What I Like About Television

Once in a blue moon does a show come along so unique as 30 Rock. Quirky and irreverent don't begin to describe the madhouse Tina Fey's Liz Lemon deals with on a daily basis. Although after seeing their world through the eyes of Kenneth the NBC page, played by actor Jack McBrayer, one might assume I'm talking about 1970's children series The Muppet Show. Not once however did The Great Gonzo or Fozzy Bear run through the streets in their underwear, waving a plastic lightsaber claiming to be a Jedi like 30 Rock co-star Tracy Morgan's onscreen alter ego "actor" Tracy Jordan did in the series' first episode. I doubt also that Skeeter or his uncle would hire anyone even remotely vulgar with pride as Judah Friedlander's Frank Rossitano and his photographic memory for x-rated movie titles. Jack Donaghy, played by Alec Baldwin, however would sell the whole thing as cutting edge comedy with product placement from General Electric.

30 Rock, the story of female TV exec Liz Lemon (Fey) dealing with her delinquent staff at fictitious variety show "The Girlie Show", or "TGS" is the brainchild of Saturday Night Live alumni Tina Fey. Fey loosely based the program on her personal experiences working on the real life sketch comedy program. 30 Rock, which began with low-ratings in Fall 2006 has consistently gained a steady viewership. From 2006 to 2008 the show's overall seasonal ratings spiked from #102 in 2006 to #69 in 2008. In 2009 30 Rock was nominated for 22 awards, the most for any comedy series ever. What makes this program great though is not just Fey's Lemon, a harried, middle-aged and single TV exec with tendencies to overreact (and overindulge on sandwich day) but the entire ensemble cast's portrayals which consist of a baker's dozen characters.

Jack Donaghy (Baldwin) is Liz Lemon's presumptuous boss who believes he can tell everything about someone just by looking at them. What often happens is though Jack is often correct when it comes to profiling the TGS staff, in his own personal life he tends to second guess everything. In season 4 Jack directs his assistant Jonathon, played by actor Maulik Panchouly to call him at a restaurant and says if things suck, he's got an excuse to leave but if they are going well he'll say he can't be bothered and then proceed to hang up. Also, Jack doesn't like getting too excited because as he reveals in one episode while watching home movies, to the detest of TGS staffers, the happiest he's ever been once resulted in he throwing up at his own childhood birthday party upon receiving a toy rocket as a present.

Morgan's Tracy Jordan is the star of TGS who never reads from cue cards. He improvises much of the dialog and acts crazy which tends to throw off co-stars like Jenna Maroney played by former Ally McBeal star Jane Krakowski. the fact is, Tracy Jordan the person is a mystery. Liz Lemon has near driven herself crazy trying to figure him out before. It is that unknowing which may be what makes his character a genius. When not confusing everyone around him, Tracy spends most of his time surrounded by his two man entourage Dot-Com (actor Kevin Brown) and Grizz (Grizz Chapman.)

Jenna Maroney (Krakowski) refuses to grow up. She tends to delude herself into believing that she's not getting older. At one point Jenna had a meltdown when it was revealed she was hired to play the mother on a nighttime soap opera. Jenna is also very vain. She once got depressed after it was learned her stalker had moved on and didn't cheer up until learning that Kenneth had scrawled "I want to eat your boogers" in lipstick on her dressing room mirror.

If Jack and the TGS staff weren't enough of a handful, Liz has to contend with a room full of writers who look 1.) lazy and 2.) like they're up to no good. Not that they even take Liz seriously to begin with. These people are the backbone of TGS as its voice but act as a perpetual thorn in Liz's side by often winding her up.

Pete Hornberger is TGS' producer and seemingly the straight man to other characters' outrageousness. Pete is Liz's go-to guy but doesn't kiss her butt. In fact, Pete is Liz' confidante and says what she should do correctly about her life. Pete is a weird guy with fetishes. Liz once caught Pete and his wife in Liz's apartment being intimate with scarves and pop tarts. Then another time presumably faithful Pete asked Liz to let her assistant Cerie Xerox (Katrina Bowden) dress provocatively at work before being told no and yelling that Liz was inappropriate with a "big stupid head."

