- The “Survivor-fication” of TV: Mr. Gordon agreed with the suggestion that reality television might have influenced the ever-shortening lives of characters on scripted television. “There is absolutely a ‘Survivor’-fication of television at some level,” he said. “All these shows, whether it’s ‘Survivor’ or ‘American Idol,’ are always about somebody leaving the show. It’s always about a symbolic death.”
- 24 and LOST both thrive on those old genre cliches: last week on 24 it was the old “don’t go down to the basement” routine, and that chick went down there and basically said, “Hello?? Any terrorists in here?” And then she gets her throat slit. Duh.
- Learn to play the Ramones’ “I Don’t Wanna Go Down To The Basement”
- Beat Happening’s YOU TURN ME ON is on repeat this week. Check out some free MP3s from K Records. Dub Narcotic tears it up: check out old faves, The Microphones and Mirah.
- FREE STARBUCKS: tomorrow 10-12.
- Kids: the human body is vulgar and disgusting, and you shouldn’t even think about it, let alone draw it.
- AND last but not least: my all-time favorite, George Saunders, has a message about his new book(s) and a new piece in GQ.