Monday, March 10, 2014

Come Monday...Wahlburgers

“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).


Arlynda and I were really looking forward to seeing [Wahlburgers] when we first heard about it several weeks ago, but after watching just the first two episodes, it turned out to be the proverbial straw that broke our proverbial camel’s back.  For not only do we now never want to see another episode of the unreality show, it has soured our enthusiasm for any show that [Donnie Wahlberg] has anything to do with.

That is really saying something—be assured.  For Donnie Wahlberg co-stars in [Blue Bloods], which we have loved.  He is also the executive producer/narrator/chief cook and bottle washer of [Boston’s Finest], which is a documentary that focuses upon the lives (both on and off the job) of several members of the Boston Police Department, and a show that has held a certain fascination for us (especially Arlynda).

I struggle to define (refine?) just exactly what it is about Wahlburgers that has had such a devastating impact upon us.  I suppose the most significant thing (at least to me) is the main theme to the show, which is to franchise [Paul Wahlberg’s] gourmet burger restaurant against Paul’s better judgment.

Yeah, it all makes for great entertainment when all reality is suspended.  For Paul has a really great thing going when his more famous younger brothers swoop in to take it nationally (and maybe even globally) without much consideration given to the fact that the main reason for why Paul’s gourmet burger restaurant is so great is Paul literally having a finger in every pie (so to speak).  Now, when it becomes possible to clone Paul, the franchising of his restaurant may work, but until then, trying to establish more than one location may ruin even the original location.

Donnie comes off as an egomaniacal manager while Paul freaks out over every little thing.  [Mark] flies in from movie shooting locations all over the globe from time to time to add his two cent’s worth of advice and have fair young maidens swooning in the parking lot over him, which really freaks out Paul.  Mama Wahlberg does her best to keep the circus from getting out of hand, but Ringmaster Donnie keeps on pushing Paul over the edge.

In all fairness, we have only watched the first two episodes, and the show may have settled into a much more realistic flow since.  On the other hand, that is evidently not what makes for a great unreality show in the eyes of the powers that be at the television networks.  For if it did, Wahlburgers would be much more about Donnie trying to get a good sear on a dozen hamburger patties without turning half of them into charcoal briquettes while Mark throws a hissy-fit over having to wash dishes again, with Paul and their mama grinning from ear to ear from the sheet delight of it all.  Sigh.

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10 comments:

  1. If you look closely you will note an 'OFF' switch on your television.

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  2. Thanks for coming by, my dear Adullamite!!! Aye, but with the TV off, we might miss something worth watching!

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  3. How very weird! What a strange subject for a reality show. They obviously banking on the Wahlberg name or hoping to, but it could very well splatter up into their faces by the sounds of it.

    I like the acting Wahlberg brothers. Let's hope they don't sully their thespian reputations, but they seem to be headed that way from your description. How silly!

    Another silly thing - following on from a previous conversation we've had about this, Jerry...

    I can't imagine the US version of the Aussie TV series "Rake" being successful; I really can't. I can't imagine Greg Kinnear in the lead role (they've changed the name of the lead character played by Richard Roxburgh in the original from "Cleaver Greene" to "Keegan Joye" for whatever reason known only to those who, I believe, are foolish enough to emulate the show. Roxburgh is brilliant as the eccentric, off-the-rails "Cleaver Greene"; it is his part to play. And I can't imagine the Americans (and I mean absolutely no offense in saying this) understanding the Aussie humour in this show.

    The whole premise will be wrecked. That's not only sad, but damn annoying, as well.

    And if the sometimes biting humour has to be altered to suit the US market, the whole point; the whole crux of the story is lost.

    That's just my opinion; I could be proven completely wrong...time (and audiences) will tell, I guess.

    It's a pity...because "Rake", the Aussie version is one of my favourite shows to watch. It's witty; it's clever; it's funny; it's brilliant.

    I read that they've already changed the day and timeslot.

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  4. Thanks for stopping by, my dear Lee!!! Yes, I am quite sure that you are right about Wahlburgers coming to be as a show just on account of it involving the Wahlbergs. I am sorry, but we haven't tried watching the US version of Rake yet. We started to, but we wanted to start with the first episode to help us ease into it. When we saw that the first episode is no longer available to us On Demand, I didn't look to see if we could find it online. It sounds like we would be much better off looking for the Aussie version, anyway. Thank you for the warning.

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  5. I don't watch reality shows. My sole purpose for watching tv is to escape reality and I don't have any interest in seeing that type of show.

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  6. It's not you...it's an awful show. I can't figure out why they are doing it other than to just get their restaurant in the media. None of them agree on what they want to do..it's just weird and NOT entertaining. I don't even watch the commercials for it anymore.

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  7. Thanks for stopping by, my dear Ann!!! One of these days we may learn our lesson...

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  8. Thanks for stopping by, my dear Lin!!! So, if they build a Wahlburgers in your area...?

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  9. My TV has been showing me old things today. Old videos I dug out with excellent 1970' and eighties programmes. Much better than the pap offered now.

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  10. Thanks for stopping by again, my dear Adullamite!!! I hope your TV is not real heavy. For it will be a ways to carry it back to our house, and I have lost much of my strength.

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