Old Enough, Young Enough

The Hoos and I are avid watchers of a few television shows. We enjoy Lost, Glee, Psych, How I Met Your Mother and a handful of others every week. Then there are"filler shows," those that we have set up on the DVR to watch when our regularly scheduled shows are on hiatus. Monk is one of those shows (so is CSI Miami, but we watch that more for comic relief).

I realize that the viewing audience of Monk tends to skew "mature," so while I might be immature, I guess I am getting OLD. Oh, and we have stopped DVR'ing Miami because, well, Men of a Certain Age is on at the same time. Have I mentioned that I am OLD?

Anyway, we have been catching up on the final season of Monk and last night we finally caught up. We watched Part I of the two part finale. And then realized that either the DVR didn't tape, or we had accidentally deleted, the series finale.

Fortunately, I am young enough to have heard of this thing that all the kids use to watch TV - Hulu. You can watch most already aired television shows for free - with minimal commercials (maybe 3-4 15-second commercials scattered throughout). Even better, I had my laptop at home. So, while the Hoos got ready for bed, I tracked down the missing show and got it set up on the laptop. We hunkered down into bed and snuggled up with my computer to catch up.

This is the first time I have watched a television show on my laptop. Well, if you don't count watching Dr. Horrible, which was more of a mini-Internet-only TV show with the double awesomeness of Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion (who is in Castle, the other show that I watch at 10 on Mondays, ergo, the bumping of Miami). Regardless, I don't plan on making a habit of it. But it is nice to have a back-up plan...and two hoodlums to keep me young.

Too Scary or Too Soft?

The Hoos has been complaining about the nightly viewings of Tinkerbell. I saved it to the DVR a couple of months ago and it has become required viewing as part of the bedtime ritual. LP still loves it.

Fortuitously, I received a copy of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the mail Monday. I was stoked for some new entertainment. I couldn't wait to tell LP when I picked her up from school. I also thought it would be good to show her that Snow White was more than just one of the princesses on her Pull-Ups or a type of Barbie. We watched a few minutes during dinner, but LP requested that I turn it off right around the time that the Hunter considered killing Snow White as per the Queen's demands.

When we put the movie on again before bed (at LP's request), I skipped ahead to Snow White's first encounter with all of the lovely little animals in the woods. From there on LP was transfixed. When I returned to the living room after putting AK to sleep, LP caught me up, "The little men think it is their house, but it is Snow White's house! And they didn't want to wash their hands!" We had to promise we would watch more of the movie tomorrow in order to get her to bed. Of course, we haven't gotten to the part where the evil queen shows up disguised as a crone bearing an apple. I am a little concerned at how LP will react to that scene, but I think (hope?) a lot of the scary parts go over her head.

Admittedly, it has been a while since I watched Snow White. And it is kind of scary. Back in the day (it came out in 1937) I have to imagine that kids were so excited to see a movie that they were more willing to tolerate parts that were frightening. Or, maybe they were made of tougher stuff. Also, the art of movie-making has changed. Nowadays it is all about action and capturing a kid's attention for the duration of the film. Snow White tells the story at a more measured pace.

So, what do you think? Were kids better equipped to handle scary stories back in the day? A friend recently commented on some characters in Dumbo being less than pleasant and we all know how things worked out for Bambi's mom...

By the way, the art of animation has come a long way in the last seven decades! While the DVD pack I got comes with both DVD and Blu-Ray versions of the movie, we don't have Blu-Ray (which apparently is quite high-def and awesome - in addition to being kid proof; key since LP inserted our DVD and it skipped because she smeared cheese on it), although I can't really see how any high-definition would actually improve the quality, since the original movie animation doesn't have a lot of detail. Snow White doesn't really have a chin and is sort of blobby. Then again, maybe the scary parts are more palatable because Snow White doesn't look realistic - the way characters in more modern animated films might.

Check it out for yourself (the DVD/Blu-Ray pack comes out today) and let me know what you think - too scary for a three-year old? Or do you have any memories to share of being frightened by a seemingly benign Disney classic?

As I am sure you are well aware, the DVD did not magically arrive at my home - it was sent to me by One2OneMarketing to review.

