and I need money for them. However, I'm not living in a garage, and I'm not shitting in a popcorn tin, so even though my income isn't the greatest, I think I'm probably doing OK in the grand scheme of things. I would like to not live in an apartment and shit in a low-grade bathroom though, so that means it's time to look for more work. Mr. Trump, are you casting?
My friend Missy sent me an e-mail complaining about the new stars of "Celebrity Apprentice." Not that she watches the show (though I sometimes do), but she was procrastinating, saw the list and then marveled at how Botoxed and/or Photoshopped everyone looked....and why in the world was Adam Carolla stooping to do this show.
I responded that he probably needed the money to maintain his lifestyle, not to mention his little business venture of having his own broadcast studio.
Missy then responded with the above quote, which has had me chuckling ever since.
Money's been a hot topic around the house lately, since it's time to talk to my accountant. Did I make more money this year over last? Yes, but that's still not saying much in the grand scheme of things. I did make more than my first job out of college, which is progress, though if you think a file clerk racks in the big bucks, you'd be sorely mistaken.
Still, my business is improving, and I'm fairly content with this year's results, considering the effort I put in. Would I like to make more money? Well, sure. There are a ton of things I want to do and buy, and I need money for them. However, I'm not living in a garage, and I'm not shitting in a popcorn tin, so even though my income isn't the greatest, I think I'm probably doing OK in the grand scheme of things. I would like to not live in an apartment and shit in a low-grade bathroom though, so that means it's time to look for more work. Mr. Trump, are you casting?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Horrific Discovery
Dear DVR,
Why is your default recording setting "record 5 episodes"? Don't you realize by now that I (and I would imagine many, many DVR owners) don't tend to watch all of our TV in a reasonable amount of time?
Case in point:
As of this afternoon, I still had a good 20 episodes of Oprah left. I flipped on the DVR because I realized that it was the beginning of July, and to be 2 months behind on a syndicated talk show was not really good form. So during my lunch, I turned on the episode with the Obamas, only to discover that this was also the day after Osama bin Laden had been killed (it's been 2 months, folks! Can you believe it?), which meant that the local news had preempted Oprah to discuss bin Laden (note that Ellen did not get preempted. Who's more powerful in television now?).
No big deal, I thought. I'll just start taping the summer reruns and see if the Obama episode would come back on.
I set the DVR to tape the season and then flipped on the next episode in my queue: Shania Twain. I watched part of it, then went back to work.
Fast forward to this evening, when I want to see why Shania lost her voice. Except that I can't--I've gone from 20 episodes of Oprah in my queue to 5.
Say what?
Oh yeah. If you want to record a TV series with my DVR, the default setting is "keep the 5 most recent episodes." When Oprah recorded this afternoon, it started the Oprah cycle all over again.
In a sense, it's not a shame -- I should've kept up a little bit better -- but it's a sign that I probably shouldn't watch so much TV. Still, it's the final few episodes (20's a few, right?!), and it's fun to watch the end of an era. I guess I'll just have to see what else I can catch this summer on reruns or through the Oprah: Behind the Scenes show (you're watching it, right?! It's excellent! I love seeing how shows get put together!)
Anyway, I've certainly gotten today's lesson on checking and doublechecking. Whenever I'll learn that lesson is a different story.
Your pal,
Jill
Why is your default recording setting "record 5 episodes"? Don't you realize by now that I (and I would imagine many, many DVR owners) don't tend to watch all of our TV in a reasonable amount of time?
Case in point:
As of this afternoon, I still had a good 20 episodes of Oprah left. I flipped on the DVR because I realized that it was the beginning of July, and to be 2 months behind on a syndicated talk show was not really good form. So during my lunch, I turned on the episode with the Obamas, only to discover that this was also the day after Osama bin Laden had been killed (it's been 2 months, folks! Can you believe it?), which meant that the local news had preempted Oprah to discuss bin Laden (note that Ellen did not get preempted. Who's more powerful in television now?).
No big deal, I thought. I'll just start taping the summer reruns and see if the Obama episode would come back on.
