Reality Television

"You need a license to buy a dog, or drive a car. Hell, you need a license to catch a fish. But they'll let any butt-reaming a**hole be a father." -From the movie "Parenthood"

I have watched a lot of television in my life. Too much. I work in television. I live television. And throughout the years, some television shows have had a profound impact on my life. Ok, profound is maybe too strong of a word... but I'm still regularly quoting "Cheers" and "Seinfeld," and I had a lot more hair on my head the last time one of them aired in primetime. So television is woven throughout the fabric of my life.

Very seldom does a show come along that I truly look forward to every week. One that I can't wait to watch. One that doesn't get stale, sitting on the DVR for days or weeks at a time. This is a show that taps into the very soul of the various emotions I as a father may encounter in any given day. It's called "Parenthood." Duh.

I am yet to find a non-parent who watches this show. And maybe this is why: if you watch it before you have kids, you will never want to have kids. I'm serious. But now that I have kids - excuse me, KID - I watch and feel vindicated.

The Braverman Family from "Parenthood"

The show revolves around the lives of the four grown children in one family, 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and their experiences with their children. They each have their own problems and situations, as do their parents. As do we all. After my wife and I watched a recent episode, I turned to her and said, "I have actually experienced the same emotions that all four of them went through in this episode."

The father who's afraid his child has no interest in him. The mother who just wants to find something, anything in common with her child. The spouse who is experiencing second thoughts about having a second child. The guy who finally confronts his sometimes challenging (edited for political correctness) mother-in-law.

I was sweating after this episode. My heart was racing. Tears were forming.

Imagine that. Imagine that a television show - a drama, fiction for crying out loud - could tap into so many emotions and cram them into one-hour. But it does.

One couple deals with a smart, rebellious daughter

It so successfully portrays what is a constant feeling of exhaustion and exasperation with which all parents live. You go to bed tired, and you even wake up tired. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Even on the weekends. And I only have ONE child! The people I know with two, three, a fourth on the way... they're insane! This exhaustion causes a facial expression. An expression of desperation. An expression of at times hopelessness. An expression often of pure defeat.

But what the vast majority of parents don't do, for lack of a better term, is give up. And that's what the parents in this show don't do. They keep getting knocked down. By their kids, by their jobs, by their parents, by life. And they keep getting up. They keep trying. They keep trying harder. That's what "Parenthood," and what parenthood, is all about.

And that's why it's inspiring. That's why it's profound. Because when all is said and done, the most important things we can do for our kids is just keep showing up and loving them. No matter what life throws at us. No matter what life throws at them. No matter how tired we are. Defeat is not an option. So put on a happy face.

And even if you're not living parenthood, watch "Parenthood." See how the other half lives.

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TV Or Not TV

"Easy, Telly. It's just a T.V. show." - Elmo, forever the voice of reason.

I've finally found someone who laughs at his own jokes more than I do. And surprisingly enough, this someone is not a member of my family. In fact, he's not even a person. He's furry, red, and maddeningly friendly and optimistic. Welcome, my friends, to Elmo's World. We are now permanent residents.

This little guy actually thinks he's hilarious. And you know what? He's absolutely right. I used to watch such high-brow programs like The West Wing, NYPD Blue, and Dawson's Creek. Alright, that last one was a guilty pleasure. But now I'm glued to Elmo's every word.

I find myself just as transfixed as my daughter, lingering in front of the television even long after she's lost interest and run off to explore something else somewhere else with someone else. What's he going to say next? What pun is he going to throw at me? How is he going to wow me with another zinger of a one-liner? George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Seinfeld. That's my Mount Rushmore of comedy. But Elmo's face may soon be chiseled on the side of that edifice.

The amazing thing is the connection he has with children, in particular, my daughter. Elmo is the baby crack of subliminal messaging, making him automatically loved and needed by every child. The attraction is so strong, my daughter has now mastered the concept of the DVR. She requests, and demands us to fast forward Sesame Street to the parts with Elmo in it. Ernie? No interest. Big Bird? Big deal. Cookie Monster? So over it. She wants to be immersed in Elmo's World.

2nd Birthday: Don't I know you from somewhere?

In fact, she doesn't even call it "Sesame Street." She refers to it as "Elmo TV." Now that is genius marketing. She even knew who Elmo was before we ever even introduced her to television. For the first two years of her life, we didn't want her to watch any television. My stance on this topic is both well documented and well debated. I'll boil it down to a few sentences for you: Television makes you stupid. And this is coming from someone who makes his living in television. Cartoon characters shouldn't be teaching our children. People - parents - should be. Isn't television what we do when we want to unwind and do something "mindless?" End of discussion.

Before her 2nd birthday, she knew Elmo only as a smiling, waving character on her sippy cup. Dora was just a stringy-haired doll she pushed in her toy stroller. Nemo was a little plastic fish she played with in the bath. Now, they've come to life... in extreme moderation. Lucky for us, she only wants to watch Elmo. Lucky, because I get such a big kick out of him. Such a big kick, I broke down and recently bought an Elmo DVD. I still haven't given it to her yet, however. These things take time, after all.

Here's another reason to love Elmo: he has a Jersey City accent. What's up with that? Listen to how he says "computer" or "drawer." He might as well be asking his mom if he can have a second helping of fettuccine alfredo. I always knew there was something innate that I liked about this Elmo. He's a little paisano.

He has become such an integral part of our household, that my daughter and I routinely sing the theme to "Elmo's World" without thinking twice about it. Elmo doesn't even have to be on. That's how woven he has become in the fuzzy sweater of our lives. The theme is constantly in our heads - in my head. I'll start a line, then she'll finish it. The last line of his theme song pretty much sums up the immense, and constant  impact he's had on us:

"La la la la la... la la la la... Thaaat's Elmooo's Woooorld!."

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