Working from home has its benefits. Sometimes, it doesn't. Yes, it allows for a more relaxed working environment, consistent snack breaks and when the weather is nice enough a work-out session.
But come around 2 or 3pm one starts to get a bit more...exploratory. What I like to do is take a 5-10 minute break and catch up on world news, local weather and the like. I usually do it online because I refuse to get cable (see "Rogers Communications is a Joke", listed below).
But on this day, I decided to check out what the TV had to offer. As I'm flipping though the handful of static-infested channels available, I come across what seems to be an endless array of court-room "drama" shows. Judge Mathis, Judge Judy and this new one called Street Court.
Yup, Street Court. Here's the premise:
Two neighbours dispute just about anything, in this case let's say a dog bite. One guy accuses the other guy and so on. No plaintiff or defense lawyers but instead standing in the middle of them both, is what appears to be NYC lawyer with a beautiful pin-striped suit and a rose colored tie. As it turns out, he is the Judge and the Jury. After a few minutes of hearing the street corner testimony and screaming to one guy to "shut up and stay quiet" and to the other guy to "shut up and stay quiet", a verdict is delivered and the law has spoken.
Yup, that's it. Welcome Street court to the roster, everyone. A big round of applause for Street Court. The newest shit programming to hit my retina. Don't watch, trust me.
I know all about Maury's early morning paternity test dramas, what with the "Bill, you ARE the father" repeating on a daily basis and I know all about the Oprah Block in the afternoons. Oprah gets serious about the dangers of texting while Dr. Phil explains how we all have to love our wives and how are kids are destined to go down the devil's path if we don't save them NOW.
And then there's Dr. Oz who will tell us what the leading cause of death is among the entire population and how we MUST STOP DOING IT RIGHT NOW......right after this short break. The most entertaining part of Dr. Oz is watching the pathetic, sex-deprived middle-aged women who all of a sudden become hot soccer mom cougars, wearing a special number, hoping, nee yearning for the chance to be selected to come up on stage and take part in one of Oz's educational games. When in reality, they wish they had 10 private minutes with the doctor, to play doctor, with the help of a web cam to record the entire encounter.
And to think people actually watch on a daily basis, with zeal and anticipation, thinking that today will be different when in reality, it's the same thing. I'm not judging. It is what it is.
Don't get me wrong, Oprah, Phil and Oz actually do have some useful tips and suggestions but I'm always amazed to witness the surrounding actions, reactions and behaviours of people who would only act that way when drunk and would probably judge others for acting in that way.
As for the other shows, I have to remember to keep my TV permanently off between 10-6.
I still like checking in on my man Regis at 9!!
