Round 1!

Hey there!

Welcome to the first edition of ‘Casey’s Corner'! Here you will find my personal stream of consciousness regarding a multitude of various subjects based on questions and comments from YOU! Yes, I’m a bit tardy with this first edition, but come on… I’ve been busy.  VERY busy. With what you ask? Binging shows, laughing at TiK Tok, and eating Fruity Pebbles just like the rest of you, duh.

To say it’s been wildly entertaining reading your questions/requests as they have come in would be an understatement. Please keep them coming! Have fun, be creative and send away! The last time I felt offended was back in the first grade. Don’t remember why,  just remember never wanting to feel that way again. Light hearted? Super serious? It’s all fair game.

ROUND 1 (Nice and light, just getting warmed up. See what I did there?)

What are your top 5 shows to binge? We are running low over here and would love your opinion. - Mike and Jen (Members from TBC Highland Heights)

Thank you Mike and Jen, and I’m glad you asked because this is a very, VERY serious subject. (If you are unfamiliar with sarcasm, never fear… there is still hope. You have come to the right place to learn)

You see, we are truly in the ‘golden age’ of television. Gone are the days of the ‘TV will rot your brain’ speech my parents gave me growing up. Way gone. Today? The plethora of incredibly informative, educational, thought provoking content available at your convenience is truly overwhelming. Even today’s comedy is WAY more than the old predictable ‘slap-stick’ humor followed by loud, artificial, canned laughter. For you youngsters reading this: Yes, that’s how little the producers back in the day felt about our individual ability to understand/process situational comedy as it was being presented to us. They LITERALLY added a soundtrack of fake audience laughter when they wanted us to laugh. True story. Today? The subtleties are everything. The facial expressions. The delivery. It’s a beautiful thing.

Having said that, it’s a slippery slope to list my top 5 recommendations. Why? Because of how infinitely different every single person’s specific ‘tastes’ are. I see/hear it everyday just as you likely do.. Folks just GUSHING to other folks about shows they HAVE to watch, and watch Now. Translation? “I personally LOOOOVVVEE this show, and am putting pressure on you to not only watch it, but also feel EXACTLY how I do in terms of loving it!!”. I’m laughing out loud right now because I of course am guilty of the exact same thing. We have all done it. As a matter of fact I just recommended a show to my BFFER Ryan and he damn well better enjoy it as much as I did or there WILL be problems….. But I digress…

Another great example of this occurs in restaurants, right? Tell me if this sounds familiar: A guest asks the waiter/waitress what they recommend. The server then provides an answer (for example Salmon) with wonderful enthusiasm and description….. Only to have the patron respond: ‘Nah, I don’t like fish’ LOLOL. You know exactly what I’m talking about right? But it happens all the time! How the HELL would a complete stranger know what the heck YOU want to eat, or how YOU would have it prepared?? Nickel’s worth of free advice: Spare the poor person the embarrassment of recommending steak if you don’t like meat. Don’t be a jackass. Figure it our yourself or stay home until you do. It’s the 21st century. They are called menus. Select, order, eat, and then enjoy, or don’t. Pay the bill, leave a nice tip then go about your life. Pretty simple. Of course this advice only applies when we are all allowed to actually GO out to eat again, but you get the drift.

Another challenge with listing a ‘Top 5’ is mixing all genres together, right? For example, a very common mistake is when one human asks another human for a list of their all time favorite list of movies. IMPOSSIBLE!!  “Caddyshack” can’t be presented on the same list as “Rocky IV”.  “Man on Fire” and “Tommy Boy” aren’t in the same category even though they are both ALL-TIMERS! All four of those examples are first ballot cinematic Hall of Famers BUT can’t possibly be recommended to just anyone and everyone bunched all together!! I get fired up just THINKING about that nonsense.  Sheesh!! 

Plus there is SO much content available, my recommendations obviously come from shows I’ve actually seen. For example, I know Breaking Bad has a HUGE following, but I’ve never seen it so it can’t be on my list (cue the showering of BOOOOOOS here from all of you BB fans).

So without further ado, my personal recommendations are as follows:
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 WARMUP (Enjoyable, entertaining, yet effective)

1.)  The Office
I am on the record as believing this to be the most brilliant comedy ever written. ESPECIALLY if you have worked in a cubicle office environment, which applies to most of us. Yes, I watched Seinfeld. If you go back and re-read my mini diatribe about what makes comedy today much more relevant, this is a classic example. The characters, the subject matter, the timing and the delivery make “The Office” a ‘must watch’ comedy.

2.) Curb your enthusiasm
 ‘Seinfeld’ 2.0. Topical, relevant. Absolutely hilarious.

CONTENDER (Gonna feel these. Deep storylines. Highly entertaining)

1.) House of Cards
I am well aware of the situation concerning Kevin Spacey in real-life and understand this changes things for some of you in terms of watching him now as an actor. Totally get it. For the record, I watched this series BEFORE any of that craziness emerged and am basing my recommendation simply on the show, and the show alone. If you are interested in politics on ANY level, HOC is a must. The writing is incredible, and the storyline at times almost feels like non-fiction.  You will never look at Capital Hill the same. 

2.) Billions
Fast paced, wildly entertaining and intoxicating.  

3.) Ozark
Slower pace, wildly entertaining and intoxicating.

CHAMPION (It’s lonely at the top. Incredible Journeys Emotional Knockouts.  Prepare accordingly.)

1.) Game of Thrones (GOT)
There are two ‘must-binge’ titles that I literally feel a twinge of jealousy thinking about people who are about to take the ride for the first time. GOT is the first one. I don’t even know how to describe it. The depth and interweaving of storylines throughout is impeccable. The character development is second to none. The physical scenery is breathtaking. Is Winter actually coming? Does the North ever forget? Do the Lannisters always pay their debts??? Take a trip to the Seven Kingdoms and find out for yourself.

2.) Sons of Anarchy (SOA)
‘OPIIEEEEEEEEEEEE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!’
If that gives you the chills and brings tears to your eyes? You get it. If not? You will. ‘Sons of Anarchy’ is one of the most fun, action packed, gut-wrenching shows I have ever seen. Holy cow what a ride!!!! SAMCRO FOREVER!!!! Jax, Gemma, Clay, Bobby, Chibs, Nero..the list goes on and on. Oh and the music??? Forget about it. (That means really good..stay with me)
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Alright so there you have it! Our first round is in the books! Hope you enjoyed it on some level, but If not? I promise I’ll try harder next time. If you have a question or comment you would like me to address please comment below! 

Until then God Bless, peace and love….  See you soon.