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May 21, 2007
HOW TO DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL
One of the most ridiculous things that I have an insufficient information about and yet still has put me into a fit of indignation at the apparent injustice . . . is that DVDs of great TV shows have trouble seeing the light of day because of issues involving the music used on the show. FREAKS AND GEEKS resolved this issue by buying up all the music; WKRP IN CINCINNATI went the other way by removing the music (strange for a show about a Top 40 FM Radio Station dependent on super hits of the 70s) but THE STATE and ED are still in limbo. Being on MTV, THE STATE featured a lot of mid-90s pop music staples, probably at the bequest of MTV. ED, on the other hand, pulled an O.C. before THE O.C. - often featuring up and coming artists on its soundtrack. This gave a lot of exposure to bands who people who normally watch Wednesday Night Television don't listen to, like the Old 97s, Clem Snide, and The Fountains of Wayne. Also, however, they used a lot of kitsch hits like "Electric Avenue" and "Danke Schoen" as gags, often funny. I'm guessing the use of Rolling Stones songs is keeping them tied up in all kinds of battles with various record companies.
ED remains one of my favorite TV shows of all time. LIKE the inferior but charming SCRUBS, the sentimental, lesson-learning potential of the show could be laid on pretty thick, but the characters were always funny and the absurd nature of the situations always brilliant. It never really "jumped the shark" - its viewership just never grew. ED had a dedicated group of funs who had trouble explaining the charms. Also, it was one of those shows that kept referring back to itself and its universe. If you weren't into it by Season 3, you weren't going to be into it. That it lasted four seasons is something of a miracle. That it has never gotten the DVD-package treatment it deserves is a travesty.
So here's how to do something illegal! BITTORRENT - the way to get okay-quality VHS rips of old TV shows. The quality is perfect, but they are entirely watchable. So far I've gotten two seasons of ED and season three is on the way.
Here's how it works:
1) Google the preceding, all-caps term.
2) Find a reliable looking website.
3) Download BITTORRENT and Install it.
4) Run it.
5) Now you're ready to get TV shows. It's easy.
6) Go to www.piratebay.com
7) Here's a bunch - the ethical quandry is up to you whether or not you want to download TV shows that are current out on DVD
8) Download by episode. (If you are going to D/L a whole season, which is possible, make sure you have at least 6 gigs free or you'll crash your hard drive.)
Now, if you want ED, you probably have to work a little harder. Google terms (together) like "ED," "SEASON ONE," and "CAVANAGH" and you will eventually be able to find it. Make sure you put quotes around the search terms. It's harder to get ED simply because of the name - it will probably pull up anything with the words ED in the title. But if you try enough google terms, you'll probably get it.
Also, this is a good place to introduce yourself to the show TOM GOES TO THE MAYOR. If you liked Mr. Show, you'll love this inventive kookiness - these guys are warped, and their show is not for those who hold anything sacred. If you enjoy it, you'll be joining me in saying "RATS OFF TO YA!" (pause for laughter)
Finally, to everyone who craps on Wilco - I disagree, and particularly with Ben's comment that Tweedy is unique because he hates all the women he's ever gone out with. My response is that since BEING THERE, Wilco rarely ventures into this territory, though every other band does this openly and unapologetically. When they do, on songs like I'M THE MAN WHO LOVES YOU, I'M ALWAYS IN LOVE, WALKEN, or LEAVE ME LIKE YOU FIND ME, his themes range from foolishly romantic to dangerously commital. His songs find him uncomfortable with himself, yet comfortable with confession - I don't understand how you can find his stuff anything but honest, even when there's a hint of anger in it.
And if Tweedy is a roundabout womanizer, he's good at hiding it: dude has been with the same woman since his Uncle Tupelo days, and he's got two kids. Apparently, he doesn't even drink or smoke. I think you can say a lot of true things about Tweedy: the trauma of his panic attacks often seeps into the content of his songs, his high ambitions sometimes miss the mark, he's kind of a butthole on stage, and his stocking-capped persona apparently hides the ego that comes out in tense studio sessions. But I don't think you can say that his songs have a mean streak in them, or that they have that tunnelvision focus on self-pity and revenge. I just don't get your point.
Last CD Bought: Attempted Mustache (Album 3) by Loudon Wainwright III
Last Book Bought: A HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY by Bertrand Russell and a book about the bestl managers in the history of baseball (used).
Coming from Netflix: APOCALYPTO and THE GOOD GERMAN
Next blogpost will be about: One of my new favorite movies, FUNNY HA HA
Really excited about: The Season Finale of LOST
Pages Completed/Required for my Final Paper: 1 out of 20 (actually 2, I haven't double-spaced it yet)
| By Andytown | 02:52 PM
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Comments
Can I just say: SO glad to see Andytown is back. SO glad. Now I have something to do on these long Connecticut summer days. As for your post on dvd's/bittorrent: I love waiting and watching the "hot" shows on dvd instead of on tv. Much more enjoyable that way and no commercials to fast forward on tivo (i mean, it takes, like, forever!). As for the 8th commandment, pretty sure that applies here, though I see nothing wrong with watching a show that isn't for sale anywhere (like Ed) or watching a show that you either own or plan to buy.
As for Wilco, I couldn't agree more with your latest email about Pitchfork's "snarktastic" review of Sky Blue Sky. This is Wilco at their best, "Dad rock" or not. Tweedy just recently cleaned up his act and he's really into jogging I hear. Apparently exercise and clean living inspires genius dueling guitar solos. Who knew?
And whoever said Wilco's songs have a mean streak in them?
Posted by: emery at May 22, 2007 09:05 AM
Here's another great place to go once you've got bittorrent: http://bt.etree.org/ ;they've live recordings of all your favorite artists including Wilco--who apparently have gifted the Christian Right some kind of touchy feely connection to their inner lost artist. I just want to say I like Wilco. I have most of their albums as well as Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo. I just think it's a little much to say they are underappreciated when they have songs on movie soundtracks and a documentary about how amazing they are...which by the way is a terribly self-indulgent piece that put me on my way to mixed-feelings about their music.
Posted by: Ben at May 22, 2007 09:27 AM
So glad I have your blog to read on these lazy, school-less afternoons. I am also appreciating the opportunity to revisit feelings about why I like a band and their music. The DVD thing is a real inspiration for me. Thanks for giving me some more ways to waste time! I just finished the 5th book of the summer break, and I have to admit it was a crime fiction novel full of schmarmy bad guys and raunchy humor. Enjoy your deeply engaging philisophy book!
Posted by: Sarah Beth at May 22, 2007 03:33 PM
Thoughts on LOST's finale?
Posted by: Matt at May 24, 2007 09:00 AM
they may be forthcoming (i don't know how much of my readership are avid lost fans), but in the meantime check here:
http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/lost_regained
for a more articulate summation of my thoughts (in short, it was awesome, and it proves that the show is headed in the right direction)
and here for screencaps that may help answer some major ?s (but actually don't)
http://losteastereggs.blogspot.com/
Posted by: andytown at May 24, 2007 01:58 PM
thank you, ben. you're the first person that has agreed with me that the wilco documentary sucked.
Posted by: emery at May 26, 2007 01:30 PM