I set the DVR to tape the season and then flipped on the next episode in my queue: Shania Twain. I watched part of it, then went back to work.
Fast forward to this evening, when I want to see why Shania lost her voice. Except that I can't--I've gone from 20 episodes of Oprah in my queue to 5.
Say what?
Oh yeah. If you want to record a TV series with my DVR, the default setting is "keep the 5 most recent episodes." When Oprah recorded this afternoon, it started the Oprah cycle all over again.
In a sense, it's not a shame -- I should've kept up a little bit better -- but it's a sign that I probably shouldn't watch so much TV. Still, it's the final few episodes (20's a few, right?!), and it's fun to watch the end of an era. I guess I'll just have to see what else I can catch this summer on reruns or through the Oprah: Behind the Scenes show (you're watching it, right?! It's excellent! I love seeing how shows get put together!)
Anyway, I've certainly gotten today's lesson on checking and doublechecking. Whenever I'll learn that lesson is a different story.
Your pal,
Jill
Friday, April 15, 2011
Extreme Blogging (a 2 for Friday)
Dear Extreme Couponers,
I have three words of advice for you: Pop goes bad.
The "Extreme Couponing" show on TLC portrays a bunch of people who love a bargain and get a lot of product for next to nothing. I know you love your stockrooms full of groceries that you paid pennies for. But seriously, if you have 40 bottles of soda*, can you drink it all before it goes bad?
In Massachusetts, there's been a little controversy about serving school lunches made with frozen food that's past its expiration and/or "use by" and/or "best by" dates. Many of us know that "use by" and "best by" are guidelines, that this food isn't necessarily spoiled, but it may be losing its nutritional value.
That's not the case with carbonated beverages. Ever have a two-year-old Coke? The Boy did once one spring when my mom pulled a bottle of Olympic-labelled Coke out of her stockpile in the basement for him. I commented that it seemed a little early in the year for the Beijing Olympic labeling to be out....and then we noticed that the bottle was from the Torino Olympics two years earlier. The Coke tasted pretty bad and had to be dumped.
I just wanted to let you extreme couponers know that factoid. Use up that product in your storeroom before it really goes bad. If you waste product, did you really save money on it anyway? If you have to throw out 20 bottles of expired BBQ sauce that cost you 50 cents a bottle (after coupons and sales), well, you've just thrown away $10. Seems a little extreme to me.
Your pal,
Jill
[* Note to readers--Am I losing my Midwestern roots? That should be "pop." POP!!!]
****
Dear Readers,
Madgal alerted me to the new TLC show "Extreme Couponing," which of course I ended up watching--with my mouth open in shock for most of it. It profiles some people who really really really love to use coupons -- and have piles of food and other products to show for it. One guy has deodorant for years. Someone else bought over two dozen bottles of Maalox (I'm guessing you need all of that because you're also using your coupons on food that's not all that great for you, so you get a little acid buildup).
That's not the only crazy thing about the show. People spend hours and hours walking through stores, creating super-detailed shopping lists, breaking up their five-shopping-cart haul into 18 distinct transactions in order to maximize their coupons. One couple even shopped early in the day, then called friends into the store to act like they were buying the stuff because a store coupon was limited to one-per-person (note to friends: If you call me before 9 AM to go to a grocery store and pretend to buy food so that you can save an extra $5, you will be put on my shit list. I don't care if said food is going to be served at a party I'm attending. That's beyond the "above and beyond" I like to do for my friends).
Luckily, the couponing world is a bit up in arms, so it's nice to see that not everyone with a coupon insert is like this (I'm certainly not....while I do use coupons and sometimes manage to get some pretty good deals, I'm in no way a master of the game). It's just the magic of reality TV + extreme anything = good TV.
What I would love to see is one of these families living off their massive stockpile until it's gone. What happens when these extremists aren't allowed to go to the grocery store? Can they survive without their habit? This, unfortunately, probably doesn't make good TV....though it might make a good blog. If you see a "recovering extreme couponer" blog, let me know!