Frank Rossitano (Friedlander) is childish at times in his Buddy Holly glasses and Truck Driver Hat but he's probably the wittiest guy on the whole TGS staff. Frank is unafraid to call someone on a bad choice. When Liz left out her sandwich on sandwich day, Frank was the one who found it and pointed out the folly to his co-workers. Frank usually doesn't blink when someone tells him to do something unless they, often Liz, can explain why he should care. Then he retorts with a whole lists of reasons why he shouldn't have to listen (or turns into Liz if left in charge of TGS.)

James "Toofer" Spurlock (Keith Powell) is an educated black man who serves as the guy who can repeat back how he interprets what any current situation is. Toofer challenges both Frank and Tracy by being rational. When Jack showed home movies about being so happy as a kid he threw up, it was Toofer who grimaced first and asked what it was that Donaghy ate. If Frank were to get out of hand and say something that sounds completely irrational, it'd be Toofer who would say that sounds crazy and get told immaturely by Frank how he's the one who sounds crazy.

J.D. Lutz (John Lutz) is a jellyfish of a man who seems eternally frightened like he'd rather be seeing dead people. He once challenged Frank to a battle of naming x-rated movie titles based on pre-existing films and lost miserably. When people actually talk to Lutz he seems to jump out of his skin a little. A chubby man, Lutz tends to eat too much and is said to like being yelled at during sex. He once called Liz a "cunt" and surprisingly lived to tell the tale.

No executive would be complete without their assistant. The world of 30 Rock is no exception. Assistants here range from the strange (McBrayer) to the sexy (Bowden.) Between here and there are devoted assistants (Panchouly) and a bored looking Entourage (Brown and Chapman.)

McBrayer's Kenneth is a strange guy but tends to believe himself perfectly wholesome. He comes from a part of the south that Jack Donaghy learned first hand has their own ways. They even have their own brands of soda and manner of speech there. Kenneth is obedient and observant, taking note of the comings and goings of all TGS staff (allegedly for "big brother", a secret government organization that records everything people do.) He is amazingly adept at playing poker because nobody can read his thoughts which to Frank, means its because Kenneth doesn't have any.

Cerie (Bowden) is really cute but she's also smart as a whip. She stuns both the writers and execs with her assets. Frank likes her because she looks good in whatever she wears. Jack likes her though because beyond that, she often tops Liz in getting information to him quickly. Whereas Liz has a hard time just working her electronic daily planner, Cerie already has Jack exactly what he needs to know from multiple sources on the Internet.

Jonathon seems to have a crush on Jack. Jack is aware of this and when it becomes painfully obvious often tells Jonathon he's free to go. Jonathon is over-protective of Jack and often gets himself in trouble for making an excuse to run everything by Jack. This includes important meetings with other staffers and even important guests.

Walter "Dot Com" Slattery is a would-be actor who protects Tracy Jordan from himself. Dot Com, a Wesleyan graduate occasionally doesn't believe he's being taken seriously enough as an actor. Dot Com serves as Tracy's truck driver and cook. He's revealed himself as being in love with Grizz' fiancee and has annoyed Jack before by wanting to be seen as the smartest guy in the room.

Grizz Griswold controls Tracy's money and sits on him when he becomes overstimulated. Grizz is a sensitive guy who tends to point out observations sporadically like "this is a really special day!" His company, Griswold Talent Agency manages former Batman star Adam West. Liz once learned, when told off by Kenneth, that she made Grizz cry after sexually harassing him at a party.

To me, 30 Rock is the scamorza cheese of television. It is divine beyond comprehension. The characters are very high profile but they act more like children than kids in elementary school do. I suggest you watch this show now. Right now on Hulu.com or at NBC.com and do not, I repeat do not, forget to give a shout out to the craft services people on your way there! You watch now!

