Respect.

I started watching the Sopranos a few months ago. I'll spare you my praise since everyone knows how good it is, but I will say this, it is now my show. I don't have to share it with anyone-- journalists aren't writing articles about the complexity of the characters, the American family as it relates to the Sopranos, or even how it is either the most important or most influential show ever produced. People aren't "tuning in" every week to see a new episode. I managed to not know how the show ends, yet still dealt with the world's newfound obsession of Journey's Don't Stop Believin', understanding that this song had a major emotional impact on viewers during the finale but not knowing why. How I managed to do this, I have no idea. But now, it's my turn. Now I have a show that no one is watching but everyone has seen. I get to think freely about it without the media telling me the deep rooted reason why Tony Soprano is America's favorite character. There are obvious reasons why The Sopranos is great, but perhaps chief among them is that the pacing of the show is basically perfect. I watch it and get so deeply involved that at the end of the season 1 finale, when the credits came on, I had forgotten I had been watching a show. And those credits crawling up the screen were a sobering reminder of my existence. That's when you know that you've been masterfully manipulated by a television experience and that you're in the presence of TV greatness. Respect.

I saw screening of the movie "Whiplash" this week. An awesome movie that's sure to give you whiplash, no joke. So well directed and acted. Because I knew via my brother people who were intimately involved with the film, I got to go to an after party that the cast and director attended. My crowning achievement of that night was when J.K. Simmons was trying to get the attention of the director Damien Chazelle who had gone off to talk to someone. I was in this awkward middle position and I said to him "come on, BE THE ASSHOLE YOU KNOW YOU CAN BE". He looked a me sort of surprised but sort of like respect too. 

Joan Rivers man. You don't know how much you're gonna miss someone til their gone. I was more bummed about her death than I thought I would be. She'd been around my whole life and she was funny as hell and tough as nails. That's a role model right there. And of course, if you've seen the documentary "A Piece of Work" you know what I mean. Total respect.

I went to see the Eagles at MSG a couple of weeks ago. An amazing show. They played all the hits and sounded tight. I think the Eagles continue to get a bad rap, but they're one of the greatest rock n' bands in the world with one of the best songwriting teams in Glenn Frey and Don Henley. Total respect.