Monday, July 20, 2015
Love, American Style
I've been watching a bit of American Ninja Warrior lately. Now, it's important to me that you know I'm not like fanatical about it or anything; I haven't developed a rooting interest in any of the contestants and I'm unlikely to fly to Kansas City to try to attend a taping any time soon. But it is quality, low impact entertainment to have on in the background while you are, say, bathing a dog for the third time in as many days because she won't stop rolling in trash or writing an analysis of the constitutionality of an obscenity statute. (Basically the same activity.) I enjoy it for a number of reasons:
-- People are ridiculously earnest and say things like "this is for all the kids with troubled childhoods out there."
-- People frequently fall face first into the water shortly after delivering statements like the above.
-- The commentators get way too excited about everything and act as though these are celebrity athletes on, like, a LeBron James level, when in fact it's sub Oksana Baiul.
-- The inspirational backstories they put together make it seem like there is no one in the world who hasn't lost a parent in a tractor accident, had lupus, or started an after school martial arts program for disadvantaged youths.
-- They're on like their third interchangeable blond lady as their contestant interviewer, and they still haven't found one who doesn't look like she fears for her life when she talks to these people.
Anyway, it's happening. I'm not proud of it, but there it is.
I've been watching a bit of American Ninja Warrior lately. Now, it's important to me that you know I'm not like fanatical about it or anything; I haven't developed a rooting interest in any of the contestants and I'm unlikely to fly to Kansas City to try to attend a taping any time soon. But it is quality, low impact entertainment to have on in the background while you are, say, bathing a dog for the third time in as many days because she won't stop rolling in trash or writing an analysis of the constitutionality of an obscenity statute. (Basically the same activity.) I enjoy it for a number of reasons:
-- People are ridiculously earnest and say things like "this is for all the kids with troubled childhoods out there."
-- People frequently fall face first into the water shortly after delivering statements like the above.
-- The commentators get way too excited about everything and act as though these are celebrity athletes on, like, a LeBron James level, when in fact it's sub Oksana Baiul.
-- The inspirational backstories they put together make it seem like there is no one in the world who hasn't lost a parent in a tractor accident, had lupus, or started an after school martial arts program for disadvantaged youths.
-- They're on like their third interchangeable blond lady as their contestant interviewer, and they still haven't found one who doesn't look like she fears for her life when she talks to these people.
Anyway, it's happening. I'm not proud of it, but there it is.
