So ‘True Blood’ is trashy, it is also a Gothic Southern tale of a world where vampires are ‘out’, fighting for their rights and interacting with a set of dysfunctional town folk in the deep south of America, along with their attachments to religion, drink and small minds. This HBO show based on a set of novels, takes its own interpretation of vampire mythology and introduces the town of Bon Temps, Louisana, its inhabitants and a murder mystery. Central to the story, though apart for much of the series are brother and sister, Sookie and Jason Stackhouse. Sookie, portrayed by Anna Paquin, in what is a much travelled trip to TV for an established movie actor, is the most notable name amongst the cast of ’seen them somewhere before’ actors. Sookie, unique in her own way, falls for the vampire, who comes with much baggage, while Jason seems primarily concerned with being naked for most of his time on screen and soon develops an addiction to vampire blood, a prime example of the atypical take the show brings to real world events. Surrounding them are a mix of characters, caught up in very real problems each laced with supernatural elements.

The show is dripping in sensuality with the characters southern drawls and not unattractive physiques, and the cast are all excellent, no one coming across as having any reservations and giving a strange weightiness to what could be bizarre storylines, which could alienate a more mainstream audience. Supernatural events occur, are not overly explained and we are asked to take then on board as a matter of fact in these peoples lives as much as the fact their parents may be alcoholics or their bosses may secretly love them. The show shamelessly aims for drama, with each episode ending on a cliff-hanger; there is almost an exploitive approach to how episodes are constructed, but the paceful, humorous and again trashy vibe keeps you gripped. Its a proper calibre of guilty pleasure.

Season 1 is airing on FX at the moment and coming to 3E shortly and Season 2 is receiving high praise, which is against the mould for a TV series normally. There are some bum notes to Season 1, including an anti-climactic season finale, but True Blood is a smart unique take on a conventional drama series, with characters, fang bangers and a who-dunnit to tap into our instinctive watching interests.

Last night, Season 1, Episode 5, ‘Jack-tor’ and I realised it was at this point ‘30 Rock’ hit its stride and produced the magic formula of multiple storylines, Star Wars gags, the characters at their bizarre best and beautiful pay offs. Drilling down further into the minutae of the episode, there was an inspired video reel of Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghey being filmed for a 3 minute promo to advocate including brands in TV shows, and the emerging reality it took 2 days to film this clip and the spiralling ludicrousness of how fazed he is by acting to camera and the upset the TGS crew feel considering he is to appear on live TV the following weekend. There is not a single joke to witness but instead tickling humour pouring off the screen from Alec Baldwin, not cracking a single joke but a machine gun of wit, slapstick and characterisation. The character interaction and exchanges are absolute dynamite. The battles to steady the behaviour of my hero Tracy Jordan, the outstandingly unique chemistry between Tina Feys Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghey and even the insecurities of the least likeable character Jenna Maroney, who is made all the more likeable for being called to stage with Ghost Face Killah to perform a song called ‘Muffin Top’ which has gone to No. 1 in Israel make this a character comedy show rather than a situational one. Characters to date, have stayed so tue to themselves, layered and silly, never a cliche, never made to do things out of character. I always remember an early episode of ‘Friends’ where Phoebe claims she never lies, the subsequent 9 series saw her in situations where she constructed lies almost every week becuse of the situation the writers put the now caricatured Phoebe in. Three series in and there is no sign of such slips in ‘30 Rock’. Here’s hoping they look to a plentiful source for their inspiration at ‘30 Rock’

Certainly, the context matters, but the assault of jokes from the characters and the one-liners come on a steady stream so that you may need to re-watch episodes to make sure you catch them all. To see these people interact devoid of a plot would be wonderous viewing if its own. A Season 3 episode, titled ‘Larry King’, may quite possibly be the key to saving me from every bad situation I get into for the rest of my life. What worked with this episode for me was the genius that was Tracy Jordan, financial analyst as his visit to Larry King, improbable enough as it was, turned into a session wherein Tracy told America to panic, recited the plot to Teen Wolf, explained that he was shooting for two weeks on Rush Hour before being replaced by Jackie Chan, and in perhaps his finest moment warning American to prepare for the thunderdome

6. Jack and Norma Arnold

All American, demanding father, doting mother.