Have a good weekend!
Your pal,
Jill
I have three words of advice for you: Pop goes bad.
The "Extreme Couponing" show on TLC portrays a bunch of people who love a bargain and get a lot of product for next to nothing. I know you love your stockrooms full of groceries that you paid pennies for. But seriously, if you have 40 bottles of soda*, can you drink it all before it goes bad?
In Massachusetts, there's been a little controversy about serving school lunches made with frozen food that's past its expiration and/or "use by" and/or "best by" dates. Many of us know that "use by" and "best by" are guidelines, that this food isn't necessarily spoiled, but it may be losing its nutritional value.
That's not the case with carbonated beverages. Ever have a two-year-old Coke? The Boy did once one spring when my mom pulled a bottle of Olympic-labelled Coke out of her stockpile in the basement for him. I commented that it seemed a little early in the year for the Beijing Olympic labeling to be out....and then we noticed that the bottle was from the Torino Olympics two years earlier. The Coke tasted pretty bad and had to be dumped.
I just wanted to let you extreme couponers know that factoid. Use up that product in your storeroom before it really goes bad. If you waste product, did you really save money on it anyway? If you have to throw out 20 bottles of expired BBQ sauce that cost you 50 cents a bottle (after coupons and sales), well, you've just thrown away $10. Seems a little extreme to me.
Your pal,
Jill
[* Note to readers--Am I losing my Midwestern roots? That should be "pop." POP!!!]
****
Dear Readers,
Madgal alerted me to the new TLC show "Extreme Couponing," which of course I ended up watching--with my mouth open in shock for most of it. It profiles some people who really really really love to use coupons -- and have piles of food and other products to show for it. One guy has deodorant for years. Someone else bought over two dozen bottles of Maalox (I'm guessing you need all of that because you're also using your coupons on food that's not all that great for you, so you get a little acid buildup).
That's not the only crazy thing about the show. People spend hours and hours walking through stores, creating super-detailed shopping lists, breaking up their five-shopping-cart haul into 18 distinct transactions in order to maximize their coupons. One couple even shopped early in the day, then called friends into the store to act like they were buying the stuff because a store coupon was limited to one-per-person (note to friends: If you call me before 9 AM to go to a grocery store and pretend to buy food so that you can save an extra $5, you will be put on my shit list. I don't care if said food is going to be served at a party I'm attending. That's beyond the "above and beyond" I like to do for my friends).
Luckily, the couponing world is a bit up in arms, so it's nice to see that not everyone with a coupon insert is like this (I'm certainly not....while I do use coupons and sometimes manage to get some pretty good deals, I'm in no way a master of the game). It's just the magic of reality TV + extreme anything = good TV.
What I would love to see is one of these families living off their massive stockpile until it's gone. What happens when these extremists aren't allowed to go to the grocery store? Can they survive without their habit? This, unfortunately, probably doesn't make good TV....though it might make a good blog. If you see a "recovering extreme couponer" blog, let me know!
Have a good weekend!
Your pal,
Jill
Friday, December 10, 2010
DirecTV Responds!
Hey--DirecTV got back to me within 24 hours--just like they said they would on their website:
Thanks for writing.
I care about how you feel regarding the removal of G4. I appreciate being given the chance to respond to your concern and would be glad to provide you with the information that you need.
Our agreement with G4 expired at the end of October, since we were unable to reach an agreement to continue carrying it; G4 has been removed from our lineup.
I completely understand that G4 has been an important part of your viewing experience and we are sorry that we are not able to continue offering it. We thank you for being a DIRECTV customer and will continue to provide you with the superior television entertainment that you have come to know and expect.
In addition, we provide a wide variety of programming in order to appeal to the broadest audience possible. We understand that not everyone will like each program. However, our ongoing research tells us that most customers like being able to choose from so many viewing options.
Furthermore, I would like to personally assure you that your feedback about G4 is very important to us. I have forwarded your comment to DIRECTV management, who review every suggestion, inquiry and complaint for trends from our important customers to determine what channels and changes should be considered.
