
This is Ryan--sorry I cut the top of your head off, Ryan--and he is in my Creative Nonfiction class. Thursday he came to class sporting this shirt and I had to ask him if I could take a photo. He graciously obliged.
When I saw the message I was reminded of my television addiction. I know the crew from A&E's "Intervention," along with friends and family, will be showing up in my living room very soon to confront me and take away my television, to which, I will slump in front of my RCA and wrap my arms around that beautiful glowing giver of information with tears streaming and scream, "OVER MY DEAD FUCKING BODY!" My mother will be visibly distraught and clenching a photo of my deceased brother and I in which we are spry young boys with our whole lives ahead of us and that will make me cry and wish I was watching television. A show, perhaps, that will bring my Bubby back, even if only for a half an hour at a time, a show like "Family Ties," "Who's The Boss," (he had a huge crush on Alyssa Milano, along with every other prepubescent boy in America), or maybe a network broadcast of "Breakfast Club" where the censorship will be so appalling that I will be forced to turn the channel because I can't stand to hear Judd Nelson yell, "Fail You!" anymore. So, I will land on one of those stations that show movies for guys who like explosions and massive titted blonde's with no brains and "Die Hard," much to my pleasure, will be airing. However, my frustration level will escalate to the red due to Bruce Willis saying, "Yippie-kay-ay Mellon Farmer.
After pleading and more crying the intervention will progress and I will be talked off the ledge and back to the couch where my Grandmother will continually tell me that God wants me to be safe and not watch so much "Sports Center" or reruns of "Entourage." I will weep and tell my Grandma that if there was a God he wouldn't allow network television to air shows like, "Doctor Phil," "Montel," "America's Best Dance Crew," or Soap Operas. She will respond by saying Soap Operas were created by God to show us our flaws and remind us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. My dad, as usual, will look at her sideways like she is bat-shit crazy while wishing he could turn on the television so he won't have to listen to all the drama. Surely there is a bass fishing show or severe weather warning that cannot be missed.
I really do want to kill my TV. When I think of pulling the plug I am reminded of every zombie movie I've seen where the main character's best friend, mother/father, boyfriend/girlfriend, or sister/brother, is bitten and will soon transform into a blood sucking monster. The character knows he/she has to kill whomever it is, but is reluctant and usually has a touching moment before doing the deed. If I don't kill my tv soon I will turn into a blood sucking monster.
"The TV got us reachin for stars/Not the ones between Venus and Mars/the ones that be readin for parts."
-Talib Kweli
-jason
