Morning TV

I just sat down and watched my first episode of "SpongeBob Squarepants" as I read the morning paper and ate breakfast. A very funny, and stupid, show. The stupidity is intentional, though, and that makes all the difference between it being a bad show and a good one. This is a show that knows what level it's at, and knows what it wants the audience to get. It makes no pretension of being something it is not. Put together, that makes it a pretty good show. I didn't happen to catch one of the episodes that is the reason I'm watching this show, so I'll probably end up watching more. I guess until I see Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy for myself...

And now for a rapid review:

SpongeBob Squarepants: Big Pink Loser: This episode was one of those examples of someone being incredibly patient with a person who needed a friend... at least, for the first few minutes. I thought I was watching an after-school special as SpongeBob helped his friend Patrick learn how to open a jar. After that, the action gets more slapstick as Patrick mimicks SpongeBob, and I couldn't figure out how it would end. All-in-all, very amusing. 3 starfish.

SpongeBob Squarepants: Bubble Buddy: This was a cringe-o-rama for me, as I watched it thinking, "How can SpongeBob possibly pull this trick on all these people?" The twist at the end was unexpected, but the last line made this episode. 4 starfish.

According to the episode guides, if they are showing the eps in order, tomorrow's should be a Mermaid Man episode.

And, time for another rapid review before I bolt for work:

The Witch and the Jackal #1: I've already related how I ended up purchasing this issue, now I'll tell you what I think. I like the characters, and I like the storyline. I've always been a sucker for fantasy settings, and this is a new one for me. The artwork is not "there" yet, although the artist has a fantastic grasp of storytelling, which is one of the hardest bits of comic book creation to master. My biggest complaint with the artwork is the preponderance of square-jawed men. Until I see more issues, I won't be able to know if that's a valid nit or not. But it's definitely worth a look for anyone who is into fantasy stories, and I feel that this will only get better as it goes along. 3 1/2 starfish.

To check out a free preview, go to The Witch and the Jackal Web Site.