Failure After Failure

I guess I’m only remotely an expert. When I see a TV show I don’t like, I don’t watch it. Nowadays, I don’t watch so many new shows. As near as I can tell, there aren’t so many successful new shows. Moreover, some of the former successful shows are losing their audience as they too, lower their standards.

The timeless adage, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” resonates far beyond the stables. Though I lack firsthand equestrian experience, the wisdom of this proverb rings true through countless conversations with those who understand horses intimately. My knowledge may be secondhand, but the insight remains profound—some truths cannot be forced, whether in horsemanship or in life.

Nonetheless, the country is full of TV show experts, millions of them. If they do not like the show, they will not watch it. You see the correlation? If the horse isn’t thirsty, it won’t drink. If they try to force-feed us garbage, all they will get is failure after failure.

As discerning viewers, we must raise our standards for entertainment. The latest series, promising an intriguing premise of a hemophobic physician, sparked initial curiosity with its unconventional narrative hook.

Unexpectedly, the narrative failed to disclose the sexual orientation of two characters, which could have provided valuable context and saved me time during the brief viewing.

The producers seemed aware that their content would likely be dismissed if viewers perceived it as another attempt to push the unwelcome material upon them. They certainly didn’t include it in their advertising.

Will the show succeed? I don’t know. As I said, I’m not an expert. I guess it depends on how well they can sell their product and how many people are willing to tolerate it.

Television has undergone remarkable technological advancements, with displays and audio systems reaching unprecedented levels of clarity and sophistication. However, the creative content and programming have seemingly deteriorated, offering increasingly shallow and uninspired entertainment. Until the industry prioritizes meaningful storytelling and quality production, I’ll continue to find satisfaction in classic shows that demonstrate genuine artistic merit.

Whoever’s Playing the Titans

Memphis unveiled itself to me gradually, transforming from an unfamiliar military posting to a vibrant urban landscape that captured my imagination. During my service, I encountered a city pulsing with warmth and verdant spaces, its character emerging through welcoming residents and lush surroundings. Strategically nestled beside the mighty Mississippi River, Memphis offered more than a mere geographical coordinate—it represented potential and promise. As my military chapter concluded, the city’s distinctive spirit and emerging opportunities beckoned, compelling me to contemplate putting down roots in this remarkable Southern metropolis.

Memphis faced significant challenges as its residents allowed ineffective leadership to guide municipal development, repeatedly investing substantial resources into projects with minimal public benefit. The pattern of misguided spending reflected a broader systemic issue within the city’s governance and community decision-making processes. I could and would elaborate but it is far off the point of this post.

The Houston Oilers’ relocation saga became a pivotal moment in NFL history when the franchise set its sights on Nashville. Despite the city’s enthusiasm, a critical challenge emerged: the absence of a suitable professional football stadium. This infrastructural gap would become a defining hurdle in the team’s ambitious transition.

The Oilers appeared to leverage their potential relocation to Nashville as a negotiating tactic, hinting to Memphis leaders that a compelling stadium proposal might persuade them to reconsider their planned move.

As anticipated, Memphis residents fell for the calculated strategy, swallowing the entire proposition without hesitation. Following substantial municipal investment in infrastructure improvements, the Oilers predictably executed their long-standing blueprint precisely as intended. As soon as possible, the Oilers became the Titans and moved to Nashville.

While the legal and procedural aspects of the situation appeared legitimate, there is a strong sense that the residents of Memphis were ultimately disadvantaged and did not receive fair treatment. The circumstances suggest that despite apparent adherence to proper protocols, the outcome was fundamentally unfair to the local community, leaving them feeling marginalized and shortchanged.

Despite my waning interest in professional football following the national anthem controversy, I maintain a steadfast opposition to the Tennessee Titans. While I don’t subscribe to the concept of karma, there’s a certain poetic justice in witnessing the team’s ongoing struggles, which stems from my personal principles.

It is my rationale that I root for whoever is playing against the Titans. It is my rationale that I like to see them flailing as they are. It would not hurt my feelings if they would just fade away, which would leave Nashville with a stadium and no team, sort of as it was for Memphians these many years ago.

Musicals

Musicals have long been a polarizing art form, with countless individuals dismissing them outright. The most common critique I encounter is the perceived lack of realism—a sentiment that seemingly undermines the genre’s unique storytelling potential. Yet, beneath this surface-level objection lies a misunderstood world of emotional expression and artistic innovation.

While musicals may not appeal to everyone, dismissing the entire genre means missing out on numerous exceptional films and theatrical performances that offer rich storytelling, compelling characters, and innovative artistic expression.

If not for “The Sound of Music,” most of us would not have experienced the takeover of Austria by the Germans, other than in a clinical sense. If not for “Fiddler on the Roof,” most of us would not be aware of what the Jews went through during the final years of Czarist Russia, which is a very important part of human history. Some might argue against me, but “South Pacific” and “The King and I” brought up racial subjects that were right on the edge in their day.

The timeless melodies of classic musicals transcend generations, breathing life into narratives that might otherwise fade. “Sound of Music” exemplifies this phenomenon, captivating audiences decades after its initial release. Its enduring appeal suggests a universal resonance that speaks to contemporary viewers as powerfully as it did to its original audience, proving that great storytelling, enhanced by memorable music, can create an emotional connection that defies time.

