Pronouncements of great import don't always come down from the mountain on tablets. Sometimes you just hear it over the phone from a faceless minion of Comcast.
"You Need Box" is what the Soviet civil-service refugee informed me when I asked why TMC, AMC, and TVGuide Channel disappeared when I switched from my old TV to the new digital-ready one.
In making the switch, I got to relieve myself from the burden of Comcast's digital converter box, its nasty handheld remote (which takes over all of your electronics but doesn't tell you how to control them yourself), and the annoyance of not being able to tape one program while watching another. Oh what a relief! Until I wanted to watch Idol Wrap on TVGuide Channel (shut up).
So I called Comcast to complain about my missing channels, with sleeves all rolled up and ready for a fight, and they'd just better not try to charge me extra for these channels.
"You Need Box"
I don't need no stinkin' box, I've got a digital TV.
"You Need Box"
But, but, I'm getting some stations that go up in the hundreds, how come I can get these and not TMC, AMC, and TVG?
"You Need Box"
Well, the thing is, I still have the box. Comcast isn't charging extra for it, so it's mine to use or not use as I please. Do I plug it back in so I can get my channels but lose my time-shifting record-for-later capability?
Choices.
I ended up exploring some of those upper channels. There are also lower channels with fractional points that come in through my Comcast pipeline. I explored a little - some alternative programming for the local channels. Fine. But in the upper reaches, in 107.300s, I found the music stations - 40 channels of music favorites. Well Top 40, you know, isn't my favorite, nor is country music. But I found (harps strumming, trumpets trumping) SHOW TUNES!!
Happy Dance!
I had the Show Tunes channel on pretty much all weekend. TMC? Heck, isn't that what Netflix is for? (Sorry guys - either open a Hulu channel or say goodbye to your Comcast Box Rejectors.)
So I'm a dork. I put on Broadway's best and got myself up off the couch. Cleaned the apartment, cooked a meal, did a goofball dance - a kickline of one - in the living room. I Feel Happy! (They even played some Spamalot!!)
That's life outside the box. In many ways, we still Need Box - if only to see the limitations that need to be overcome.
love, hosaa
Dancing outside the box
Showing posts with label Spamalot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spamalot. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
"I'm Not Going"
This is a tribute to the dedication of a certain group of very special fans and the object of their affection:
Music: Jennifer Hudson, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls soundtrack.
Sure, there were lots of pictures being taken by Clay Aiken's fans during his last weekend of Spamalot. But I thought it was interesting to see the flashes going off from the windows of the Shubert Theater as Clay was taking his last parting farewell from the roof. Hee! Okay, cast and crew - where are your photos from that night!?
love, hosaa
staying
Music: Jennifer Hudson, "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls soundtrack.
Sure, there were lots of pictures being taken by Clay Aiken's fans during his last weekend of Spamalot. But I thought it was interesting to see the flashes going off from the windows of the Shubert Theater as Clay was taking his last parting farewell from the roof. Hee! Okay, cast and crew - where are your photos from that night!?
love, hosaa
staying
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Giving My Regards
Catch it while you can - Broadway is going into hibernation soon. I just came back from seeing the last Spamalot for Clay Aiken on Jan. 4 (the show continues until Jan. 11). I also saw Patti LuPone in Gypsy and a sprightly cast (not the original) in Avenue Q.
I strategized the Spamalot trip a little, coming into the city one day ahead of my ticket. Clay had been coming to the stagedoor to do autographs and photos with fans, but somewhat erratically. I got there about 40 minutes before the end of the Saturday matinee, met up with some friends, and waited for the barricades to be put up right in front of us (we made a semi-circle in front of the door, knowing about where the barricades would be placed. Hee! That was the only way to guarantee ourselves front row).
It turned out Clay did indeed come out to sign autographs, but not have pictures taken - it was way too cold. He signed my copy of Learning To Sing - Yay!
As for the show the next day - what can I say. It's not the same as seeing it for the first time, but it was fun to participate in all the riotous cheering for Clay. I get the feeling not everyone in the cast was happy about it, but most went with the flow. After Clay's big number, "You Won't Succeed on Broadway," Sir Lancelot rode into his next scene, saying he'd better find out where that screaming was coming from. Hee!