Watch 30 Rock at 9:30 pm e/p 8:30 central only on NBC. 

White Collar is a clever TV show. Its not just the writing or cast either. Ok, so it is both of those in part. Conceptually though this program is quite smart.

Actor Matt Bomer's Neal Caffrey is a criminal's criminal. Not only does he dress smart, he's quite adept at stealing hearts and wallets with a smile on his face. Like a male Carmen Sandiego, it took police three years to finally catch Caffrey. Now the Feds use him to help catch other criminals. When not concerning himself with a case, Neal worries what has happened to and what the current whereabouts are of his former girlfriend Kate, paranoid she may somehow be in trouble.

Enter Special Agent Peter Burke played by actor Tim Dekay. Burke can get inside the criminal's head and know what they are plotting while events are still unfolding. Thus why he was the fed who caught Caffrey and sent him to prison. Now Special Agent Burke partners with the crook Caffrey to foil other bad guys as part of a work-release program.

Supporting Caffrey and Burke in their endeavors is Burke's wife Elizabeth played by 90210 and Saved by the Bell cutie Tiffany Theissen. Elizabeth, an event planner at her day job, discusses the case with the two and is able to offer a female insight that perhaps neither of them considered. She is no pushover though. When not listening to what Neal has to say compassionately, often scolds the reformed criminal for his old ways.

Mozzie is a fellow con-man, confidante and an informant to Neal who knows clues about where Kate is at. Moz, as his friends call him, is a man for all seasons. Mozzie can impersonate cops, analyze evidence and give up good information. He does alot of tasks at the grateful request of Neal.

Lauren Cruz, played by actress Natalie Morales is a stunning recent recruit to Burke's team after being transferred from the Organized Crime Unit. Lauren and Neal have an undeniable chemistry but she knows all about him. She's a collegiate scholar from Cambridge who wrote her Quantico thesis about Caffrey. Lauren is not to be underestimated because on occasion she throws in some nice undercover work. It doesn't hurt that she's fluent in five languages.

I thoroughly enjoy this program. Neal is so suave and charming you can't help but be impressed by him. DeKay is grumpy but he knows exactly what it takes to get his man: use a former enemy as a friend. Elizabeth is gorgeous and I believe its only on television that a guy like DeKay's Special Agent Burke could land someone with her whole package of brains, looks and compassion. Mozzie kind of reminds me of Alfred from Batman in that he does many things for Neal and understands where the crook is coming from. Lauren helps put the nail in the coffin of cases by going undercover and adding the period to whatever statements the team's initial discoveries make. All in all I'd suggest this show for anyone who likes to be dazzled laugh a little at themselves. Its not everyday that a master craftsman like Caffrey reveals his secrets to the audience.

White Collar appears on USA Network Tuesday nights at 10/9 central.

