Leave 'Em Laughing and Wanting More

Ten years ago today, the greatest sitcom of all time came to an end.

Seinfeld ended its nine-season run on May 14, 1998 with The Finale, an episode that brought back memorable supporting characters from throughout the show’s run, and sent the “New York Four” to prison.

SeinfeldAt the time, I hated the episode.  While it had some great humorous moments, the idea of sending Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer to prison  for not helping out a carjack victim was preposterous and a bit of a cop-out. 

Looking backat this today, while I still think the finale was funny, but weak overall.  However, I think a lot of my ill feelings toward the episode had more to do with the fact that the show was ending than the individual merits of the episode. 

The thing I realize now is that like George, the show was going out on a high note. Seinfeld didn’t outstay its welcome or become irrevelant by coming back year after year with even more episodes. Compare that with other long-running series. I love the Simpsons, and could probably quote classic episodes all day long.  But while the antics of our favorite family are still good for a few laughs, the show isn’t as memorable or ass must-see as it once was.  Same goes for M*A*S*H*, which had a longer run than the active combat phase of the conflict it was based on.

Instead, Seinfeld limited itself to nine seasons of comedy which people quote (and life still imitates) to this day.  A recent article in Newsweek claims the show’s relevance was minimal due to the self-centeredness of the characters.  I’d say that the show’s focus on the little things in life, as well as the character’s own self interest is what made it great.  Take George, for instance.  I think George Costanza is one of the great characters of all time.  No one could be like him all the time, but I’m sure everyone has parts of them that wish they could be.  However, when we see George in action, we’re reminded why it’s good that we don’t live life the way George does.

If Seinfeld had continued production, it most likely would have gone the way of all the other shows that held on too long.  But I guess as George and Jerry learned, it’s better to go out on a high note and always leave the audience wanting more.

Kramer: And it’s a waste of my talent. It’s just a little burning. Mickey, he
got bacterial meningitis.

George: I guess there are no small diseases, only small actors.

The other three start laughing.

George (leaving): Alright that’s it for me. Good night everybody.

Elaine: What was that?

Jerry: Showmanship, George is trying to get out on a high note.

King Tom

Reading is Fundamental

I was in a conversation recently with The Civee and the in-laws about reading. 

The Civee’s mother, who does a lot of work raising money for her neighborhood library, mentioned that it’s reccomended that people get in three hours of reading per week.  Books and newspapers count.  Most things on the Internet, including “blog-stuff,” doesn’t.  So if you’ve been taking your time at the Kingdom, enjoying my observations and witticisms, your time spent here may not count.

I easily spend a few hours (more than three, less than, say, six) each week reading.  And I’m not counting  the time spent wasting time on the Web.  I’m also not counting the number of hours I spend at work reading and proofreading material.  That gets to be mind-numbing and I almost need to read non-work material (outside of work, of course) just to get my mind on the right track.

Give a hoot, read a book!

King Tom

Racing Against the Clock

Jack Bauer Appreciation Day!Dammit…I hope I’m not late with this.

Happy Jack Bauer Appreciation Day, everybody!

True, 24 was worse than lackluster last season, but Jack Bauer remains among the greatest of American heroes.   For all those of you who like to speak in alternating whispers and shouts, commandeer random vehicles or give your word as a regular negotiating tactic, today is the day for you.

To read some of my views on the best (and worst) of Bauer, click here.

King Tom

The Cure for Cabin Fever

mmmm...DHARMA Ranch!Tonight’s episode of Lost, Cabin Fever takes its name from a (mostly) psychological condition.  The cure for which, according to this Web site is “a good wholesome change of environment.”

If you think about it, that has a lot to do with the very end of (and possibly most puzzling statement from) “Cabin Fever.”

Once again, with a Locke-centric episode, Lost delivered in terms of backstory, action, current-day story and expanding the island mythology just enough to have me totally confused about… Continue reading “The Cure for Cabin Fever” →

King Tom

Killing Momentum (a.k.a. Something Nice Back Home)

Is it me, or does this happen regularly: A great episode of Lost (or at least one with a cliffhanger/reveal at the end) is followed by a pedestrian effort aimed more at developing characters than developing story.  That’s certainly the case with tonight’s episode, Something Nice Back Home. 

That isn’t to say that Something Nice Back Home was a bad episode.  It wasn’t.  But it wasn’t great, either.  And after last week’s great episode, and considering the momentum the show is trying to build as they wrap up Season Four, you’d think they’d put out a stronger effort, or at least let us check in with more compelling characters, like Ben, Locke, Sayid or Desmond.

