So you enjoy watching twenty-somethings play rich spoiled teenagers? Well Gossip Girl is for you. This show is one of those addiction series that you don't really tell others you watch, but secretly enjoy. Well I am letting the cat out of the bag. This is one of my secret addictions. It is one of the best teen dramas to come out in the last twenty years and it definitely helped that it was created by Josh Schwartz who created a wrote for The OC (oh and Chuck).
The show is based on the New York Times bestselling novels of the same name about a group of teenagers living in New York City which I will also admit I read as a youngin, which I might have continued to read as the came out with I was a bit over the young adult age limit. The series doesn't really line up with the novels, but still has the rich spoiled lives of teenagers aroma that made the novels so popular. Think The OC only set in Upper Eastside New York City. Anyways, the first season wasn't able to pull in the number of viewers that it wanted, but after some risque sexually charged promos after the writers strike, the viewership increased. The second season starts next month and I am pretty pumped to see what's in store.
Available today anywhere you want, except maybe grocery stores and Victoria's Secret (but you never know).
Also available: For the medically egotisctical- House Season 4 For the serial killing addicted- Dexter Season 2 For Scary Snick TV obsessed- Are you Afraid of the Dark Season 7
Ever since the creation of being funny on television or referencing obscure stuff to make either viewers seem smarter or more stupid than their friends, screenwriters for some reason believe that references to Samuel Beckett's absurdest play Waiting for Godot are necessary to make fun of why someone is late or missing. Everything from Dawson's Creek, to House, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer have made references to the play. It seems as if any time a TV show wants to remark on why a character is remotely late, Beckett's fateful play is used to make fun of the situation.
Waiting for Godot is regarded as one of the best plays of the mid 20th Century regarding people's obsessions with existential, Jungian/ Freudian, other philosophical and political thoughts of the time, and blah blah effing blah. Main point is, the play is about two guys who sit around waiting for this other guy Godot, who inevitably, never arrives. There have been many interpretations on who Godot represents, and who Vladamir and Estragon (the guys sitting around) are supposed to represent. They have ranged from Godot representing a divine power who never comes to rescue Vlad and his bud, to waiting for things we can never have, to mindless waiting for anything. The main point is, the television seems to ignore the entire interpretation of the play and have reduced it to waiting for a friend, husband, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc, who all incidentally eventually show up, unlike Godot.
To breakdown the misuse and obsession with referencing Godot, here are some examples:
Dawson's Creek: In the season premiere of the sixth season, Joey, Pacey, Jen, Jack, and Audrey are sitting around a bar hanging out when Joey asks where Dawson is. Audrey then responds: "You mean "Godot" Leary?"
No Audrey, we do not mean Dawson 'Godot" Leary, because Dawson shows up at the end of the show. He actually shows up well before the end of the show, which is something Godot never does. Dawson shows up after Joey, who I guess in this situation is the Vladamir, or maybe Estragon, waits around in the bar for him. He shows up, they go back to her dorm room, and history of the Joey/ Dawson relationship continues. I guess it wouldn't Dawson's Creek without obscure literature references. Some even claim that Waiting for Godot was the inspiration for the entire series of Dawson's Creek. God help us.
House: House has made several references Waiting for Godot during its four seasons. The first references was the typical. Wilson comments on the delayed reaction by the CDC by remarking that "Godot would be faster", which really he wouldn't because again he never shows up during the first season in "Poison". The CDC does show up. They always show up. Haven't you seen Outbreak? Waiting for Godot is referenced two seasons later during season 3 in Finding Judas, when Chase is frustrated because House wouldn't listen to him, which causes Wilson (what is with Wilson and Samuel Beckett) to reference Godot once again: "Beckett would have called his play 'Waiting for House's approval', but thought it would be too grim"
Gilmore Girls: Keeping it in the WB family, Gilmore Girls followed in Dawson's footsteps and their incessant references with their own Godot blurb. While sitting around at Richard and Emily's dinning room table during Friday night dinner, Lorelai, in her constant need to say things that no one else understands, remarks on how they have been waiting forever for Richard to come to the dinner table. Emily in her usual manner responds that it has not been forever. When Lorelia responds: "Forever. Godot was just here. He said 'I ain't waiting for Richard,' grabbed a roll and left. It's been forever!"
