Again, Once and Again

Okay, I gotta get some sleep.

Now I remember one of the big reasons I never started watching those dvds. They suck you in and before you know it you have to watch "just one more" and then it's 2 am and you have to get up at 6. Since I'm not 18 with lots of time on my hands (ala J2's Grey's Anatomy marathon last summer), this is not a good thing. I'd better not even think about cracking open the West Wing set the girls got me for Mother's Day a couple years ago, or I may not sleep for a couple of months. Not a good thing to start on TV Turnoff week (not that we ever do, DOTR is addicted worse than anybody in the house--silence in a room drives him crazy).

Back to Once and Again. This show came on in the 1999-2000 season. That's not that long ago for me--in fact my life isn't a whole lot different now than it was then. But it's hilarious to watch some of the everyday things that are long gone. The kids in a video store picking out VHS tapes. The huge cordless phones, and also a few phones with cords (do they still make these?) Making a big deal out of having cell phones, and always having a bad connection. No caller ID. There's lots of phone drama on this show, which doesn't happen anymore because everybody has their own phone. No busy signals, no holding the phone while I take it upstairs. I have no idea who is calling/texting/facebook messaging, etc. anybody around here!

I really want the third season, but I don't think they ever released it. J1 and my oldest nephew were in early HS then (I think that Evan Rachel Ward is the same age as J1) and I remember thinking that they just nailed everything about it. The parents totally clueless that Eli is a pothead, they have no idea what's going on with their kids but they think they know. Their suppositions are entirely wrong and it's so funny to see what's really going on opposed to what they think is going on. J1 was very open about what was going on at school, with info straight from a girl on the cheerleading squad who knew absolutely everything about everybody, so I always had a good idea what was what. Unfortunately, about 90% of the parents have no clue. I've learned to be a good snooper with J3, or I'd be in the same spot as the parents in this show.

Actually, I don't think this show looks too dated, with the exception of the high waisted pants. I've also noticed this on some of the reruns of CSI's first season. Their pants look like they're up to their armpits! And the final thing I noticed--getting coffee and muffins in the bookstore. Like, wow, what a concept, Judi! Who'd ever think of that?

This was less than ten years ago.

Amazing.