i am getting somewhat sucked in by the hbo hype machine i think. being an enormous sopranos fan, lover of curb, and follower of entourage, i can’t help but start getting brainwashed into the mindset that hbo original series are the future of television. i’ve had dozens of people tell me how much i’d love six feet under and now it’s in my netflix queue patiently waiting to be adored. and now i’m falling prey to the blood-soaked promo posters for rome that line my commute. (not literally bloodsoaked, obviously. that would be terrifying. but i do appreciate their willingness to depict ‘the streets running red with blood’ so publicly).

here’s the problem though: i’m excited about a new series and setting the tivo to record it, and i don’t even think i’ll like it. i thought gladiator was boring and i didn’t even try going to see troy or alexander. in fact i can’t think of anything ancient-timey that i really like, except maybe a general fond rememberance for childhood viewings of jason and the argonauts on cable. and academic respect due to epic poetry i guess. so shouldn’t my awareness of having been brainwashed into dedicating more of my life to hbo programming be enough to keep me from bothering?

well, maybe my sub-subconscious is secretly hoping this will be the time they get the period right. i know consciously i’m just hoping there is some plato or aristotle character in there to be all high-and-mighty about how he’s smarter than everyone and should be running the place, in between debaucherous nights spent ‘educating’ young boys. (YES i know that was greece, i’m just saying, can’t there be an oscar wilde in the cast?)

oh and also, i’m off to vegas tonight for some corporate frivolity. wish me luck at the tables, cause if the right numbers come up i could turn an easy profit seeing as how i’ll have no expenses.