With regard to the Undercover Boss show, the experience gave DIRECTV CEO Mike White a better understanding of our company and a greater appreciation for the people who work hard to make DIRECTV a great company.
Thanks again for writing. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Jorge Ryan R.
DIRECTV Customer Service
Thanks for writing.
I care about how you feel regarding the removal of G4. I appreciate being given the chance to respond to your concern and would be glad to provide you with the information that you need.
Our agreement with G4 expired at the end of October, since we were unable to reach an agreement to continue carrying it; G4 has been removed from our lineup.
I completely understand that G4 has been an important part of your viewing experience and we are sorry that we are not able to continue offering it. We thank you for being a DIRECTV customer and will continue to provide you with the superior television entertainment that you have come to know and expect.
In addition, we provide a wide variety of programming in order to appeal to the broadest audience possible. We understand that not everyone will like each program. However, our ongoing research tells us that most customers like being able to choose from so many viewing options.
Furthermore, I would like to personally assure you that your feedback about G4 is very important to us. I have forwarded your comment to DIRECTV management, who review every suggestion, inquiry and complaint for trends from our important customers to determine what channels and changes should be considered.
With regard to the Undercover Boss show, the experience gave DIRECTV CEO Mike White a better understanding of our company and a greater appreciation for the people who work hard to make DIRECTV a great company.
Thanks again for writing. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Jorge Ryan R.
DIRECTV Customer Service
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Holiday Loss
Dear DirecTV,
What happened to my G4? It's that time of the year--my "Ninja Warrior" fever is starting to spike, especially now that the show is posting a lot of updates on Facebook. I got really excited and tried to set my DVR to record "American Ninja Warrior," only to discover that I no longer get the channel. It seems to have disappeared off my channel guide, much like a ninja stealing away in the night. Color me not pleased.
[note: I have noticed that the DVR has no longer been recording episodes of "Ninja Warrior" and "Unbeatable Banzuke," but I've got so much stuff to watch that I haven't investigated. Besides, the new season of "Ninja Warrior" has become as Christmas to me as "A Christmas Story."]
Is no one on the DirectTV system watching G4? Has it become too expensive to carry? I mean, the channel lineup is becoming increasingly odd--RFD TV (which I hadn't heard of until today, but is apparently "Rural America's Most Important Network") is currently showing "Big Joe Polka Show." What's your customer mix of urban vs. rural? I'd understand if a good percentage of your customers are rural, but still--don't you want to reach the tech-savvy kids too?
I also supposedly can now play games on DirecTV. It feels like there are more shopping and informercial channels than ever. Who's watching this stuff? Does it really bring in more money than regularly programmed channels?
Please let me know why I'm paying not to be able to see some of my favorite shows anymore. If I can understand this better, maybe I wouldn't be so ticked off.
Your pal,
Jill
P.S. -- What'd you think of your boss being on "Undercover Boss"? Has the company changed much since he was on the show?
What happened to my G4? It's that time of the year--my "Ninja Warrior" fever is starting to spike, especially now that the show is posting a lot of updates on Facebook. I got really excited and tried to set my DVR to record "American Ninja Warrior," only to discover that I no longer get the channel. It seems to have disappeared off my channel guide, much like a ninja stealing away in the night. Color me not pleased.
[note: I have noticed that the DVR has no longer been recording episodes of "Ninja Warrior" and "Unbeatable Banzuke," but I've got so much stuff to watch that I haven't investigated. Besides, the new season of "Ninja Warrior" has become as Christmas to me as "A Christmas Story."]
Is no one on the DirectTV system watching G4? Has it become too expensive to carry? I mean, the channel lineup is becoming increasingly odd--RFD TV (which I hadn't heard of until today, but is apparently "Rural America's Most Important Network") is currently showing "Big Joe Polka Show." What's your customer mix of urban vs. rural? I'd understand if a good percentage of your customers are rural, but still--don't you want to reach the tech-savvy kids too?