We waited in Shubert Alley for Clay after his last show, and he did not disappoint. Goodbye, dear man! Don't be a stranger.
But you know what, "Claymates" (ugh--gotta love us, but I hate the term) have nothing on the Patti Lupone fans. Gosh! They raised the roof for her, and justly so. The mob at her stagedoor was crushing. My only pic of her was but a blur.
By Sunday night and after a heavy but wonderful dinner at Sardi's
with other Clay fans, I was probably too tired to see another show. Poor Avenue Q, the only thing playing on Sunday night that I could get tickets to. I was cramped up in the mezz, my knees aching for not being able to move my legs, and fell asleep during the second half. I loved the show, really I did, but I was just too dang tired.
Monday morning clean-out on Broadway saw lines of trucks ready to pick up lines of trunks - audio and lighting equipment as sets begin to be struck for the last time. On 44th Street, "13" was vacating. It was a sad sight.
I'm glad I went - I need to go again. Broadway, come back!!!
love, hosaa
Theatrical cat
Ooo, I forgot to mention - I caught the bouquet at Clay's last Spamalot!! As thrown by Merle Dandridgeto little me in H-105. I apologized profusely to the lady in H-104, but I just had to have it.
I strategized the Spamalot trip a little, coming into the city one day ahead of my ticket. Clay had been coming to the stagedoor to do autographs and photos with fans, but somewhat erratically. I got there about 40 minutes before the end of the Saturday matinee, met up with some friends, and waited for the barricades to be put up right in front of us (we made a semi-circle in front of the door, knowing about where the barricades would be placed. Hee! That was the only way to guarantee ourselves front row).
It turned out Clay did indeed come out to sign autographs, but not have pictures taken - it was way too cold. He signed my copy of Learning To Sing - Yay!
As for the show the next day - what can I say. It's not the same as seeing it for the first time, but it was fun to participate in all the riotous cheering for Clay. I get the feeling not everyone in the cast was happy about it, but most went with the flow. After Clay's big number, "You Won't Succeed on Broadway," Sir Lancelot rode into his next scene, saying he'd better find out where that screaming was coming from. Hee!
We waited in Shubert Alley for Clay after his last show, and he did not disappoint. Goodbye, dear man! Don't be a stranger.
But you know what, "Claymates" (ugh--gotta love us, but I hate the term) have nothing on the Patti Lupone fans. Gosh! They raised the roof for her, and justly so. The mob at her stagedoor was crushing. My only pic of her was but a blur.
By Sunday night and after a heavy but wonderful dinner at Sardi's
with other Clay fans, I was probably too tired to see another show. Poor Avenue Q, the only thing playing on Sunday night that I could get tickets to. I was cramped up in the mezz, my knees aching for not being able to move my legs, and fell asleep during the second half. I loved the show, really I did, but I was just too dang tired.
Monday morning clean-out on Broadway saw lines of trucks ready to pick up lines of trunks - audio and lighting equipment as sets begin to be struck for the last time. On 44th Street, "13" was vacating. It was a sad sight.
I'm glad I went - I need to go again. Broadway, come back!!!
love, hosaa
Theatrical cat
Ooo, I forgot to mention - I caught the bouquet at Clay's last Spamalot!! As thrown by Merle Dandridgeto little me in H-105. I apologized profusely to the lady in H-104, but I just had to have it.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Momentary Heroism
It only takes a moment to become someone's hero.
The story (briefly): I took my niece up to New York in January to see Clay Aiken in Spamalot. Moments after the show ended, the crowd gathered to collect autographs from our Idol. But I had a little trouble reaching him, as a tall man blocked my view and a mean lady pushed my poster away. In this video, Clay Aiken demonstrates how it only takes a few seconds and one graceful gesture to become somebody's hero.
Love, hosaa
Shopping for a nice frame for my autographed "Sir Robin" poster
The story (briefly): I took my niece up to New York in January to see Clay Aiken in Spamalot. Moments after the show ended, the crowd gathered to collect autographs from our Idol. But I had a little trouble reaching him, as a tall man blocked my view and a mean lady pushed my poster away. In this video, Clay Aiken demonstrates how it only takes a few seconds and one graceful gesture to become somebody's hero.
Love, hosaa
Shopping for a nice frame for my autographed "Sir Robin" poster
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