Passing the Buck

This morning in his rush to get the girls out of the house, the Hoos forgot to change LP out of her pajama shirt. He didn't notice until they walked into the day care. When he started to laugh, LP looked at him quizzically and asked why he was laughing. He tried to downplay it so she wouldn't notice, but, as you may have guessed, LP is a pretty smart kid*. She looked down and figured out the joke.

"No worries," the Hoos told her, "I am sure you have an extra shirt in your bin." Except apparently she didn't.

When he called to recount the story to me, the Hoos added, "So, you should probably check that out. There aren't any shorts either, just long pants and a shirt that looks like it would fit AK." He is right, there aren't many clothes in the bin. A few weeks ago when LP got some water on her shorts she insisted on changing. She ended up wearing size 18 month pants. They were more like hot pants.

HOWEVER, I interrupted him. "Okay, so take note of that and bring more clothes next week." He started sputtering, "But that is why I am telling you. Because really only one of us should be responsible for that, you know so we don't get confused."

"Excellent!" I responded, "We have talked it out and we are straight, you will take care of LP's bin. I don't have to be in charge of everything."

Wanna bet who ends up sending in new clothes next week.

*Case in point: Last night, post-tantrum, LP and AK and I were watching Animal Planet. There was a big cat on the screen and I asked LP if it was a leopard or a cheetah (as the Hoos will tell you I can't keep any of the big cats beyond a tiger and a lion straight). She told me that it was a cheetah and two seconds later the narrator confirmed. She then went on to tell me that the gazelles they were hunting"...look like deer! No goats! No, I know! They are cantaloupes!"

When the cheetah finally caught the "cantaloupe" she said, "Mommy! The cheetah is killing the cantaloupe! What should we do?" I responded that it was important because the cheetah was hungry and the gazelle was its dinner. "We don't eat cantaloupes! We don't eat animals!" I started to explain about how chickens, etc. were animals, but I just figured it was better to smile and laugh. I like cantaloupe, anyway.

A New Thing (But Not Necessarily MY Thing)

You know how when you do sometihng once and all of a sudden it becomes "your thing." Even though it was something you only did once and it isn't necessarily your thing?

After hearing a news story on the radio, I decided to DVR (this is a verb, not sure if that is appropriate or common, but it is) a new show, "The Mighty Boosh." A British comedy, I knew it could either be really funny or really awful. Coupled with the fact that the Hoos and I often have a horrible time with heavy accents (we had to turn off Gosford Park after five minutes because neither of us could understand a WORD being said), there was a potent potential for disaster.

On Monday night at 9:30 after getting the girls to bed, I knew I wasn't up for an hour-long show and I thought The Mighty Boosh might be a good way to pass a half hour. Bizarre doesn't even begin to describe this show. BUT, to be honest, there is really no way to describe it. For someone who writes for a living, I feel I am at a loss to appropriately describe it. The episode we saw involved eels, a man with a life saver-like thing over his eye and a lot of urine, and a cross-dresser with a lot of money. There was also a side story about an odd collection of characters riding a magic carpet.

After watching it and laughing out loud a few times, gasping in horror and confusion a few other times, the Hoos looked at me and just gaped. I wasn't sure what to think. It took me a few days to determine that I might as well DVR the next episode.

Last night the Hoos saw a commercial for the show and called out, "Aim! Your show is on!" I am not sure if this is exactly what I would consider my show. Kind of like the time the Hoos recommended Nip/Tuck to some friends and then was horrified when the next episode aired and he realized exactly what he "had done" (made us look like pervs).

So, not that I am recommending it, but if you want to try to help me describe it, either check out The Mighty Boosh on YouTube or check it out at 1am on Mondays during Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network. Mom, don't even bother, it isn't for you.

On Command

The other day as I followed LP's command to see the "Tubbies with the jumping part," it reminded me of days long ago; that is, the period of time prior to the creation of DVRs, or On Demand, or remote controls.

I remember vacillating between being psyched and pissed when I would turn on the TV whenever I felt like it and the show I wanted to see was or was not on. I knew nothing about a TV guide or television programming. Rather, I knew that I liked the Smurfs and when I would turn the TV on a Saturday morning they would appear, in a seemingly random fashion.

Nowadays, LP can pretty much see whatever she wants, whenever she wants. I'll bet that the creators of Teletubbies that they were really smart when they would repeat segments of the show that they thought would be popular by having the Tubbies shout, "Again! Again!". Seriously, it is ingenious. It would have been even more crucial if not for the DVR. Even so, after watching "the Bear part" of a different episode, a repeated segment, I still am asked to replay it several time so LP can get her fix of the stupid animated dancing bear. Yes, it pains me.

