Breaking Bad

I've been ridiculously distracted lately by something.  It's taking me away from my kids (who are playing cars at my feet right now), taking me away from husband at night after the kids are asleep (usually our time together) and is keeping me up at night.  I think about it all the time and I'm not sure when this obsession will end.  "Breaking Bad," the AMC tv show, is deliciously destroying my life- one episode at a time.

I know many of you reading this are going to think I'm lame, laugh at me and wonder where I've been for five years.  I know it's so much cooler to fall in love with something at the beginning and champion it the entire time.  It's as if I'm starting to talk about this great drama "Mash" or who knew how great Ted Danson was in "Cheers!"  Friends whose creative opinions I greatly respect (talking to you Justis) have been begging me to watch this show for ages.  In my defense, I have two small children and barely keep up with potty training, diapers and making my 30th grilled cheese sandwich of the week.  In the past 4 years, I've had one-exactly one- night kid free.  So- popping in a five season show is really daunting.......

I feel like I devour books, movies, tv shows, music-- always searching for something.  I've written about it before- a 3 second clip in a movie that just nails it, a quote by Maya Angelou that I think about for weeks, hearing Patty Griffin sing "Up to the Mountain" the first time---- just perfection.  Those little things keep me searching for more.  I've fallen in love with a few TV shows over the years for differing reasons.  The original, never to be replicated, British tv show "The Office" was one of those shows.  One episode in I thought it was filth.  Second episode in I thought it had a few moments that were good.  By the third episode, I became obsessed.  I think that's absolutely the best comedy that's ever been on tv.  (I casually passed by a lot of celebrities during my years in NYC but I nearly lost it when Ricky Gervais smiled at me in Central Park one day-- he has no idea how close he came to being attacked).

Other hits (for me, only for me) were the four seasons of the British "Coupling"-- not the best show ever but I could watch it over and over and over and laugh every single time.  It just hits my humor button!  Also loved the British "Shameless" show (never seen the new US version)- totally surprising and horrifyingly funny.  And I can't talk about British TV (SIDE NOTE: not sure if I'm supposed to capitalize British/british or TV/tv) without mentioning "Downton Abbey."  I mean-- where did that show come from and why is it sooooooo perfect?!?!  I love shows that delight me.

As for US shows, I lived in NYC as a single twenty something in the early 2000s......I have to mention "Sex and the City."  That took what I thought TV could do to a new level.  It was annoying to see 4 women who never seemed to work eating at fabulous restaurants, having fabulous apartments and having boyfriends like John Corbett but it was still delicious.  (side note-- I never dated a man who looked like John Corbett while living in NYC....or ever actually).  And I've loved "Mad Men" for a long time too.  (incidentally- Jon Hamm lived in a building near us in NYC-- I always seemed to walk the dog past there....yet only saw him once at a children's playground....go figure).  

Now-- "Breaking Bad."  I don't really have anything profoundly unique to say...but I feel like I watched all that other tv just to find this gem.  It is absolutely the best show that's ever been on tv....and I'm fairly certain it will remain the best show ever.  A few episodes in-- I could have left it.  It didn't hook me until the very end of Season 1.  Then, all of sudden, I was done.  It combines everything: guns, drugs, action scenes, suspense, complicated love, honor, family, a baby and the absolute best acting ever done on TV.  They don't hit you over the head with anything....but it's all there.  And the best thing.....I've only just finished Season 2.  I still have 3 more delectable seasons to watch.  I'm so thankful that I have friends who insist on telling me what's good so I don't have to filter through the bad shows to find something like this.

So- I may not be able to blog much before I'm through, feed my kids, the dog will gain 10 pounds due to lack of exercise, my husband will think I left him, I certainly can't Xmas shop or return phone calls......but I'm hooked.  Totally' searching for the vein drug addict' hooked on this show.  AHHH!