I also supposedly can now play games on DirecTV. It feels like there are more shopping and informercial channels than ever. Who's watching this stuff? Does it really bring in more money than regularly programmed channels?
Please let me know why I'm paying not to be able to see some of my favorite shows anymore. If I can understand this better, maybe I wouldn't be so ticked off.
Your pal,
Jill
P.S. -- What'd you think of your boss being on "Undercover Boss"? Has the company changed much since he was on the show?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
No Time to Talk
Dear Oprah,
I watched your show semi-regularly, but I had to stop because then I'd watch "The View," which came right after, and then my whole morning would be shot.
Now that it's your final season, I thought I'd try watching again. This time, it'd be even better because I could DVR the show and watch it whenever. And, it comes on at 4:00 in my TV market, so it's kind of an end-of-day indulgence.
I think I've seen 1.5 shows in the two weeks you've been on the air.
Oops. So much for that plan.
I'm not sure I'll be able to catch up. I'm kind of sorry about that, but I'm also trying to be cognizant of my own time limitations and priorities. I figured you'd be OK with that, since you're trying to help us all live our best lives, yet it must kind of stink to know that my best life doesn't necessary have a daily dose of you.
I'll do what I can though, because I do enjoy and learn a lot from your show when I get to see it. Best of luck for a successful last season!
Your pal,
Jill
I watched your show semi-regularly, but I had to stop because then I'd watch "The View," which came right after, and then my whole morning would be shot.
Now that it's your final season, I thought I'd try watching again. This time, it'd be even better because I could DVR the show and watch it whenever. And, it comes on at 4:00 in my TV market, so it's kind of an end-of-day indulgence.
I think I've seen 1.5 shows in the two weeks you've been on the air.
Oops. So much for that plan.
I'm not sure I'll be able to catch up. I'm kind of sorry about that, but I'm also trying to be cognizant of my own time limitations and priorities. I figured you'd be OK with that, since you're trying to help us all live our best lives, yet it must kind of stink to know that my best life doesn't necessary have a daily dose of you.
I'll do what I can though, because I do enjoy and learn a lot from your show when I get to see it. Best of luck for a successful last season!
Your pal,
Jill
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Don't Show Your Hand
Dear History Channel,
The Boy and I happened to catch your show "Top Shot" last night. Congratulations on your first reality competition show! You got quite a host in Colby Donaldson--dude's like Jeff Probst, Jr. (though 3 seasons on "Survivor" would make anyone sound like Probst).
The show's pretty interesting--well, the Boy and I are just getting into rifle shooting, so we enjoyed the technical aspects of the show, and we'll most likely tune into more episodes.
However, there's one big turnoff: Right before the elimination competition in the first episode, there was a promo for the second episode--that featured one of the two people who were in the first elimination competition. Way to let the cat out of the bag there! Why bother finishing the episode when you just found out who lost?
Maybe next week you'll remember that elimination competitions are all about keeping the audience curious about who will get eliminated, not letting the cat out of the bag 10 minutes early.
Catch you next week.
Your pal,
Jill
The Boy and I happened to catch your show "Top Shot" last night. Congratulations on your first reality competition show! You got quite a host in Colby Donaldson--dude's like Jeff Probst, Jr. (though 3 seasons on "Survivor" would make anyone sound like Probst).
The show's pretty interesting--well, the Boy and I are just getting into rifle shooting, so we enjoyed the technical aspects of the show, and we'll most likely tune into more episodes.
However, there's one big turnoff: Right before the elimination competition in the first episode, there was a promo for the second episode--that featured one of the two people who were in the first elimination competition. Way to let the cat out of the bag there! Why bother finishing the episode when you just found out who lost?
Maybe next week you'll remember that elimination competitions are all about keeping the audience curious about who will get eliminated, not letting the cat out of the bag 10 minutes early.
Catch you next week.
Your pal,
Jill
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Zoom Out!
Dear Directors/Editors of Workout Shows/Videos,
As a woman who's watched years of workout tapes, DVDs, and shows, I think I speak for many women when I ask, Do you ever actually watch the show you put together? If so, what's up with showing close-ups of the instructor just as she/he's changing up the moves?