Long had it been since daytime game shows had a new playmate. In the early, early 1990's shows like "Studs" and Monty Hall's revival of his classic "Let's Make A Deal" were one or two season blink-and-you-miss-'em programming. You may only know they exist now because I, a regular Bart Simpson of the elementary circuit was probably at home watching them having been 1.) suspended from school or 2.) skipped class being sick (of the bureaucracy) from school. However practically twenty years to the day of Monty Hall's revival, on the heels of Drew Carey taking over Bob Barker's role as host of The Price Is Right, has come "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and "The Wayne Brady Show" alumni Wayne Brady to host CBS' all-new "Let's Make A Deal." This version is much better than the old show in my opinion. For one thing, the host is more relevant since we live in a multi-cultural world. Second, Wayne Brady is a cool dude so he brings an air of sophistication and socialite class to a show that'd otherwise look like it could be hosted by Marilyn Manson, Jane's Addiction or one of The Cure. It is a brilliant concept: take an over the top celebrity and put him in an environment where he thrives and stands out like the proverbial king of his domain. Anyone whose ever seen an episode of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" would know exactly what I mean. Wayne Brady is the kind of guy you look at and say "hey man, you're pretty cool." You don't know the half of it, dude. During "Whose Line", which was an improv comedy show with comedians doing skits on command, Wayne Brady could bust out imitations to rival Rich Little but sing ballads about the most random topic. Like let's say in theory, co-star Ryan Styles (Lewis from Drew Carey Show) hosted, at the request of topic moderator Drew Carey, an infomercial about love songs dedicated to waiting at the Dentist's office to get a root canal. Ryan would say let's hear a bit of a song called "Drill Me" and Wayne would bust out made-up lyrics to "Drill Me" in the style of R&B crooners Luther Vandross or Freddie Jackson with the relaxed confidence of Sammy Davis Jr. or Dean Martin. Now that to me takes true talent. Its a personality like that possessed by Wayne Brady who could figuratively put anyone dressed in the audience as an adult baby or giant chicken to even greater shame. I love this show! The concept of Let's Make a Deal (for those who have never seen it) is simple: People dressed in outrageous costumes get picked out at random by host Brady and come down to meet him for a chance to either win a prize, money or a Zonk! A Zonk! is basically a phony prize that could be anything from broken pogo sticks to a pair of miniature shetland ponies. These prizes can be found either inside a box that sits on a podium beside Brady at times, set up by his "lovely assistant Jonathon", or behind either of the three curtains onstage in front of the audience. The audience member is then offered by Brady to either take what is  either in the box/behind the curtain or take money Brady offers as the contestant is deciding. If the contestant decides against the money then they take their chances of getting either  fabulous prizes which in a box could be diamonds, behind the curtain a car or being on the receiving end of a Zonk! Now, one might say "now that's not very nice" but then again, who with polish would let themselves be seen somewhere that has giant chickens and a woman dressed as a human lollipop? This is a show for freaky people hosted by a great, funky guy whose made his career singing silly ballads on command. This program could easily be retitled "Freak Show on the Game Floor" and almost everyone would readily understand. Now if you're all ready to get down with this I say hop on over to CBS every morning when Regis is in commercial and check out Wayne Brady on "Let's Make A Deal." Its a good show hosted by someone awesome with a built-in audience going back multiple generations.

Let's Make A Deal hosted by Wayne Brady can be seen every morning at 9am/8 central on CBS.

Many of you may remember watching re-runs of the 60's Batman television series and thought hmm, if only something like that were around today. Well, daydream no more my friends because today there's Batman: The Brave and Bold! Drawn like a 22-minute long version of Adam West's iconic series intro, Batman: The Brave and the Bold makes light of our brooding hero's dark nature by giving him goofy stay-at-home super heroic b-list parents to team with. Namely Plastic-Man and Aquaman but a teenage Blue Beetle shows up semi-regularly for Bats to mentor as well. This show takes the best of what we like in terms of Batman being, well Batman and showcases a light-hearted look at how well he plays with others. I mean come on, he's parented three Robins, two Batgirls and a Nightwing. That's not even counting his own son by the daughter of a living dead dude named Ra's Al Ghul (which I find a kickass name for an old guy.) I'm getting off topic though. Batman: The Brave and the Bold is plain-out awesome. The toys kinda suck because they have big holes in their arms which make them double as socket wrenches but the show itself is worthy of bowing down to. In one first season episode Batman teams with golden age superhero Wildcat who for all intents and purposes looks old but could probably take you out or go down swinging like Clint Eastwood. He doesn't give up. He's an old school war-hero type who probably still gets flashbacks. In another episode, my personal favorite Plastic-Man shows up and helps Bats take down the Gentleman Ghost. Ghost is the kind of guy would at once remind someone of Tom Hanks' role in The Ladykillers. He thinks himself suave and debonair... until he's foiled by a stretchy guy wearing sunglasses at night and a millionaire playboy with pointy-ears and batarangs. You get the picture from there. This cartoon is not meant to be taken seriously as a program and therein is where most of the fun derives! I mean where else but here would you see Aquaman carpooling with his kid and nagging wife?