Fiddler on the Roof stands out as a timeless masterpiece that transcends musical entertainment. Its profound narrative explores cultural traditions and social change with remarkable depth. The musical’s songs, particularly poignant pieces like “Sunrise, Sunset,” beautifully capture the emotional landscape of Jewish life in early 20th century Russia. Beyond its melodic brilliance, the story offers rich historical insights that could profoundly educate students about cultural identity, family dynamics, and societal transformation. The work’s thematic richness makes it an invaluable educational resource, deserving of broader recognition in academic settings.

Humor often serves as a crucial element in storytelling, providing levity and emotional relief that can make narratives more engaging and memorable. The inclusion of lighthearted moments not only breaks tension but also creates a more relatable and enjoyable experience for the audience.

While musicals often showcase exceptional musical compositions, not all achieve a perfect balance between narrative and score. Some productions primarily serve as platforms for memorable melodies, which can still be thoroughly enjoyable. However, certain musicals, like Desert Song, possess narratives so minimal that the music becomes the primary driving force. In such cases, removing the musical elements would leave behind a skeletal storyline.

They Used to Make Movies There

That’s right. They made dozens of them each every year. Nowadays, not so much. They go to Atlanta; they go to Canada. They used to make good movies in Hollywood. They made many good movies there. I know. I used to go to them and watch them. However, the price seemed to keep going up as the quality kept going down.

I don’t even remember the last time time I saw any movie made for the theater. I have seen a few on TV. Since I had cable taken out, I can’t even remember seeing any of them. They no longer make any good movies in Hollywood. Nowadays, during Oscar night, they have problems finding five nominees worth an Oscar.

It doesn’t surprise me any. It has gotten too expensive. Consider, all the movie stars demanding their millions. Consider, the unions, demanding their cuts. I mean the pies are only so big.

Consider, the old plots can only be dragged through the ringer so many times. I mean, Superman is no longer so super. How many spidermen can we have before the NY, NY has too many webs hanging around.

Then too. There are too many folks afraid of offending too many folks. They tried the one remake of Red Dawn using China as the foe. That got changed quickly when China objected. I can’t remember what that one movie was that, who was it, I think Sony sued the studio. I’m not sure if we could do a remake of the gangsters without making some of their descendants upset. I mean, we would never want to upset the grand, grand child of Al Capone.

The thing is, why make the movies in Hollywood at all anymore. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was made, I think, in Italy. We don’t need film anymore and the cameras are far less expensive… as well as the projectors. Who knows, a group of kids with an inspiration, a little talent and a little help could make something that would put Hollywood to shame, and they just might do it in Gallup, NM., or Flagstaff, Arizona.

And, per chance, they just might do it without one union member.

Backlashed

Backlash is the word used in in the articles I read about Biden’s intentions to remove any recollection of the iconic celebrated kiss on Times Square. Instantaneously, the effort ceased.

The whole thing was virtually over by the time I heard of it. Then, I began thinking about it. In truth, this is an attempt at thought control. It was an attempt to change, or should I say destroy history.

The woman didn’t object. As a matter of fact, the two became friends. Then, all of a sudden, the dems decided it was time for that little segment of our our national history to just quietly disappear.

Then PEOPLE “backlashed,” if I may say. They got together and said, Don’t do that! Figuratively, of course. notice no quotation marks.

My original thought was, that was good. I would really like that little part of our history to remain for a century or two. I don’t have much hope for that. When the dems want something destroyed, it will be destroyed. It is simply a matter of time. Once the incident fades from memory, they will make another attempt, but more carefully.

They will use the same methods they used on the statues. 50 years ago, people would have backlashed when people destroyed statues.

However, once the dems remolded the statues into evil icons, they are gone. Gone too, is the history behind them all, be that good or be that bad.

As I said, mind control. And where be the backlash? Who stands in the way of such righteous indignation, but for a fleeting moment.

50 years ago, the open borders of Old Joe would never have been tolerated. It would have been backlashed.

Today any effort to close the border has become evilized by the dems and by the press. (Redundant. Press and dems, same-same.)

It’s more than a pattern. It is a method to control history, minds and our future, by control of our past. And, you see. There is no backlash. Today, our Constitution is history. Tomorrow, it will be evil. A little while later, it will be gone.

Even now the the thought engineers are busy designing ways to make the Bible and Christianity evil. Need I explain what they intend to do next. If they can make it evil, they can destroy it.

Santa Clause Is Coming to Town

It’s true. Christmas is right around the corner and the gifts will be distributed. It’s real.

However, where the song has it wrong is just who Santa Clause is. Let’s get real. The bulk of the gifts will be coming from the dems, namely Old Joe and his cohorts.

They will distribute among those too lazy to work. Some will be distributed to outfits on the dole, as Planned Parenthood. They will be distributing to government departments, such as the Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, and such as the EPA.

Of course, let us not forget the money going to transportation, feeding and sheltering of the aliens. (That’s right, they really do exists and someone needs to provide for them.) Certainly, we don’t want to forget the gifts they provided to oil producing countries by cutting our production. This would include but not limited to, Russia, Iran and many wealthy Arab countries.

Yup. No bout a doubt it. Old Joe will take out his Santa suit, brush it off, put smile on, along with the suit. He will jump in his magic sleigh and make his trip world wide.

Soon, he will visit a place near you. But beware. Not only will he give the gifts, but he will also be seeking what he can. You just might want to hide that wallet of yours.

You see, the only way he can give out all the freebies is to take the money from others. Well, they can also just print it. They have proved they are willing to do that too.