Pilgrim in an Unholy Land
“Is there no end to my torture?” - Jay Sherman
I have no hope that The Simpsons Movie will be funny or entertaining. The trailers and television spots have been hard enough to sit through. At this point all that I can hope for is that the movie bombs, is denounced by critics and fans alike, and that we are now at the beginning of the end. Of course, if it is smart and funny then my anti-Simpsons jihadi instincts will melt away and I’ll walk out of the theater smiling. But I doubt it.
What I’m curious about is the audience. There are people, vast millions of them if you believe the ratings, who still watch the show. I do not personally know any of them so this Friday night I’m going to take a field trip to the googolplex to find out just who they are. I am going to sit in the back corner of the theater and watch the crowd; I am going to note what they laugh at and what they don’t, and when the travesty on screen becomes too much to bear (I’m guessing about fifteen minutes deep), I will walk out. Conveniently, if I am having a good time, I can stay.
This Sunday’s post is likely going to be the tale of my little adventure in half assed[1] sociology. Adding in the one from last Sunday that would’ve made three straight, ahem, official, posts on The Simpsons in a row. That seems excessive so I’m filing this one under site news and putting up an NFL/Presidential Candidates comparison post for today. It may be the most intellectually bankrupt and pointless Tethered Swimming post yet, and this site is keen on both intellectual bankruptcy and pointlessness.
Here’s hoping that it’s the optimistic half of my nature that has a good time on Friday.
[1] If not quarter assed.
