Thursday, December 30, 2021

Bingeable Vintage TV Shows That Remind Us How The West Was Won

Yes, it’s Throwback Thursday. When you are as old as I am 2004 doesn’t sound like much of a throwback at first…until you consider it was nearly 18 years ago. That’s the year Boston Legal debuted. I had already sworn off network TV at that point so I missed it, although friends kept telling me it was really good. I stumbled across a few episodes somewhere a couple years back and mentally put it on my watch list and finally got around to it last summer when it popped up on Prime. Disappointingly it included commercials that can’t be skipped so we skipped it, waiting for a commercial-free format.

And then my brother sent me this clip the other day, which reminded me why I added it to the watch list in the first place.

Denny Crane channels his inner Liberty Valance

Now I’m committed. Strangely Denny’s wild, wild west attitude seems even more fitting today than when the show was made (shoutout to Democrats everywhere!). We watched the first 2 episodes last night – with commercials, when you commit you commit – and it really is as good as everyone said. And the commercials are better made and not as frequent as regular network TV. I’m still slightly surprised the networks could still crank out such smart, fun shows as recently as 2004, but happily so.

So that’s my throwback binge show suggestion for the New Year, what’s yours? Perhaps we should assemble a list of bingable old shows to get us through the winter which the Brandon administration promises as an upgrade from last year's COVID “dark winter” to this year's “winter of death” for the unvaccinated. Although honestly, everyone I know who has been diagnosed with COVID so far this winter has been vaccinated.

Speaking of which, I’m off to my scheduled COVID test this morning which I presume will be positive although my symptoms are still minimal. I don’t know about other states but Utah has a rationing system for the monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, and while Raj qualifies on all counts he still couldn’t get an appointment until next Monday even after checking every available site and option. Thankfully, and most likely due to prayers so I thank you all, the University of Utah called last evening to slot him into a spot that opened up Friday morning. It’s down in Salt Lake and the weather is supposed to be treacherous but we’ll make it, being experience hands in nightmarish winter mountain driving conditions.

So that’s how we’re spending our New Year’s Eve. And possible watching an episode or two of Boston Legal.