Yes, but is it still worth watching?: That's the question some people may be asking about the HBO program Six Feet Under. After five years the show remains arguably one of the biggest shows with characters that make one want to jump through the tv screen and start strangling. The characters make poor choices, whine, revel in self-pity and depression and complain, complain, complain. Hmmm....sounds like some people we may know in real life. Having said that, however, the show remains one of the most sharp and well written shows on tv. It can still find humor and sadness in even the most mundane situation and with only three new episodes (ever) left, the show seems to have taken a page from the "I Can't Believe They Did That" book. One of the main characters has been killed off. With the name printed on the screen (a sign that the character has expired) now the rest of the characters must deal with the loss and face their own inadequacies. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out? I sure am.

Oscar video pick of the week: My video pick of the week (Oscar of course) is a film from 1931 starring Helen Hayes and a very young Robert Young (Marcus Welby himself). Hayes stars as Madelon Claudet in the film The Sin of Madelon Claudet. It starts out as a young and vibrant Hayes running away with her lover and from there she experiences abandonment, has a child, goes to prison, loses her child, meets her child, faces life on the street, "loses" her child again, and finally comes face to face with her son again. At times it's a bit much seeing all of the misfortune face Madelon, however, Hayes (in her film debut) is radiant, even as an old and haggard woman who has lived a hard life. Hayes was only 31 when she film the movie and the makeup is wonderful as is her performance. She won the Actress Oscar (the 5th woman to do so) and the film moves along at a brisk pace.

Until next time,

paul