I cannot stop laughing at this.

“PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING ME!!!”

A couple of quick weekend notes:

1) I close on my house exactly one month from today.  This whole process has been bittersweet for me.

2) If you are an animal lover, you have to watch this video.

3) ESPN is doing a series of 30 documentaries celebrating “events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.”  I can’t recommend these documentaries highly enough.  The latest one was about the events on June 17th, 1994.  This was the day of the infamous OJ White Bronco chase.  It is replaying on ESPN now, definitely check it out if you can.  It is really well done.

The events of that day also produced the greatest phony phone call of all time:

EDITOR’S NOTE: You don’t have to know the “Lost” storyline to follow this blog entry.

…I learned from the “Lost” finale.

There has been a lot of talk this week about the finale of “Lost.”  Regardless of your opinion of the episode, there is no denying that the producers created a show that often stirred emotion and always made people think.  In that vein, the show was a smashing success.  Furthermore, the scene pictured above might be my favorite television moment ever.

Almost everything you need to know about life can be learned from the finale of “Lost.”  Within the context of the dialogue, the writers left us with lessons that are applicable to both “Lost” viewers and non-viewers alike.

Without further adieu…

1- “There are no short cuts, no do-overs. What happened, happened. Trust me, I know. All of this matters.” (Jack)

I say it all the time, but can’t stress it enough.  Make the most of every day.

2- “There are rules, dude.” (Hurley)

For the most part, laws were not made to be broken.

3- “You can’t let other people tell you what you are, dude. You have to decide that for yourself.”  (Hurley)

People sometimes get wrapped up too much in what others think of them. Honestly, who cares?  You are the one that has to look yourself in the mirror.  All that matters is that when you do, you like what you see.

If you don’t…

4- “Nothing is irreversable.” (Kate)

It is never too late to change things.

5- “I don’t believe in a lot of things, but I do believe in duct tape.” (Miles)

Sometimes, non-conventional methods can be used to solve problems. There is never only one right answer.

6- “You are not alone. Let me help you.” (Kate)

6A- “Will you help me? I could use someone with experience, for a little while.” (Hurley)

Life is much easier if you ask for help when you need it.  This is one I struggle with sometimes.

7- “If it helps, Ben, I forgive you.” (Locke)

To truly live, is to forgive people who wrong you. Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. Let go.

8- “Everyone dies sometime, kiddo. Some of them before you, some long after you.” (Christian)

This one speaks for itself.

9- “I’ll see you in another life, brother.” (Jack)

Depending on your personal beliefs, your opinion on this one may differ.  I believe that after our “physical” life, there is an afterlife.

10- “I believe in you.” (Jack, Hurley)

10A- “The most important part of your life was the time that you spent with these people. That’s why all of you are here. You needed them and they needed you. Nobody does it alone, Jack.” (Christian)

The secret to life is finding people you can truly believe in and sharing as much of your life as possible with them. Without those type of people, you would be….

lost.

Today is the two year anniversary of Truth About Mike. My deepest and most sincere thanks to everyone who has visited the site over the past two years.

Even though the frequency of my writing has gone down, I still have been trying to post something on Mondays.  The “Lost” 5.5 hour extravaganza is tonight and I’m not sure I will be able to write afterwards, so I am writing now.

I have been struck by my emotional reaction I have had to “Lost” ending.  Admittedly, I am a maudlin sap, but even this is strange for me.  I didn’t even start watching the show until almost the end of the second season.  I heard people rave about it, but I always figured it wasn’t the type of show I would like.  Because so(!) many people recommended it, I grabbed the first season DVD’s and I have been hooked ever since.  The first episode has to be one of the best pilot episodes in the history of television.  I caught up on the second season by teaching myself how to torrent videos and flew through the first two seasons in record pace.

I’m not really into sci-fi, but the allure of “Lost” (for me, anyways) is that it is so character driven.  Every time I was turned off by the sci-fi aspect of the show, or the endless mysteries the writers have portrayed, the thing that always brought be back was the characters.  I’ve grown to love Jack, Sawyer, Hurley, Kate, Locke, Sayid, Desmond and the rest of the gang.  I kept tuning back in and I will tune in tonight because I want to know what happens to them.

Another reason I love “Lost” is the soundtrack, beautifully produced by Michael Giacchino.  My cousin Mel has raved up and down about the “Lost” soundtrack and I never fully realized how great it was until the past few days.  There is so much going on in every “Lost” episode that it is easy to look past the great music.  I think I’ve listened to this particular piece at least thirty times today.

One of the amazing aspects of the show is the buzz it has created, mostly on the internet.  It is probably the first show in the history of television that has had an impact both via the TV airwaves and the world wide web.  There are blogs, fan sites, message boards and even a Lostapedia.

So, I’m sad today.  It feels like a good friend is moving away.  I guess you never really know what you have in life until it is gone.  Tonight will be an iconic (not ionic, Mayor Menino) night in the history of American television.  For me, it is going to rank up there with the “Seinfeld” and “Cheers” finales.  Love it or hate it (or even if you’ve never watched it), “Lost” has woven its way into the fabric of American pop culture.

Thanks J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Carlton Cuse for creating such a great show.

It has been one heck of a ride.

