I've Lived this Life Before

What does Wawasworld do on a Saturday night when he has nothing to do?  That's easy: He watches MTV's marathon of the show Life As We Know It, starring Kelly Osbourne and a bunch of no names (Sorry, D.B. Sweeney, but the Cutting Edge should be on the Cutting Floor).  This show is actually on ABC, but for some odd reason, MTV doled out some cash to show re-runs on their own channel.  Funny how MTV would buy the rights to this show, even though the ratings are lower then public access . . . it couldn't be that it's a favor to a former MTV cash cow (and I do mean cow) with Kelly Osbourne?  Nah.  You're probably asking yourself:  "But Wawa, don't you have all the  important channels, like skinemax on demand and showtime on demand?"  Sorry kids, but man alone cannot sustain on just soft core porn and showings of the Matrix series about 8,000 times.  So I got out my Heath bar crunch BJ (and that's Ben and Jerry's, sickos!) and sat down for 6 episodes of this teenage schlock.

Oh . . . and here's the premise of the show: 3 teenage boys living in Seattle Washington, dealing with the typical high school hijinks of dances, girls and parental units gone awry.  Seems pretty basic, but sadly, that's what the problem was.  It was TOO basic.  It felt too familiar, and made me long for the old classics of  teenage mellodrama and comedy.  Sorry, kids of Life as We Know It, but I've seen your Life once too often.  I'll give you 3 prime examples:

1) The Classic Teacher/Student Affair:  One of the boys is having an affair with his teacher!  Oh the scandal . . .  if this were 1998.  I could have sworn Pacey hooked up with his teacher in Dawson's Creek.   Why yes, Pacey Witter DID hook up with his teacher in Season one.  Yawn.  Been there, done that, Seattle kids.  On to the next plotline.   I will  say this: At least the Teacher in this show was TV Hot.  The one in Dawson's was merely TV mediocre.  Please see 3 posts below if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

2) The 3 boys stop and talk into the camera:    Oh dude, you guys are killing me now.  Hmmmm . . .  I don't know if you kids have ever seen a little show called, I don't know, SAVED BY THE BELL?  Zach Morris was talking into the camera while you were still sucking on your mama's teet,  Ms. Osbourne!!!!  Just an egregious rip off move if I've ever seen one.  But that's not the worst one . .  . oh no . . .

3) They ripoff the classic condom buying scene at the Pharmacy/Grocery:  This is the scene where One of the boys and Kelly Osbourne's character need a "Price check" at the front counter of a pharmacy when they go to buy condoms.   Pick any show.  It's not even a classic teen drama move.  EVERY SHOW USES THIS MOVE!  Need I point to the Golden Girls episode where the three are going on a cruise together and decide to buy condoms and also need a price check?  Of course I don't need to remind you.  If you're like me, that particular episode has probably scarred you .  . . but I digress. 

I could go on and on with this.  Considering how much teen television I watch, it drives me nuts when derivative happens.  Give me a Smallville or a One Tree Hill any day of the week.  At least those have superheroes and former hot MTV VJ's on it (Please see Hilarie Burton from One Tree Hill . .  . Yowzers!). 

fade to black

cue Paula Cole's: I don't want to wait . . .

(I stole this from Jefke's last post . . . .not sure how to end this piece of crap post)

Comments

[Benny]

Hou could you not mention the greatest condom buying scene in teh history of television. The L.A. Law episode when Benny (remember the retarded office boy) embarrasses Corbin Bernson's character when he buys condoms at a drug store with pennies! Priceless.