Times when the term director seems grandiose.

And no, am not harranging on Mel Gibson or Jonathan Frakes or anyone along those lines. This involves the other medium, tv. I was checking out Little House in the Prairie last night, a statement that may stop some of you from reading right now. In my defense, I've been taping it for my friend who's doing a history class on frontier life and hence have been watching some of it. So, I discover much to my chagrin that it's a clip show where all the Ingalls gather together for Christmas and tell Albert all about their earlier adventures coming from the Big Woods and onto the Prairie. I knew I was in trouble when they list guest stars at the beginning. So, okay, no, I don't care to see the clips from the last five seasons. I then see that this episode has been directed by Michael Landon, Pa. And I'm thinking, how difficult could it have been? You barely have to write dialogue and all you have to do is decide what clips to use. It's pretty much written for you.

Rebel against sad, pathetic clip shows. Okay, rebel's a bit strong. And the premise to introduce the clips is always wafer thin like the Keatons have to tell Alex's new girlfiend all about his attempts to find love (Family Ties), or the Golden Girls think back on their money-making schemes, bad dates, etc, or the gang at West Beverly are about to graduate so they must think about their high school years (Beverly Hills 90210).

Speaking of pathetic, I watched What about Brian? last night and was sorely disappointed. It's the show that has the kid from 7th Heaven, Barry Watson as the seventh wheel in a group of couples. They're all gorgeous, and okay, it is LA, but that's a bit much. He's a commitment phobe. My main issue is how gendered it is. Like, would they have a show with a woman as the commitment phobe? Okay, they might, but it would be probably way different. Or like Ally McBeal or Sex and the City. And okay, I liked Sex and the City, but I had issues with it as well. Plus, I'm too distracted by the fact that Marjorie, the woman that Brian is in love with is played by the actress who played Madison on Everwood and has brown hair. She looks much better as a blond. Maybe they thought having three actresses with blonde hair on the show would be deemed as too L.A. or California, but she looks odd.

Back to work.