"How Would You Like One Right Across Your Lip?"

"I feel the big one coming on....I'm coming to join you Elizabeth honey....." or "I would try and help you son but my arthritis is acting up today......" And so goes the master of black comedy, Redd Foxx, as he works his craft. He was a comic genius and by most accounts a pain in the ass to deal with when it came to dealing with studio execs and people of that ilk. But he was generous to a fault for those who needed his help, primarily struggling black actors who just needed parts to pay the bills.

Redd Foxx was foul mouthed and profane to a fault but he was also a very very funny man, You will never laugh harder than a classically written Sanford and Son episode. When I bought the exhorbantly priced Wild Wild West boxed set, the complete Sanford and Son episodes were available at less than half the price and well worth every penny,

Redd Foxx lived a life far beyond his means. He died owing the IRS millions in back taxes. On the other hand, co-star Demond Wilson has spend decades brining the word of God to inner city convicts. Who lived the better life when all was said and done?

Is the Big Bang Theory The Best Show on Network TV?

Is The Big Bang Theory the best show on network TV currently? I can give a pretty short answer - Yes it is. And it comes down to the fact that this is a show with ALL the tools. Excellent writing; great actors who understand their characters and how they relate to the ensemble; actors who genuinely seem to like each other; the list is endless and it ends up being the best situational comedy since Seinfeld. And where Seinfeld was a show who prided itself on nothing, The Big Bang Theory is show that has an opinion on everything, Ivve seen every episode at least 5 times and for some of them that still isn't enough viewing. I'm a self confessed Big Bang Theory junkie, And like most junkies, it started on a whim then built to a full on addiction to a great, great, show.

Boxed Sets And The Wild Wild West

There's an episode in the great popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond where Ray as a young boy was ovlivious to the fact his parents had split up beceause he was recovering from a broken arm and was entranced by episodes of The Wild Wild West TV show.  Since my father in law came to leave with us, I have to admit we have watched a lot of TV together including some recent favorites like Everybody Loves Raymod, The Big Bang Theory, The Kind of Queens, and Seifeld. We DVR most of these shows to avoid commercials because when you pushing 80, the last people you want to hear from is an insurance company or a pill manufacturer. And so my father in law and I have moved into Boxed Sets of classic TV shows (and movies).

And wouldn't you know it, our first boxed set was the for the complete four year run of The Wild Wild West. No - the production values aren't up to 21 century standards, the dialog is kind of hokey, and the plot lines well, at least they tried some things original.  But I have to stay after close to finishing 3 seasons of shows, both my father in law and I have enjoyed the show immensely and well worth the 70 bucks or so.

It was a common complaint that the DVDs would stick in the players and we certainly had that problem as well. Problem was solved when we bought a new blu-ray player (even though the series is in DVD format). No sticking whatsoever now. The nice outer package contains just a horrible inside collection of discs loosley bouncing off each other. Remove the discs and put them in sleeves in a more convient plastic storage box. The impressive box is a nice showpiece.

Enjoy The Wild Wild West.  Way better than that Mel Gibson / Wil Smith nonsense of a movie