It's no secret that the sitcom is dead. People have been talking about this for years. However, when probed about why I like the NBC show "Community," I say that "I like the characters even though nothing really happens."

Then, I got to thinking about all of the other shows I watch on television. This year, more than ever, I am more excited about the shows on the air right now, including "Modern Family," "Community," "30 Rock," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "Mad Men." Yet, these shows are character driven. Aside from "Mad Men" ("Who are you Don Draper?"), there's no major conflict looming over the heads of the characters on the other shows, meaning there's no "situation" in these comedies. People tune in each week because they like the characters. I think nowadays people tune in for the characters and not the situation. If you can write a great character, you have it made.

Preview of ABC's Modern Family

The cancellation of "Arrested Development" marked the ultimate death of the sitcom, in my opinion. Even though it was pretty fresh and subversive in its execution, at the heart of the story was a sitcom premise: a man has to help his crazy family get back on their feet (emotionally and financially). Yet, I think its character development has inspired some of these shows on the air today.  

I think most shows on the air today have great characters. "Modern Family' is a perfect example. Every character on the show is believably flawed and entertaining to watch. The scenarios feel real.

With "Community," I think it isn't the leads that carry the show. It's the side characters. Senor Chang is probably the funniest character on the show. Professor Ian Duncan and Professor Whitman ("I'll have. . .a birthday cake!") are also standouts. Without all of these wacky characters, the show about Community College life has the potential to wane because, again, nothing really happens. (I have a theory that "Community" is really like "Lost," where the characters are all stuck in some sort of purgatory known as Community College. We never see their home life! It almost appears as if they all live on campus -- which I actually like).

Like any trend, the sitcom could make a comeback sometime in the future (although who would have thought the reality show craze would still be around). But for now, it's good to know that people like Sweet Dee, Dennis, Mac, Charlie, and Frank will continue to be misanthropes, blindly repelling people in every episode with no end or goal in sight. I'll continue to tune in.    

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This week, the 20th anniversary edition DVD of Say Anything was released. Say Anything was Cameron Crowe's directorial debut and the first in a line of Crowe movies to utilize a kick-ass soundtrack to play with the viewers' emotions (I still can't hear "The Wind" by Cat Stevens without thinking of Penny Lane twirling alone on stage).

To commemorate the release of the movie, the band Lloyd Dobler Effect (and a slew of Lloyd Doblers) took to Time Square.

I love Say Anything, but always wondered what the appeal was about this movie. It's got a typical high school movie plot (boy from the wrong side of the tracks likes a girl from the right side of the tracks), yet I think the character of Lloyd Dobler is what really makes people love this movie. He's a loveable loser you can't help but root for. Plus,I think the other attribute is that the characters don't talk like they're from a high school movie.  

However, my favorite John Cusack role is and will always remain Walter "Gib" Gibson from The Sure Thing. I feel like this Cusack character doesn't get enough love. He's a real guy's guy. The kind of guy who doesn't mind if you puke in his car. He may be rough around the edges, but he definitely comes through as a romantic in the end. 

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ABC debuts the sci-fi remake "V" tonight, starring Elizabeth Mitchell from "Lost."

This intrigues me. Especially because I learned to love Juliet on "Lost" and will basically follow Mitchell anywhere at this point. It starts tonight at 8 p.m. I need my sci-fi mix while "Lost" is still on hiatus.  

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My best friend called me at midnight last night, despite my text message that I would call him in the morning because I had to get up early. However, it was an emergency. Apparently, THE KID FROM ABOUT A BOY IS NOW GROWN UP AND HOT AND ROMANCING COLIN FIRTH IN THE FILM A SINGLE MAN.

Boy!

Man!

I can still remember his boyish voice hitting those sweet notes in "Killing Me Softly" with Hugh Grant. Now, well, he's just hitting Colin Firth.

A Single Man / Theatrical Trailer / Tom Ford

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I've seen a lot of commercials for the HTC phone lately and was struck by the music in the ad.

HTC You Campaign TV Commercial - You Are Different From You

I believe it's the opening keys from Nina Simone's "Sinnerman." I wonder if the tagline, "Quietly Brilliant" had anything to do with their selection of music.

sinnerman nina simone

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From my trip to the New England area, this is my favorite picture that I took.

The Maine Attraction

My photography skills aren't all that great, but I really love this picture for some reason.  

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Many films and television shows have been filmed in Vermont, from Me, Myself, and Irene to The Cider House Rules. However, last weekend when I was travelling through New England on a mini-break (through Vermont), I couldn't help but have one film on my mind: 1994's Time Chasers.

His chin butt is engulfing her!

One of my favorite televisions shows "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" once lampooned this film in one of their episodes. I knew Time Chasers took place in Vermont by their witty one-liners ("Vermont: City on-the-go!"). And actually, despite the film's impediments, the cinematography of Vermont in the movie is quite pleasing to the eye. Because of this film, I have always wanted to go to Vermont (the film Baby Boom is another feather in the state's cap). 

But one has to wonder of all the films depicting the beauty of Vermont, why did I choose this one to think about? There are plenty of films with more substance and accolades, and I chose one that was featured on a show that makes fun of movies of its kind.

Watch out for the minutemen lurking in the shadows

Perhaps, such B movies do have an effect on audiences, after all. "MST3K" might be where bad movies go to die, but really they are getting second life. I rewatch Time Chasers all of the time on one of my VHS tapes -- more times than I've ever sat down and watched What Lies Beneath (which I also own and which was filmed in Vermont).  

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American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert released what his new album cover will look like this week.

Wow

Via Twitter, Lambert confirmed that this album cover is "deliberately campy." It kinda looks like the entire 80's decade threw up all over the page. Usually, someone that has released many albums can be "deliberately campy" once they have maintained success. However, I find it strange that he's coming right out of the gate with this cover. Who knows. It might be just what the music industry needs!  

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I watched the latest Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" installment and thought the show was as clever as ever. However, in the opening segment, Lisa calls "different face" Hubert Wong an "asterisk" which confused me.

I thought Lisa was using the typographical symbol as a swear, but here she was referring to baseball players who use performance enhancing drugs (which makes sense in the context of the episode with Wong using a tutor).

I'm an idiot. And I might still call people asterisks anyway.  

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Rarely do I watch a movie and then read the book it was based from and am blown away by both pieces. However, Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road was the exception.

I watched the film version with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio last Christmas and couldn't get it out of my head for days. Then, inspired by the film, I decided to read the novel it came from. The novel, in fact, is probably better than the movie -- even though the film is amazing. Never before had I ever read something where every word was important. Usually, you can tell when an author has to fill a quota of so many pages. Yet, Yates' was so incredibly skillful with making each word count in Revolutionary Road (probably the best book I've ever read in fact).

Even this cover image is amazing!

I decided to read Yates' other highly acclaimed book The Easter Parade and was impressed with this achievement as well. I had one of those great late night book reads where you can't wait to see how it ends. The novel tells the tale of two sisters Emily and Sarah (although the focus is on Emily) and the way their lives turn out over the course of four decades. It's probably even more depressing than Revolutionary Road, but I think there is just as much to analyze (especially in the context of Women's Lib).  

I did some research and discovered that producer Caroline Kaplan has acquired the rights for the book and a movie is in the works. The funny thing is I kinda pictured Kate Winslet in the role of Sarah. Maybe she should do another Yates book to movie.

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