Continue reading “Killing Momentum (a.k.a. Something Nice Back Home)” →

King Tom

The More Things Change, Yada, Yada, Yada…

Being an obnixous Yankee fan in a city where most baseball fans follow one of two so-called “medium market” teams, I often get asked to defend the charge that the Yankees’ (read: George Steinbrenner’s) spending habits have ruined the great sport of baseball.

My standard reponse is that yes, the Yankees do spend more than other teams, but that’s because they wisely (well, mostly wise) reinvest their money into the team. That money pays for a team that fans turn out to see, in turn, leading fans to buy the team’s merchandise and follow the team from around the world. What’s more, the Yankees pay millions of dollars to other teams in the form of revenue sharing, and a number of those teams take that money and put it back into the pockets of their owners, rather than putting that money into a team (for that team’s fans) worth cheering for. 

Rather, I counter, it isn’t the Yankees ruining baseball, but those owners taking that money to enrich themselves, rather than their team.

Even though free agency has only existed over the last 30-40 years of baseball’s lifespan, the concepts I’ve been talking about have been around a lot more.  In reading a recent interview at Baseball Analysts with Dan Levitt, who wrote a book about Ed Barrow, the Yankees’ first GM, it’s easy to see that my argument is not a new one:

Rich: Using newly available material from the New York Yankee financial records and previously unexplored financial data from 1951 Congressional hearings, you delved into the economic environment of baseball over the first half of the twentieth century. What was the most enlightening thing you learned about the Yankees?

Dan: Two things stand out. First, the Yankees reinvested their profits in the team while other franchises often distributed theirs out to the team’s owners, and second, the Yankees consistently paid the highest salaries.

I’d rather be a fan of a team that spends prodigiously than one run by a bunch of penny pinchers.  Sure, the Yankees are a .500 team at this point in the season, but their ownership has at least given them a chance.  I’d like for someone to honestly tell me that you can say the same about Pittsburgh or Florida. Those cities should have their teams taken away.

King Tom

Call Me [Turkey] Burger King

King Tom's Turkey BurgerNow that the weather is nice again, I’m back to one of my favorite pasttimes: cooking outside over an open flame.

I started the grilling thing last year, and despite some early mishaps, with the help of a chimney starter, I became quite adept at grilling by the end of the summer.  Earlier this weekend, The Civee and I decided now would be a good time to re-start our grilling adventure, so we made [what was our first meal on the grill last year] turkey burgers.  We used about a pound of ground turkey, and I made two burgers, each of which was freakin’ huge (the burger pictured has a slice of grilled onion on top).

Even more important, the ginormous burgers were really good. As were the sweet potato fries on the side.

In case you want to make your own turkey burgers just like the king:

Take one pound of ground turkey meat. Mix with a half cup of breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers, which we used tonight), a quarter-cup of olive oil (or any other type of oil, you’ll need it because there’s close to no fat in the turkey meat). Add a palmful of poultry seasoning and as much pepper and salt as you want. Shape into two (or fewer) orbs, and grill about ten minutes per side.

As for the equimpent, I’m still using charcoal and the same Weber knockoff as last year. With the aforementioned chimney starter, there’s no need for lighter fluid, which is a good thing. Maybe this summer we’ll upgrade to a real Weber, but that’s something I’m trying to talk the Civee into.

King Tom5 Comments

Don't Mess With Ben Linus

After what seemed like a short eight-week run earlier this year, Lost returned tonight to continue its fourth season with a Ben-focused episode, “The Shape of Things To Come.”  And if the producers were hoping to please the ever-important King Tom demographic, they succeeded.  Tonight’s episode featured explosions, the monster, Ben, international intrigue, a game of worldwide domination and all love triangles kept to a minimum.

Continue reading “Don't Mess With Ben Linus” →

King Tom

The Village Weez

Today, Spinner.com released the album cover for Weezer’s upcoming sixth album.  If this cover alone doesn’t make album six (a.k.a. The Red Album) go platinum, there is no justice in the world.

The image alone redefines the concept of album covers as art, and all other musicians just better stop trying.  It’s far better for all future albums, CDs, tapes and eight-tracks to be released in brown paper wrapping than to try and compete with Weezer portraying the Village People.  From left to right, Brian is the starving artist, Pat is the scholar, Rivers is a cowboy and Scott is the biker.  Truly a masterpiece.

I don’t want to go calling this a ‘theme album,’ but from what we know, the look of the band here fits the message of Pork and Beans:

I’mma do the things
That I wanna do
I ain’t got a thing
To prove to you
I’ll eat my candy
With the pork and beans
Excuse my manners
If I make a scene
I ain’t gonna wear
The clothes that you like
I’m finally dandy
With the me inside
One look in the mirror
And I’m tickled pink
I don’t give a hoot
About what you think

I didn’t think it was possible to look forward to an album, but I am really stoked for this one. 

King Tom