What I like about this series is it is unafraid of tacking parts of the DCU that weren't given much love by Justice League Unlimited. The kooky guys you'd only assume would party with someone dressed as Batman actually get their day in the sun with this show. Two-Face actually gets an episode and he's complimented by Bats' episode teammate... Dr. Fate?! Did you see that coming? I sure didn't. This show has it all and is really a hallmark of existing CN original programming animation style like Teen Titans. Not since Filmation or Hanna-Barbera has Batman looked so... well, cartoony! He's not allowed to be grumpy here. If he gets that way, some smart-ass maverick co-star is always right there to jokingly tell him, and the audience, how small their world is. 

So if you like the Batman being sass-mouthed by a guy with more Plastic in one finger than Heidi Montag can have implanted in 10 plastic surgeries, I suggest you give Batman: The Brave and the Bold a go. If you come away with only one thing to say I imagine, like Joey Lawrence on Blossom, it'd be "Whoa!" So c'mon, feel free to check out Batman: The Brave and the Bold but don't say I didn't warn ya!

Batman: The Brave and the Bold can be seen every Friday at 7:30 e/p only on Cartoon Network.    

Like how Parliament-Funkadelic once altered the presumed visage of rock music, George Lopez is now shaking things up on late night television. Lopez Tonight is the very first Mexican-American hosted late night program and host George Lopez is unafraid of letting people know. Adorned with colored lighting and a warm interior layout, this is not your Grandfather's straight-laced discussion program. Here, one's tongue pushes all the way through their cheek before wiggling out the other side like Gene Simmons' might while bleeding onstage somewhere with Hard Rock act KISS. Lopez is at once fresh, exciting and intuitive to understanding where the pulse lies on his culture. He is like a psychic predicting exactly what is on the mind of his people and 99.9 percent of the time is simultaneously off the chain and right on the tip (see: urban references for excellent.) George Lopez is the Captain Kirk of authentic chicanos. He goes where no Hispanic has gone before! Ok, well maybe Horatio Sanz on Mexican Star Trek skits. Although Freddy Prinze Sr. once played Mexican Chico Rodriguez on NBC's Chico and the Man he was in reality Hungarian Jew and Puerto Rican. Lopez however brings the heat for every Latino with an emphasis on the underrated Mexican-Americans who have ever had to do an executive amount of work for minimum wage or less. If you like to laugh and you're unafraid of truly feeling someone's opinion, check out Lopez Tonight every night at 11pm/10 central only on TBS. Very funny indeed.

Lopez Tonight can be seen on TBS Monday - Friday at 11pm/10pm central.

Society is currently so jaded that the only thing shocking today is being innovative. NCIS: Los Angeles is a program about naval crime investigators who need to be innovative in order to solve their cases. What more perfect setting could one think of than Los Angeles to socially comment on both? Spun off from NCIS starring Mark Harmon and Pauley Perette, NCIS: Los Angeles is a series that puts attitude side-by-side with attention to shocking details.

O'Donnell's G. Calen is closely vested with his emotions yet looks wide-eyed like an innocent child. G reminds me of a wounded animal that needs reassurance or hand feeding before it lets you pet them. He tells the team his name is G because he doesn't even know his birth given name. Calen's specialty is in assuming an identity and blending in. Its easy to fathom with O'Donnell's still boyish looks that people would warm up to and think they know Callen from somewhere.

LL Cool J's Sam Hanna looks tough upon first appearance but is really a sensitive, passionate guy with both brains and muscle. If Sam wasn't a hero he would make for a dangerous, dangerous criminal. Sam is fluent in middle eastern languages and looks like serious to where he could be seen as black ops. Yet Sam provokes Callen with love wanting the younger partner to come out of his shell more.

Together these two generate the kind of friendship chemistry that is dynamic mostly in their willfulness to embrace uncharted territory. They argue like siblings then tell one another not to go there before backing off on touchy topics. Some may dare to call theirs an extreme partnership. Like a pair of successful athletes these two push one another to get their part of the case solved then are the first ones to congratulate or tease each other when its all over. Then their boss cracks the whip.