Almost every day I tune into a show on Fit TV or pop on a video, and it never fails: The camera zooms in on one of the cast, the instructor yells out a move change that makes no sense to me, and I end up spending a couple of beats pausing while I figure out what the hell to do with my feet. It throws me off, and I spend the next several seconds muttering and feeling frustrated that I'm off, and, more importantly, not burning the calories I sorely need to burn. And I'm fairly adept at picking up choreography! I can't imagine what people who have problems picking up steps do to compensate for bad camerawork and editing.
I understand the need to focus in on a person to demonstrate proper form, but you also know the workout, right? Can't you figure out better timing on when to actually edit in the zoom? Or maybe put in a split screen? There's got to be a better way to put together the workouts so that everyone doing them only has to suffer through the pain of not working out, not the pain of a bad edit job.
Do that, and fitness show fans around the world will sing your praises.
Thanks!
Your pal,
Jill
As a woman who's watched years of workout tapes, DVDs, and shows, I think I speak for many women when I ask, Do you ever actually watch the show you put together? If so, what's up with showing close-ups of the instructor just as she/he's changing up the moves?
Almost every day I tune into a show on Fit TV or pop on a video, and it never fails: The camera zooms in on one of the cast, the instructor yells out a move change that makes no sense to me, and I end up spending a couple of beats pausing while I figure out what the hell to do with my feet. It throws me off, and I spend the next several seconds muttering and feeling frustrated that I'm off, and, more importantly, not burning the calories I sorely need to burn. And I'm fairly adept at picking up choreography! I can't imagine what people who have problems picking up steps do to compensate for bad camerawork and editing.
I understand the need to focus in on a person to demonstrate proper form, but you also know the workout, right? Can't you figure out better timing on when to actually edit in the zoom? Or maybe put in a split screen? There's got to be a better way to put together the workouts so that everyone doing them only has to suffer through the pain of not working out, not the pain of a bad edit job.
Do that, and fitness show fans around the world will sing your praises.
Thanks!
Your pal,
Jill
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Blow-My-Mind Moment
Dear Phil Zepeda,
Hey there! Perhaps you remember me, the girl you went on a couple of unfortunate dates with back in the late 1990s. I actually just wanted to reach out and say congratulations on a nice television appearance the other week.
The Boy and I just got Direct TV, which is kind of exciting--it's actually the first time I've had pay TV since, well, since the apartment I was in when the two of us went out. This past Friday it got hooked up. I was flipping through the channels when the Boy came home from work and saw that I could catch a repeat of "Celebrity Apprentice" on CNBC. I clicked on the channel, and there you were, accepting a check for your organization!
I gasped and said, "I dated that guy!"
The Boy took a look at you. "Is that Phil? Of 'Phil and Jill'?" he asked.
"Yes. Yes it is."
And by now you must realize that this isn't quite just a congratulations. It's also a thank you for giving me one of the better "bad date stories" in my small repertoire of dating stories. You may not remember that date, but it's emblazoned in my head. A graduation picnic for some people in your Master's program way out in B.F.E. St. Charles, IL. I was wearing a white polo and khaki shorts that was literally the only clothes in my closet that were clean. When I opened the door to greet you, you were wearing the exact same outfit, which threw me into a bit of a panic, but you assured me that it would be OK.
Thank goodness I happened to know one of your classmates, since I wasn't very good at small talk, especially when almost everyone at the party told me some form of, "Jill? You're with Phil? That rhymes! And you're wearing the same outfit!" What do you say to that, when you're not the one who just got a fancy communication degree and can talk that off?
While there were many reassurances of how cute it was that we were wearing the same outfit, the only other thing I remember from the day was that at some point I slinked off into the living room and ended up engaging in a bunch of Holocaust talk with some of the older crowd. What a way to remember a picnic, right? Rhyming names, matching outfits, and Holocaust talk!