5. Cliff and Claire Huxtable

Large family, huge ratings, both with professions.

4. Charles and Caroline Ingalls

Hard working, inspired popular fiction, parents to 5 children.

3. Biddy and Miley

Strong woman, put upon man, daughters refer to father by first name. Irish.

2. Bryan Mills

Vengeful. Do not kidnap this mans daughter.

1. Morticia and Gomez Addams

Deeply loving couple, keep children out of sun light, gothic.

6. On Ambition

Knowing where to set the parameters on how much you aim for in life is fundamental to feeling satisfied. We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to words of wisdom with this man.

“You tried your best and you failed miserably, the lesson is, never try”

Homer J. Simpson (The Simpsons, ‘Burns’ Heir’)

5. Laying Blame

To know how to deflect blame is key for never taking account. The quote below comes from a group of parents, wishing to blame a 3rd party rather than look to their parenting decisions when their children misbehave.

“Blame Canada”

Parents of South Park (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut)

4. Forgiveness

Who better to look to for advice on forgiveness than an embittered ex.

“Some people say forgive and forget. Nah, I don’t know. I say forget about forgiving and just accept – and get the hell out of town”

Debi Newberry (Grosse Pointe Blank)

3. Disposing of a corpse

Professionals in discussion

Brick Top: “You’re always gonna have problems lifting a body in one piece. Apparently the best thing to do is cut up a corpse into six pieces and pile it all together”.
Sol: “Would someone mind telling me, who are ya?”
Brick Top: “And when you got your six pieces, you gotta get rid of them, because it’s no good leaving it in the deep freeze for your mum to discover, now is it? Then I hear the best thing to do is feed them to pigs. You got to starve the pigs for a few days, then the sight of a chopped-up body will look like curry to a pisshead. You gotta shave the heads of your victims, and pull the teeth out for the sake of the piggies’ digestion. You could do this afterwards, of course, but you don’t want to go sievin’ through pig shit, now do you? They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, “as greedy as a pig”.”

Brick Top in conversation with Sol (‘Snatch‘)

2. On what other people think

This moment of honesty between two brothers, caught up in a drama surrounding orchid poaching and writers block is movie dialogue magic.

Charlie Kaufman: “There was this time in high school. I was watching you out the library window. You were talking to Sarah Marsh.”
Donald Kaufman: “Oh, God. I was so in love with her.”
Charlie Kaufman: “I know. And you were flirting with her. And she was being really sweet to you.”
Donald Kaufman: “I remember that.”
Charlie Kaufman: “Then, when you walked away, she started making fun of you with Kim Canetti. And it was like they were laughing at *me*. You didn’t know at all. You seemed so happy.”
Donald Kaufman: “I knew. I heard them.”
Charlie Kaufman: “How come you looked so happy?”
Donald Kaufman: “I loved Sarah, Charles. It was mine, that love. I owned it. Even Sarah didn’t have the right to take it away. I can love whoever I want.”
Charlie Kaufman: “But she thought you were pathetic.”
Donald Kaufman: “That was her business, not mine. You are what you love, not what loves you. That’s what I decided a long time ago.”
Donald Kaufman: “Whats up?”
Charlie Kaufman: “Thank you.”
Donald Kaufman: “For what?”

Charlie Kaufman in conversation with Donald Kaufman (‘Adaptation‘)

1. On making a comeback

The clip below offers a catch-all, every situation retort, that should be a standard in your repetoire of come backs.

“So’s your face”

(Dr. John Dorian, ‘Scrubs‘)