LP honestly doesn't watch much TV, save for the same DVR'd episodes of Teletubbies, Barney, Yo Gabba Gabba!, and The Big Comfy Couch. Which is really making me rethink the whole DVR thing. She may love seeing the same shows over and over, but I sure could use some variety in my television viewing (and no, I do not mean Rosie O'Donnell's new variety show).

Newfangled

Just because I have a blog doesn't mean I am technically savvy. I have no idea how to download a ring tone to my cell phone (although the wireless companies are getting smart and only giving you cruddy ring tones with your phone, so I might have to figure this out soon); I have only downloaded maybe two songs off the Internet; and I still refuse to watch my favorite TV shows or movies on my computer instead of my television. Although if I miss a show, I will read a recap on televisionwithoutpity or the appropriate web site.

Anyway, my ban on Internet television is starting to lift. But only for web-only shows that are short and sweet - AND FUNNY. I don't have time to waste on crappy television (hello, American Idol, are your ears burning?). I just came across this new web series called "In the Motherhood" which gives short vignettes on the real life of mommies, as played by gorgeous actresses...

Boob Tube

I figured it was time for an update on our DVR. We have now had it a couple of weeks and have been trying to put it to good use. For the most part, the Hoos uses it to save fishing and gardening shows that are on at not-so-convenient times. We have used it to tape a few new shows that we have gotten into. Below is an overview of the shows and my review. Let me know if you have any recommendations!

• Chuck: Chuck is on Mondays at 8, when I am in class. The Hoos caught part of the first episode and thought we might enjoy it. I liked the first few episodes, about an inadvertent spy, but I am falling off the bandwagon. He is screwing up all of his personal relationships because he can't tell anyone about his spy gig. B-
  
• Reaper: This show on the CW cracks me up. Basically, a guy's parents sold his soul to the devil before he was born and upon turning 21 the devil comes to collect. The poor guy is the devil's bounty hunter for escaped souls. He has two silly buddies that are in on his secret and help him out. It is on Tuesday's at 9, right about when we are putting LP into bed after her bath. We use the DVR to tape it so we can watch it commercial free. A-
  
• Pushing Daisies. This Wednesday at 8 show is on when LP is still awake and playing with all of her noisy toys. Cute and eccentric, we can't hear it with the ball popper going. Ned has a special power where he can bring dead things back to life for a minute otherwise something else dies but if he touches them again after he 60 seconds they die forever. His PI buddy puts his talent to use to solve crimes and collect reward money. It has a great cast (Kristen Chenowith is really really adorable). A-

I am looking forward to using the DVR for Lost when it returns in February and Project Runway when it starts in a couple of weeks. These shows are just on too late for this little mama.

Speaking of TV, this summer my parents went to see a taping of The People's Court in NYC. My mom is a court show junkie. Yesterday they started showing some of the cases my parents were in the audience for. I didn't know and therefore didn't DVR it. Here is the only glimpse I could catch of my mom in the preview posted online.

Taking the Plunge

Okay, we did it, we entered the 21st century and ordered DVR service from our cable company. The box should arrive in 3-5 days and then away we go.

The impetus was really that the Hoos got into a new show, Chuck, on Monday night and had to miss the ending to bathe LP. The same thing happened to me last night with Pushing Daisies. In addition, a few months ago I ordered the "SportsPak" of channels, specifically so that the Hoos could watch some of his fishing shows. Unfortunately for him, the timing is never right and he misses more shows than he catches (no pun intended).

This was not a decision that we came to lightly. Both the Hoos and I wanted to be convinced that having the DVR would not have us watching MORE TV, but rather we would watch BETTER TV. We don't want to be slaves to our boob tube.

The hope is that instead of watching whatever crappy show happens to be on when we want to relax on the couch, we will now be able to watch shows that we are actually interested in. No more P. Allen Smith (a gardening show the Hoos loves and I despise), no more staying up until 11 to see the conclusion on Lost, and no more of missing the end of shows that happen to fall during LP's bath time (anything on from 8-9).

I did confirm that we can cancel at any time, just in case we find ourselves becoming lumpy...