From today’s Boston Globe:

“Sometimes when I’m watching “Friday Night Lights,’’ and I’ve got a big fat lump in my throat, I think, This is the best TV show ever. Ever. “Friday Night Lights’’ brings on the kind of viewing experience that heightens your emotional responses, makes you feel things more strongly as you watch. A rousing mix of grim small-town realism, Texas romanticism, moments of heroism, and the inspiring power of dreams, the show has a way of making your heart swell.”

In honor of the final season of “Lost” (which starts tonight), here’s a cool youtube for people who like the show.  It is the crash of Oceanic 815 in real time.

Enjoy!

I’m a big fan of the holiday movie season.  There are always great movies that come out in December.  Love Actually is my favorite holiday movie.

Up until last weekend, my holiday movie pick was The Blind Side (which was very good as well, btw).  Up in the Air has moved into the catbird seat and is the best new movie of the holiday season.  It is “drive into Boston because it is only playing at the Loews Boston Common” good.

And I don’t even like George Clooney!

See it, report back, and rave.

Here are some quotes from the SoSH thread about “Friday Night Lights.”

These are all about the last episode from three different people:

“Awesome episode. Just amazing how they are able to convey so much with so little.”

“Wow – That was the most powerful episode of TV I’ve ever seen. I might convince some friends to watch this show from the beginning solely because of this episode. Just an amazing series.”

“I feel sorry for anyone who isn’t watching this show, because that was one of the best episodes of any show I’ve ever seen.”

All day, I was planning to write this brilliant (don’t laugh) blog entry responding to Keri’s comment from Tuesday about my Patriot negativity. However, like Tiger Woods on his driveway, I’ve been steered off course.

Last night’s episode of “Friday Night Lights” was the most powerful 46 minutes of television I’ve ever seen.  After it ended, I stared at a paused TV for a full hour just thinking about it.  I can’t really talk about it because this season is only airing on DirecTV right now and will air on NBC sometime in 2027.

It is a g-damn f-ing travesty that more people do not watch this show.  Travesty! It is the best TV show I’ve ever seen.  This season, they have reinvented themselves and continue to put out a quality product even though hardly anyone is watching.  “Friday Night Lights” is the Paul Pierce in your TV Guide.

It’s the truth.

Wednesday at 9pm is the hottest hour of television all week.  It is triple-DVR worthy.  “Glee” is on Fox, “Modern Family” is on ABC, and “Friday Night Lights” is on DirecTV 101.  I have been literally lying to people about my Wednesday night plans so I can stay home and watch TV.

I’m not telling any of my friends that adore “Glee,” but “Modern Family” is the best new show of the season.  It is incredibly funny and sweet all at the same time.  If you haven’t seen it, here is the youtube preview of the show.

Back to last night’s “Friday Night Lights” episode: It was so good that I will now speak (ok, type) in non-complete sentences.  Wow.  Compelling.  Gut-wrenching.  Emmy-worthy.  Make-the-room-dusty and my hands shake for a half hour after watching it.  And Minka (*applause*) came back for the first time all season.

Speaking of Minka, because L’incident de Tiger Woods, I’ve read this (or something to this effect) in several places:

“Derek Jeter has it all figured out.“

Well sh*t yeah, he has Minka.  Duh.

Ugh, look at me.

I’m all over the place.

Yeah, I’m taking a moment.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Been meaning to post about this for a while…

About a month and a half ago, a friend dragged me to see a singer named Erin McCarley.  She played at Berklee’s Red Room at Cafe 939.  Per their website, Cafe 939 is:

Berklee’s Cafe 939 is a state-of-the-art, all-ages, student-run music venue and coffeehouse. While most rooms in Boston have a specific musical niche, Cafe 939 embraces nearly any style from rock, jazz, folk, and world to bluegrass, hip-hop, electronica, avant-garde, and beyond.

The venue was very cool.  It was basically empty with only a stage and few sofas around the edges of the room.  Most of the audience had to stand and it was a great intimate setting with a capacity of about 200 people.

Prior to that night, I had never heard of Erin McCarley.  After a quick google search, I learned that some of her music was featured on the television show “Grey’s Anatomy” and the movie He’s Just Not That Into You.  Opening for McCarley was Landon Pigg, the guy who sings the coffee shop song from the AT&T commercial I love.

When I agreed to go, I was more looking forward to hearing Landon Pigg.  Sadly, he was underwhelming and it wasn’t a great start to the night.  Next, this short girl comes out (McCarley), performs a sound check, and she tells the audience she had been fighting a cold.  Admittedly, I was totally unprepared for what happened next.

I don’t know if it was the small venue or the diminutive frame that it came out of, but her voice totally took me by surprise.  For a while now, I’ve been trying to think of a word that describes it (maybe this is why it took me so long to write this entry) and the best I can come up with is angelic.  When she sang, everyone was jaw-droppingly transfixed on her.  I think it was a combination of the dynamic sound and our proximity to this amazing talent.

For the next hour, I was blown away by her performance.  She has a voice that is both raspy and smooth all at the same time.  Every song was good and she hit every note.  Since that night, I haven’t listened to anything as much as her debut album Love, Save the Empty.  And lastly, I don’t think I’ve heard a song in the past 10-15 years that has resonated with me as strongly as the final track, “Gotta Figure This Out.”