Our friends often talk about the good shows they watch, like "Lost" and "The Sopranos." Since there are some excellent options out there, it worries me slightly that J and I, who never get addicted to any tv shows, who are never able to follow a series unless it is delivered to us, disc by disc through our Netflix account, have actually started following a couple shows enough that we know what's going on, namely "Last Comic Standing" and "America's Got Talent." What these shows are, basically, are shows for people who, if they were really good enough, would already be on the fast track to Hollywood, or Comedy Central, or in some cases the mental institution, but a nice one, with a weekly talent show.

The thing is, not only do we watch these shows, but we get into them, becoming angry when our favorite contestants are treated unfairly, and making commentary on the performances. We judge, and we judge harshly, and before too long we're judging beyond necessity - we're gawking at David Hasselhoff, and what appears to be his continually drunken behavior, and we're wondering, as I asked tonight, what exactly the point is.

"You know, if these people really had talent, wouldn't they already be famous?"

"Yeah, I mean, if you're really great at something, someone will find you."

"Right. Except for me, though, whose talent is yet to be discovered."

Yesterday I read¬a blog post on¬This Is My Question¬which¬remarked on a CBS Sunday Morning story on blogging. I, sadly, failed to watch the show this past weekend, so I was happy to read about it, and even happier to read that, apparently, some people get offered jobs because of their blogs.¬ This is exactly what I'm getting at, guys. The piece also pointed out that most bloggers write to keep in touch with friends and family. All well and good, and I couldn't be happier that friends and family read this nonsense, except, of course, my own parents, who, no matter how much I plead and beg, will NOT read my blog. "Ohhhh," they say. "Your blog!" And in the background, I swear, I can hear them rooting around for last week's issue of the Sunday Washington Post. Something, anything, besides their daughter's attempts to practice her love of writing, which can be viewed, oh, you know,¬with the simple click of a mouse.

(Sidenote: if my parents, by some far reach of the imagination, are reading - Dad, the mouse is what you call the "sensor.")

Anyway, my point is, that, yeah - I like it when my friends and family get to catch up on the happenings of my life, but let's not kid ourselves, I'm in this for potential fame. Or at least a recurring column in The New Yorker. So, if you're a reader who's got a job for me in mind, especially if it involves writing one really excellent piece a week¬but spending the majority of my time keeping myself¬updated on the latest social and political trends by spending many hours in coffee shops in hip, metropolitan areas - please, don't be shy. I accept! We can discuss salary later over a glass of wine at some new popular place, ok? You buy the first round, and I'll write about it.

Television standards, low

References available upon request