Partnered by their strict-but-compassionate OSP Operations Manager Hetty Lange, played by award-winning actress Linda Hunt this 6-person operation often embark on missions that put urban intellect on the forefront above testosterone. Diminutive but powerful, Hetty looks like someone's grandmother who would bake you cookies with a smile but knows exactly what it takes to bring down even the strongest adversary. If there is one thing Hetty advises that each of team member know how to do its play things cool. As a result the way these "kids" get along and put their heads together would make even Jedi master Yoda beam with pride.

The setting for this series takes place in Los Angeles where murder is blatant and accepted as who the most popular kids are in high school. In the episode entitled "Chinatown" a man is found hung from a bridge by his neck in front and to the screaming horror of bikini-clad rollerblading college coed age females. Just another day in la-la land for this crew.

Actress Daniela Ruah's Kenzi Blye, the female partner of this team is a realist. She brings the logic and reason to an ersatz boys club of childish sleuths. Sporting a ponytail that shows she means business Kenzi is also one to point out flaws. In one scene of tonight's episode she tells teammate Doc, who awkwardly holds down a suspect's ankles, "we don't handcuff their feet" before the good psychologist is immediately given a bloody nose by the suspect when reaching to cuff their arm.

Nate "Doc" Getz played by Peter Cambor likes to think he's funny but isn't. He can tell what people are thinking or are capable of just by observing videos. He doesn't like to upset Hetty, a master craftsperson at playfully psyching someone out. Doc is musical, proficient in harmonica and banjo and likes listening to jazz.

Eric Beal (Barrett Foa) is a nerd with a great job. When not web surfing he figures out identities for the team and shows videos for Doc and Kenzi to observe. Eric knows what the cutting edge of technology is and helps Sam and Callen by showing what material possessions people carry that may hold a clue to solving their case. Eric too fails when it comes to making a joke.

To summarize I think executive producer Shane Brennan does a wonderful job with this program. It is hip and edgy with an innovation that exudes California cool: solidarity. The characters are not so self-involved as to alienate their teammates. Yet they have the confidence to not be intimidated or feel pressured by one another. Even the nerds are with it. So if you wanna check out something neat and we don't see everyday on Television then turn on CBS at 9 pm/8 central on Tuesday nights. I assure you that you won't regret it for a second.

Watch NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS Tuesdays at 9 pm/8 central

In the old days, it didn't take much to find professional wrestling on television. It was a staple of weekend programming.Throughout the 1950's when Television began until the 1970's regional promotions like Bay Area's Big Time Wrestling promoted now-legendary talent like WWE Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham. Graham, a former WWWE World Heavyweight Champion is the inspiration for every contemporary superstar of the last 30 years from Jesse "The Body" Ventura, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan to Triple H and "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner.

Now those days in syndication are mostly gone. Steadily growing over the past decade has one weekly organization arisen like a phoenix from the ashes of dearly departed WWF and WCW: World Wrestling Entertainment. What happened is that WWF had a long-standing feud with World Wildlife Fund, an organization dedicated to helping animals who wanted to have the initials for themselves. In 2004, when ratings were low and top-billing Superstars began dying unexpectedly, WWF announced they reached a settlement with World Wildlife Fund and changed their name to WWE or World Wrestling Entertainment. After this happened a renaissance of sorts began to unfold within the industry. Old superstars returned to get kicked in the head by Randy Orton, currently the leader of WWE heels Legacy. This gave Orton clout as being called the "Legend Killer" but personally I don't see it. Obviously neither does WWE owner Vince McMahon's family who last year themselves all got kicked in the head by Orton.

Most of WWE's programming is on cable throughout the week. Most notably USA's RAW, current Monday night home of DX and Hornswaggle. Hornswaggle is DX's leprechaun mascot and brother-in-law to Triple H after WWE Chairman Mr.McMahon had a tryst with a lady Leprechaun. RAW began as Monday Night Raw in 1993 on USA network and is now touted as TV's longest running episodic program. Since 2009 there has been a guest host on Raw every week which include celebrities of every nature and even fellow professional wrestlers.

