Eoin Butler: writer, journalist and Mayoman of the Year
Tripping Along The Ledge
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I’M GOING TO WATCH TELEVISION NOW. I MAY BE GONE FOR SOME TIME…
As mentioned earlier, I’ve recently quit drinking. I’m feeling good, I’m looking great (hey, its relative) and my bank balance has never been healthier. But the question still remains of what to do with all my additional free time.
Do I exercise? Do I take up a hobby? Do I spend my evenings playing table tennis with anthropomorphic hedgehogs on one of those Game Cube console thingys? Or do I join Jim Corr on his “journey to get closer to what is really going on in the world today behind the movie that’s presented to us via the medium of the…?” (Sorry Jim, even joining you on a journey to the end of that sentence is too big an ask.)
No, I’ve decided instead to start watching the Wire. For years I’ve listened to people drone on and on about this series. It is, by all accounts, the greatest thing since Shakespeare, oral sex and the D-Day landings combined, multiplied by a thousand and shot out of a cannon.
I’ve never had the time nor the inclination to find out what the hell these people were talking about. Until now.
Naturally, of course, I’m secretly hoping the whole thing turns out to be a massively overrated flop. It’d be pretty sweet to be the one dissenting voice in the wilderness who sees this preposterous melodrama for what it is. But I doubt that’ll be the case. Too many people, whose opinions I respect, have recommended it too highly for that to happen.
But I promise you one thing, no matter how good it turns out to be, I will not subject anyone who reads this blogs to my thought or musings on the subject. I’ve sat through too many of those conversations to inflict them on anyone else. Deal?
[P.S. With thanks to the wife of some guy my sister works with for the DVDs!]
October 14th, 2009 at 2:05 am
It IS the best thing ever! The best thing ever! Ever ever ever!
October 14th, 2009 at 8:30 am
the sobriety pedestal is a slippery perch from which one can only fall..i’ve tried myself many a time only to be met with the smug glances of friends once i descended again to their level..by ‘one’ i of course mean my weak self and by sober i mean not stoned..all power to ya!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:20 am
The Wire is brilliant but you will fail on the drink thing dude.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Jesus, thanks for the positive vibes man!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Okay, that’s the first and last time I’ll ever use the word “vibes” in a sentence…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am
@ Lisa – that’s quite recommendation recommendation recommendation!
October 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
to raise the bar…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXv3IKfqKmI&feature=player_embedded
October 14th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
@ Kate – soon I’ll be one of those guys rabbiting on and on about it!
October 14th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I too am a serial recommender of The Wire, for my sins. I still pull my bandwagon from town to town hoping to add a few more followers to our cause.
There is only one Omar, “the game’s out there, and it’s play or get played.”
October 14th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
The Wire and sobriety – whatta combination. You can struggle along with Bubbles. Go to his first NA meeting with him. Wonder “Is that that bloke who sang Copperhead Road?” with him. But of all the struggles, the struggle against boring the arse off poor sods who haven’t yet watched The Wire with your well-meaning proselytisations is the one you’ll have most difficulty with.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
tru dat
October 14th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
@ Shuttup – see it looks like you’re telling Paul to shut up there, rather than me.
@ Paul – Call me arrogant if you must, but I intend to slay both of those dragons singlehandedly. Just watch me…
October 14th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Honestly, there is no better way to fill sixty-odd hours of couch time. Well…
I watched the five seasons over about a six month period this year, deliberately taking my time with the last two seasons because I knew I’d be upset once it was all over. The really useful thing about it is that once you’ve seen it you’ll know what Jim Carroll is banging on about half the time, with his “re-ups” and the like.
So, at the risk of stating the bleeding obvious and sounding like an annoying waitress who’s just given you a cream doughnut, I’ll just say “enjoy”.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
congrats. you will never look back.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Are you talking about the beer or the Wire, Cons?
October 14th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
The Wire of course. Im sad that ur off the beer, booooo.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
I hate tv. I loathe cop shows.I was blown away by The Wire.
It’s addictive and tough to watch just one episode.Great distraction and just what you need when avoiding booze 🙂
I’m envious of you watching it with fresh eyes
January 12th, 2010 at 12:58 am
[…] I’m Going to Watch Television Now, I May Be Gone for Some Time (October 14th) Menace II Sobriety (October 29th) 10 Reasons Why ‘The Wire’ Sucks Balls (November 11th) January 12th, 2010. […]