This one is actually amusing. Godot is not Richard, which makes this reference funny because they have been sitting at the dinner table so long that Godot actually showed up, but Richard still hasn't.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Joss Whedon is known for his obscure references and witty humor. This is no different in carrying on the television legacy of referencing Godot. During season 3, we are introduced to a new slayer, Faith. She is known for being a bad ass and not for her punctuality. In one particular scene, the scooby gang: Buffy, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Oz, Giles, and even Wesley are sitting around the library, figuring out how to save the world. Wesley tells Buffy she wait for Faith to go hunt down the demon. Buffy responds with: "That could be hours. The girl makes Godot look punctual. I'll just go myself. " Yes, Faith shows up eventually and actually turns out to be evil, which is a weirder take on the play. But again, Joss uses Waiting for Godot to poke fun at a characters punctuality.
Joss makes another Waiting for Godot reference earlier in the series during season 1. This time it is a quote from the play and not just making fun of the fact that some is late. On the blackboard in the back of a classroom it says: "To every man his little cross. 'Til he dies. And is forgotten." This is both in reference to the play, but also the storyline which is about a girl who becomes invisible because nobody noticed her.
There have been numerous other references from names of episodes, like Home Improvement's "Go, Go, Godot" to plays on the name of the play like Red Dwarf's "Waiting for God" and the Riches' "Waiting for Dogot". Even television shows are analyzed as philosophical interpretations of the play, like South Park, yes I said South Park. They all might be a stretch, but the references and interpretations of Waiting for Godot will be forever infused into our society and the television we watch. Whether our society understands the references or not, that is something that will just need to wait for another day. My guess is no, but really who's to say. All we can do is wait until another television show decides to reference Godot because one of their characters lacks punctuality. Until then, I think I might just go hang out with Pozzo.
In my continuation of the Emmy's Top Ten Best ... Lists, I will now dwell on the chosen dramas. Oh television drama; filling my life with pointless plots, depthless characters, and terrible writing. I still love it all. This list is well...eclectic...:
Top 10 Dramas: Boston Legal Damages Dexter Friday Night Lights Grey's Anatomy Mad Men House Lost The Tudors The Wire
Unlike my last rant, I will start with what I like to call "you better recognize these great, but underrated shows". First, Friday Night Lights. This show is amazing. As someone who doesn't like sports, it doesn't matter. For someone who does like sports, it might be a bit artsy for you. The acting is great, the writing is amazing, the film editing is ingenious. The viewership, is quite lackluster. For the ATAS to recognize this show is an example of how America doesn't watch good television, they watch shit, like Grey's Anatomy, but I will come to that later. I will hold on to you Friday Night Lights for as long as possible, just like I did with Firefly, Freaks and Geeks, and Veronica Mars.
Speaking of others shows that need to be given their worth, and ATAS is helping them out here: The Wire. Even if most people aren't even aware of its existence, you should be because it is a great show. The Tudors, another good choice ATAS. I do enjoy watching King Henry shag everyone in sight. Another thumbs up to you for Dexter. This show is finally being recognized for its great... uh everything. I was getting tired of worn out cop shows like CSI and Law and Order, but then Showtime gave us the other side; the serial killers side. I have been happy ever since. Finally Mad Men, I love this show and you should too.
I am, I guess you could say, ambivalent about the sudden obsession with law dramas. Boston Legal and Damages are very good shows. They entertain me... sometimes. Actually, I can't stand Denny Crane and anything with Glenn Close in it. But they are both better than The Practice and Ally McBeal (yea go cry about menopause with that stupid dancing baby).
Now to my rant about Grey's Anatomy. Why is this a great show. The first season was entertaining, the second season kept me intrigued, ever since the show has been terrible. Yes Katherine "I'm a Bitch" Heigel. I agree with you! This show has no right to be on this list. What was great about this season: nothing. Nothing has been great about this show for two years. Emmy's, stop holding on to this show. It is giving us nothing anymore. Seriously, how many times can Meridith and McDreamy get back together? Ross and Rachel blew that fuse 7 years ago.
Snubs: uh, Battlestar Galactica? Just because it is on SciFi doesn't mean it isn't a great show. The writing is amazing and the characters actually have depth, unlike McDreamy, McSteamy, McFlurry, Mc Griddle, and what ever effing nicknames they have on that show. Please recognize this show next year. It is all it has. Big Love also a snub. Breaking Bad was also a great show that the writers' strike effed over. Well at least Desperate Housewives is not on anything. God that show is annoying.