However, as I said syndication is mostly gone. Just mostly. One show still in syndication is Friday Night Smackdown. Smackdown began in 2000 on the now-defunct UPN network as the home program of former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion "The Rock." Smackdown remained at UPN until they and WB merged to become CW in 2006. From time to time Smackdown impresses me by bringing back promos cut by wrestlers currently in the ring. This is a homage to a regular feature on many classic WWF syndicated programs including Superstars of Wrestling and Wrestling Challenge. I just wish they would also bring back skits filmed outside the arena, a late night talk show ala' Tuesday Night Titans or music videos.

I personally adore both these programs, newcomer NXT which used to be ECW and what little I've been able to see of Superstars (since its network isn't available from my cable provider.) For one, they are unafraid of seeming silly in a world where most larger-than-life characters have become more complex than attempting to understand conditions on a cellular phone contract. Secondly, instead of becoming more pretentious and phony like most current reality shows, these guys show passion to the point of appearing violent. Third they appeal to integration not just of culture but also their own programs. Instead of keeping Raw wrestlers with Raw wrestlers or vice versa on Smackdown, all the wrestlers walk in and out of either building or that of NXT and Superstars frequently. How cool is that?! Anyways, if you guys wanna watch something good just check out what I'm talking about by clicking the link below and I'll see you next time with more of What I Like About Television.

Raw can be seen at 9pm/8 central on USA network.

Check your local listings for Friday Night Smackdown.

In the modern microscopic vastness that is network television there is still hope. I have found that much like days of yore, when our souls were soothed by the boob tube as society was hit with economic hardship, similar programming will still be, and are, there today. What is the difference between Big Bang Theory and Mork and Mindy? In a word: Not much. Does sports entertainment still promote flashy stars and attract celebrities like moths to a flame? Absolutely. Some may say this is due to the fact that creators are now becoming first-time grandparents the same as they were first-time parents when my generation were children. That helps, but it isn't the whole kit and kaboodle. I believe alot of it are that children now, in their own private ways, are saying thank you to their upbringing in a manner similar to Carol Burnett pulling on her ear.

The Fresh Prince once sang that parents just don't understand. If that were true, none of what we see today would reflect honoring how far society has come. Big Bang Theory, created by Two and Half Men creators Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre, tells the tale of four astrological physicists and one pie waitress/would-be movie actress. Leonard Hofstadter played observantly by Roseanne alumni Johnny Galecki and his roommate Sheldon Cooper portrayed apathetically by Jim Parsons live dramatically different lives similar to the Odd Couple. Initially these two get along existing co-dependently with science colleague friends Raj Koothrappali performed by relative newcomer Kunal Nayyar and Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) believing nobody would date adolescent-adult losers like them. That is, until Leonard meets former 8 Simple Rules star Kaley Cuoco's Penny, an attractive neighbor who works as a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory. This last dynamic I relate to aforementioned Mork and Mindy because to Penny, Leonard is fine but Sheldon, Howard and the women-shy-until-drunk Raj seem to have dropped in from another planet. The key difference here is that this series is told from the perspective of male protagonists who work with science and perhaps appreciate, except maybe Sheldon, the efforts of Newton, Tesla and Einstein.

Showcasing different relationships make this Pasadena-set show great. In a manner of speaking Leonard being with Penny is the Big Bang Theory. How dynamic would it be for the Nerd's Nerd to get himself a girlfriend and still keep all his nebbish friends? In the land of comic book geeks women are the intellectual's Kryptonite. They challenge one's way of thinking and make men weak, thus agreeable, just by smiling. Having been a lifelong comic book geek myself I can tell you that nowhere in their world do you see people being friendly to one another outside little cliques of likeness oriented, for lack of a better word, genre snobs. X-Men fans stick to X-Men fans and only talk to video game fans when they aren't divvying up comic books.