After that, we didn't go out again. Actually, I'm not sure we ever talked either--played a little phone tag maybe, but ultimately, everything just faded away, to be filed in the "If We Ignore It, It'll Disappear" category. Which it did. Which was good. Better to end this mismatch quickly, than prolong something that wasn't right.
At least I got an excellent story out of it. And I've learned to never wear a white polo and khakis ever again.
Thanks again--and congratulations once more on your television appearance. It blew my mind to see you on my TV screen.
Your pal,
Jill
Hey there! Perhaps you remember me, the girl you went on a couple of unfortunate dates with back in the late 1990s. I actually just wanted to reach out and say congratulations on a nice television appearance the other week.
The Boy and I just got Direct TV, which is kind of exciting--it's actually the first time I've had pay TV since, well, since the apartment I was in when the two of us went out. This past Friday it got hooked up. I was flipping through the channels when the Boy came home from work and saw that I could catch a repeat of "Celebrity Apprentice" on CNBC. I clicked on the channel, and there you were, accepting a check for your organization!
I gasped and said, "I dated that guy!"
The Boy took a look at you. "Is that Phil? Of 'Phil and Jill'?" he asked.
"Yes. Yes it is."
And by now you must realize that this isn't quite just a congratulations. It's also a thank you for giving me one of the better "bad date stories" in my small repertoire of dating stories. You may not remember that date, but it's emblazoned in my head. A graduation picnic for some people in your Master's program way out in B.F.E. St. Charles, IL. I was wearing a white polo and khaki shorts that was literally the only clothes in my closet that were clean. When I opened the door to greet you, you were wearing the exact same outfit, which threw me into a bit of a panic, but you assured me that it would be OK.
Thank goodness I happened to know one of your classmates, since I wasn't very good at small talk, especially when almost everyone at the party told me some form of, "Jill? You're with Phil? That rhymes! And you're wearing the same outfit!" What do you say to that, when you're not the one who just got a fancy communication degree and can talk that off?
While there were many reassurances of how cute it was that we were wearing the same outfit, the only other thing I remember from the day was that at some point I slinked off into the living room and ended up engaging in a bunch of Holocaust talk with some of the older crowd. What a way to remember a picnic, right? Rhyming names, matching outfits, and Holocaust talk!
After that, we didn't go out again. Actually, I'm not sure we ever talked either--played a little phone tag maybe, but ultimately, everything just faded away, to be filed in the "If We Ignore It, It'll Disappear" category. Which it did. Which was good. Better to end this mismatch quickly, than prolong something that wasn't right.
At least I got an excellent story out of it. And I've learned to never wear a white polo and khakis ever again.
Thanks again--and congratulations once more on your television appearance. It blew my mind to see you on my TV screen.
Your pal,
Jill
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Whoa, Wait, What?
Dear NBC,
Why did you interrupt the Olympic Closing Ceremonies to bring us the first episode of "The Marriage Ref." It's the OLYMPIC CLOSING CEREMONIES!
Look, I realize that you're struggling. You've pretty much said you're losing money on the Olympics (though have gotten some boffo ratings). You're desperate for your mid-season replacement shows to do well.
Those just don't seem like good enough reasons to cut the Closing Ceremonies in half and show them during late-night coverage. Would you cut the Presidential Inauguration in half? The State of the Union?
Let's keep the pomp and circumstance where it should be--and try not to show your desperation. It's a little sad.
Your pal,
Jill
Why did you interrupt the Olympic Closing Ceremonies to bring us the first episode of "The Marriage Ref." It's the OLYMPIC CLOSING CEREMONIES!
Look, I realize that you're struggling. You've pretty much said you're losing money on the Olympics (though have gotten some boffo ratings). You're desperate for your mid-season replacement shows to do well.
Those just don't seem like good enough reasons to cut the Closing Ceremonies in half and show them during late-night coverage. Would you cut the Presidential Inauguration in half? The State of the Union?
Let's keep the pomp and circumstance where it should be--and try not to show your desperation. It's a little sad.
Your pal,
Jill
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