You know, I’ve rethought that last post. I mentioned that I was intellectually above those two TV shows. I think perhaps I was wrong. I just realized that the two things I’ve most enjoyed on real (not at work) TV lately were:
My Date With Drew: One of the sweetest little documentaries I’ve seen in a long time. It purports to chronicle a guy’s obsession with getting a date, just one, with Drew Barrymore. But really, even though that part is cool (I won’t tell you whether or not he gets the date) it’s really a movie about friendship. Dude’s friends follow him EVERYWHERE, for a long time, and never, ever stop encouraging him in his quest. It was so great I got a little verklempt.
Long Way Round: Ewan McGregor and his best pal Charley go from London to New York, via mostly land, on motorbikes. I watched the first episode of seven and thought it would be rather a waste of time, but okay to spin to. Instead, it also turned into a male-friendship movie, the likes of which I haven’t seen since, well, My Date With Drew. I only realize now the similarity, and I wonder why I’m drawn to male-bonding right now. Ewan and Charley come across as nice, really nice. I like nice boys. I wondered if it was all editing, but there are several shots in the film where something horrible happens, some bike/car/flood/river catastrophe, and the camera goes right to their faces, and they’re cool. They react with compassion and concern to things, the way I want people to react to things. Satisfying to watch.
Also (knitting content!), Long Way Round has a scene in the sewers of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, and it shows the kids that Ryan’s Dulaan Brigade helps out. I felt connected to that scene in a very intense, very moving way.
So. That to say: I am not sophisticated, after all. I am a pop-culture junkie. Not quite in the eat-only-Twinkies kind of way, but still in an eat ice-cream-every-day and pickles-count-as-vegetables kind of way.Ya dig?
Just thought you should know.
Scout says
I used to teach high school and hold a Master’s Degree and I love crapppppppptastic reality TV. See – http://www.scoutj.com/2006/07/07/wanna-know-a-secret-meme/
lol!!!
Rachel H says
of COURSE pickles count as vegetables. They’re green, aren’t they?
Jean says
My husband and I own Long Way Round on DVD. My husband rides motorcycles, and I love Ewan McGregor, so it all works out ๐
Cara says
I saw the last two episodes of Long Way Round – when they reconnect with their families – and man, did I cry! So so emotional. I’ll have to get it on DVD because I’ve been wanting to watch the whole thing. Thanks for the reminder.
Erika says
Wait… pickles DON’T count as vegetables?
Leanne says
Pickles are definitely vegetables. Once a cucumber, always a cucumber.
Ryan, The Dulaan Project says
Yeah, me and Ewan, we go waaaay back! ๐
Thanks for the plug, darlin’!
Amanda says
I am waaaay too suggestible. Now I have a pickle jones.
(wait, does that sound wrong?)
Samantha says
I love Long Way Round. Great great movie/mini series. ๐ Pickles ARE veggies. Just pickled veggies.
Jenna says
I got my boyfriend the extended British version of the Long Way Round DVDs because he is a big BMW motorcycle enthusiast and has the same model of bike the boys took on their trip. You’re right that the relationships certainly kept the show engaging – I think that the hugely evident love that they have for their children was GREAT. Their love and involvement with the kids was so evident, I think it showed a really great fatherhood model.
nicole says
Pop culture is where it’s at! Without cable I am reliant on DVDs, but when I do watch on DVD–I gorge.
TracyKM says
Also loved The Long Way Round. It was nice to be able to watch something with the hubby, LOL. I love to navigate by the seat of my pants, my husband is really into bikes, dirt bikes, sport bikes (just bought a used KTM this weekend after not having a bike of anysort for 6 years). We’d love to do something like that show, but perhaps a bit more civilized, LOL.
And the boys weren’t bad to watch either, LOL. One sounded exactly like my FIL. Freaky when I closed my eyes.
BigAlice says
Oh man, now I’m craving a pickle. Pickles are in that fabulous family of costs-more-calories-to-digest-than-you-get back.
lisa says
I didn’t see the drew movie but I remember reading about it – the man who made it – did it on a shoestring. If I remember correctly, he had no prior film experience,training,etc. It’s probably the kind of movie that I would like. I like cinema verite but not reality teevee.
nancy says
I have an embarassing fondness for Ewan McGregor. And the Mongolian scenes in Long Way Round are why I started knitting for Dulaan. It’s a great documentary, and you’re right — Ewan and Charlie both come across as fundamentally decent people.
Steph says
What’s not to love about Pop Culture. At least you’re not a complete geek like me who makes her living studying it!