Monday, April 19, 2010

Come Monday...HBO's Treme (Again)

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about, websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time. Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.” This is subject to change, however. In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while. For rants promote change, and change can be good—right? Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).



Well, I must admit that I am very disappointed right now. For I was planning on posting a review of each episode, but [Treme] is appearing to be too much like [The Corner] for me to write about each week.

Please, don’t get me wrong. Treme is a great show, but it is too “real-life” (as opposed to fake reality) for my taste. For I get enough “real-life” each and every day of my own life, and I generally watch television shows and movies to escape for a little while.

Yes, I thoroughly enjoy a good documentary, but I consider those to be different. For the good ones are either about historical events or current problems that need to be addressed.

Whereas, Treme is about everyday life in [post-Katrina New Orleans], and what drama there is in the storylines is all too painfully familiar to me. For I know what it feels like to see everything that I held dear torn asunder, and I also know what it feels like to try to pick up the pieces of my shattered life when there was really nothing left to put together.

In other words, Treme is nothing like [The Wire]. For The Wire was about a game that I was familiar with, but had never really played myself. Therefore, it served as a perfect means of escape for me.

Oh yes, this is most definitely just a matter of my own opinion. For there is plenty about Treme that should prove quite entertaining to millions.

A good example of that would be how the second episode began. For it had [Davis McAlary] doing a live radio interview with [Coco Robicheaux], and Coco decided to perform a [Voodoo] ritual, which involved sacrificing a live chicken, to invite the spirit of [Marie Laveau] to the new location of the radio station. However, this did not meet with the management’s approval, and Davis was fired.

Another example of how Treme might just be what you are looking for is how honest they are being about “real-life” in New Orleans. For not all of the residents appreciated a lot of the help that came pouring in after the disaster, and one scene had a street musician acting rather rudely towards a trio of Wisconsin college students, who had came down with a church group to help rebuild.

In the spirit of interconnecting storylines, they had those very same Wisconsin college students staying in a hotel off of [Bourbon Street], which is where Davis had landed a job after being fired from the radio station. Staying true to his character as the resident screw-up of the show, Davis sent them far from where they were supposed to stay when they expressed a desire to experience the real New Orleans, and when they did not return to their hotel room later that evening, Davis found himself in another untenable position at the hotel.

In the post about Treme [last week], I expressed some hope in the characters of [Creighton Bernette] and his wife, [Toni Bernette], providing some Wire-like drama, but if it is coming, [Mr. Simon] is sure taking his time about it. For the only fireworks coming from Creighton this episode was of him gripping about [Tulane University] discontinuing much of their engineering department, and him trying to be pragmatic about where their daughter would be going to high school.

Alas, Treme is indeed proving to be a big disappointment to me, but I suppose that is to be expected. For my mom and dad always used to say that I wouldn’t be happy even if they hung me with a new rope.

Nonetheless, I do have some good news to report. For my sarcasm over the Treme website being somewhat lacking must have stung the powers that be over at [HBO]. For as you may have already discovered, there are now [character profiles] available for your viewing pleasure.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I am going to take full credit for that. For if I don’t seek to garner praise for myself, no one else will! (LOL?)

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4 comments:

  1. Haven't watched Treme, or anything else on HBO come to that (no cable on our idiot box). I can, however, agree wholeheartedly about your escapism statement. I habitually shy away from anything that is too distressing or depressing on TV and in the movies; I figure reality pretty much has that covered already :o)

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  2. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Jen!!! I suppose it is somewhat hypocritical on my part. For The Wire was as "real" as it could be, and I dearly loved that show--even with really good characters doing really bad things.

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  3. Too bad it's not turning out to be what you expected but way to go on getting them to put up profiles for the characters. You sure do have some mighty powers going on there. Duke is very impressed.

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  4. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Ann!!! If Duke is impressed, I must be even greater than I thought! Wow, maybe I should write something that the White House and Congress needs to read?

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