Leonard is the most sensible of the geeks by his understanding that love is part of life's scientific formula. In a sense, Leonard kind of wears his glasses like a crown. The mere notion that Leonard could love Penny is like the opening sequence to Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie (1978). Marlon Brando as Jor-El tells the world Krypton that the end of their world is imminent. Nobody wants to believe this and all but baby Kal-El tragically lose their lives for not escaping when they could.

This could be the eventual fate of lanky Sheldon who, despite attempts at making new friends, fails miserably at correctly attracting the attention of even his own understanding crew. Sheldon knows how to show feeling but unlike Superman is not one to give of himself altruistically. He believes he can do what he wants or ask for what he wants then assumes his word is god. This is good if say he were ever to become a business executive. However as a hermit comic book geek, whose biggest goal is to be an award-winning published astrological physicist, Sheldon generates negative magnetism or causes anything near him to come close but then repel away.

Koothrappali is just quiet... and Indian. He is bashful but realistic. Whenever Howard or Sheldon have a stupid idea is when Raj speaks up saying "that sucks dude" or in the case of Sheldon's Trading Card Game match with Star Trek:TNG alumni Wil Wheaton exclaim profoundly "No, not the magic bunny!" Koothrappali often deals with his overbearing parents from India via webcam over the internet which usually results in his needing assistance from other friends to try expressing what he wants to say. This could be why Raj needs the help of alcohol to speak up in front of women.

Howard Wolowitz is just a schmuck. He is bold enough to say something stupid and/or humiliating yet really wishes his mother wouldn't do that to him at inopportune moments when intimate with his girlfriend Bernadette, a bespectacled voluptuous blonde co-worker of Penny at The Cheesecake Factory. Adorned with a Beatles-esque mop top haircut and eagle-like proboscis Howard resembles both Jimmy Durante and a vintage Looney Tunes vulture (a-yup, a-yup!). Yet Howard however, like cult PC game legend Leisure Suit Larry, believes himself somehow capable of talking to, and attracting, any woman he so desires. On one hand you can't help but love someone with that kind of confidence. In the case of Howard though, one could hypothetically make an exception since he doesn't know when keeping to himself is important.

Penny is the blonde sheltered anchor that brings each of these rocket scientists down to earth. Rather than be awed by Newton's discovery of gravity (were Sheldon to explain the history of what we know now to be modern science) Penny, resembling a grown Dee-Dee from Dexter's Laboratory, would probably be reminded instead of Apple pie as being the dessert daily special at her job. Instead of praying to Dr. Who or Captain James T. Kirk like paramour Leonard's other peers Penny is Midwestern from Nebraska, likes football and has before invited Leonard to watch the collegiate pigskin with she and her friends. In contrast to the four astrological physicists I find Penny to be adorably accepting despite, in terms of partying social status, being way out of Leonard's league. Perhaps she and Sheldon, a relocated East Texan who finds football as next to the bible in terms of being sacred, would see more eye to eye if every conversation they had dealt primarily in terms referring to the gridiron. Then Sheldon could translate what subtext Penny is saying to Leonard during an argument in Klingon (or whatever pop culture geek reference may be deemed momentarily necessary.)

I am at once both enthralled and critical of this program. It is great now but also has even greater potential as the proverbial sharks circle for this series to jump over and land in syndication. If Stan Lee is a guest star this season, who would be the first to grab their inhaler were Stephen Hawking to make an appearance later or another genius in the field of black holes and general relativity? One can only imagine the infinite possibilities to come. Author Stephen King, actor John Cleese... all acceptable influences. Could Steve Urkel or Mork from Ork vaguely be related to Penny's family somehow? Who knows. Leonard, probably. To summarize I highly recommend this program for anyone who loves to laugh. The Big Bang Theory is a comedic program dedicated to all those who on a scale may feel left out one way but when looking at everything in balance know deep down inside its all relative to your environment.

Watch The Big Bang Theory on CBS Monday night at 8:30 pm/9:30 central.