A few weeks ago I decided to rent Clatterford from Netflix. Since I love Jennifer Saunders I figured it was time to check out her newest project. After watching the first three episodes I was charmed. A dramatic departure from Ab Fab, Clatterford is dignified and endearing in a very “everyday” sort of way. Humor still abounds, but there is really good drama as well and I was surprised at the maturity and depth of the writing.

Then the second disc arrived this weekend. I’m almost ashamed to admit that I wasn’t all that keen on popping it in the player. I mean, I enjoyed the first three episodes quite a bit; however, the cadence of the show is not exactly Friday night material. Oh how wrong I was! Knowing the characters and the relationships I was adequately equipped to immerse myself in the story and it was amazing.

The character played by Dawn French annoyed me at first because I thought her sole purpose was to be ridiculous and insulting to people with mental disabilities. I could not have been more wrong! Now I worship the courage and resilience of her character and I can hardly wait to catch series two.

When I was through with the last episode I decided to check out the extra features on the DVD. Hello?! BONUS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!! It was so wonderful I just didn’t want it to end. Then as the camera pulled back to roll credits the music started. It wasn’t the theme to the show (although that is wonderful, too) but it was the same singer and I was put into a trance by the haunting, lonely vocal and music drenched in wistful longing. I can’t stop listening to this song.

My work for today was canceled without warning and I found myself wondering what to do. What is it that I do when I’m not working? I couldn’t remember so I decided to go see a movie.

Last Thursday I went to the opening of a gallery exhibition to see my friend, Jared, the photographer responsible for the images you see on this page. He is one of those people I see infrequently whose company I always enjoy until I remember that he is infuriating. Other than that I would marry him, but the point of this mention is that he saw Across The Universe recently and wanted to know my opinion.

My opinion was that I felt bitter because I waited for nine months for that movie to come out and then found myself with no time to see the damn thing. It was released nationwide on Johnny’s birthday and where was I? Not at the theater as planned.

So I checked my local listings this morning only to discover that it wasn’t playing in any of my preferred theaters, but rather in the sad, dilapidated Mann cinema I typically avoid. It turned out well with an unheard of $3.50 matinee price and a deserted, old school auditorium.

Going through the process of preparing myself for disappointment after such a long anticipation was wise, but entirely unwarranted. From the first note sung in the opening scene to the closing credits I was in awe. The trailer put emphasis on the surreal aspects of the feature and that can sometimes be a warning. Thankfully the whimsical, art school orgy bits blended seamlessly with reality much in the way I often impose my own fantasies on my everyday life.

After the movie I couldn’t get home fast enough to buy the soundtrack. I called Jared so we could have the discussion we should have had on Thursday. He asked me to sum up my experience in a single sentence (yeah, he’s one of those). I told him that it was like visiting a museum on acid and all of the paintings were singing to entertain me. That stopped him in his tracks.

Go see the freaking flick, please. Even if it’s only for the shockingly homoerotic Army induction sequence. I haven’t felt so artistically molested by a movie since The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover. The arrangements of the Beatles songs are simply sublime and incredibly moving. I’m including a selection here because during that scene of the movie I almost dropped my nachos I was crying so hard.

Our pal James Collins has done it again. This time he’s going for a royalty record by covering seven classic TV themes for our nostalgic delight. There is already a review on Billboard and the track will be available on iTunes next week. In the meantime, enjoy the video tribute I whipped up for him.

Tomorrow my friend Michelle and I are going to see So You Think You Can Dance. It’s the results show so there won’t be as much dancing, but OneRepublic will be performing their song “Apologize” and I’m almost as excited about that as the possibility of seeing some more of Neil’s flesh live and in person!

Here is the Timbaland remix that I can’t stop playing in the car.