TV

The Office and The Quest For A Happy Ending

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

The-Office-the-office-556868_1024_683

Not every story gets a happy ending.

After 8 years and nearly 200 episodes, I’m worried “The Office” will become one of those stories.

After dismissing the show when it first premiered as yet another soulless remake of a British series, I fell in love with the Dunder Mifflin drones through DVD  marathons of the first 3 seasons.

My friends and I watched and rewatched Jim’s slow and subtle courtship of Pam, Michael’s tasteless jokes, and Dwight’s beet-loving eccentricities over beach trips and long afternoons when we should have been studying instead.

Now with the finale airing tonight on at 8 PM on NBC, “The Office” comes to the end of its story. For diehard fans, this comes with disappointment and with relief. Continue reading →

30 Rock and The Two Things You Need To Succeed

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30 Rock“30 Rock” should have been cancelled after six episodes.

The odds were against it from the start. Most people remember “30 Rock” debuted during the same season and on the same network as another show set behind the scenes of a fictional sketch comedy series, “Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip”.

“Studio 60” was a big budget drama from the mind of “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin and featured one of the biggest tv stars of the past decade in Matthew Perry.

It was the centerpiece of NBC’s fall lineup that season. If any show was going to succeed that season, it was “Studio 60″.

It lasted 22 episodes.

7 years and 138 episodes later “30 Rock” took its final bow, running laps around the competition and being hailed as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time in reviews like this one.

How did that happen? And how can you find the same level of success?

By not being afraid to make a change. And by being on a network with a lot of grace to give. Continue reading →

The Importance Of Being Ernest P. Worrell

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(Click Here if you can’t see the video above.)

Ernest P. Worrell may be the most earnest man in the world.

Yes, he’s always interrupting Vern at the most inopportune times, causing chaos along the way. But he’s just trying to help.

Ernest is easily inspired with awe for the wonderful deals and products he discovers. He wants Vern to share in these blessings.

Be as earnest as Ernest today. Don’t be afraid to interrupt someone’s life with a surprise blessing. And try not to close your life off to the Ernests who bring cheer into your day.

An interruption of blessing is not an interruption. It’s an intervention – a rescue mission to recover the possibilities of the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice in that day with the spirit of Ernest. Know what I mean?

Happy Friday.

How To Find A Hidden Immunity Idol

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malcolm-freberg-survivor-caramoanThe immunity idol.

The only way to secure yourself another day in the game of Survivor.

Win an immunity challenge and you hold the idol until the next Tribal Council.

You cannot be voted out. You are safe.

A few seasons ago, Survivor producers tweaked the game by throwing in the wrench of the Hidden Immunity Idol.

Now players could use clues and search around camps for secret idols buried in the sand which could grant them safety.

The hidden immunity idols have grown in importance (and frequency) in recent seasons, creating unmatched excitement as players scramble for the extra edge it provides. The idols have dramatically altered this season in Caramoan, giving us some of the best moments as Malcolm both saved and cursed himself with his idol behavior.

What makes Survivor the greatest reality show of all time is that it reflects and reveals truths in our own lives. We’re all searching for immunity idols. We all look for ways to stay alive a little longer. Continue reading →

The Chopped Recipe For Success

/ Alex Doriot / Leave a comment

CHOPPED_Ep4I’m not a foodie, but I love the Food Network show “Chopped”. Like as in the stay up until two in the morning marathon watching random episodes on a Tuesday night kind of love.

What I love about “Chopped” isn’t so much the actual cooking. Don’t get me wrong – it’s really fun to see top chefs try to brainstorm an appetizer using goat cheese and fruit roll ups in just 20 minutes. But if I just wanted to see people cook random and ridiculous items, I’d watch Epic Meal Time on Youtube.

What I love about “Chopped” is the honesty of the judges. I really think the judges are the most honest in all of reality television. Continue reading →

Everything Is Amazing And Nobody Is Happy

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(Click Here if you can’t see the video above.)

Where has the joy gone in our lives? We live in a most incredible time, and yet we find ourselves complaining and worked up over the most menial problems.

The technology we have in this time is beyond incredible. Yet, as Louis C.K. perfectly puts it, if our phones take a minute while going to space we become ungrateful brats. The miracle of flying through the air has become an incredible burden.DSC_0068

Think about this: if all the “things” in your life were taken away, all of your possessions, everything you have, even all the people you love, would you be able to be joyful? Would you still be grateful?

God has called us to be joyful always. But how? How can we exhibit joy in all situations? Continue reading →

Truth In Advertising

/ Alex Doriot / 3 Comments
Don-Draper-2The reason you haven’t felt it is because it doesn’t exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me to sell nylons. – Don Draper

On “Mad Men”, Don Draper is the embodiment of confidence. He is the master of the main goal of advertising – making the public believe they simply cannot live without what he is selling. Advertising, at it’s best, points out what the audience needs. The right advertisement can make you think buying a bar of soap will change your life. What Don Draper does on “Mad Men” every week is nothing new. In fact, the principles of advertising can be traced all the way back to the Bible. Continue reading →

The Two Things Ron Swanson Hates Most

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

There’s only one thing Ron Swanson hates more than liars: skim milk.photo-16

Don’t lie about what you are today. Be the person God created you to be. Embrace your quirks and your flaws. Quit trying to be something you’re not. You have a savior who loves you just the way you are. In fact He made you that way.

Don’t be like skim milk.

Happy Friday.

The Trick To Ignoring The Masters

/ Alex Doriot / 2 Comments

IMG_4033The Augusta National Golf Tournament, better known as The Masters, begins today. My hometown of Augusta, GA has been overtaken by golf fans from across the world.

But there are some who don’t care about the Green Jacket at all. If you’re one of them, you know it will be hard to get away from Masters chatter. You won’t be able to ignore the coverage on ESPN and CBS all weekend. Talk of Tiger Woods will surely take over your Twitter feed.

If however you simply can’t stand golf and need to know the trick to ignoring The Masters, I have the answer for you:

Live in Augusta.

Really. Continue reading →

Fozzie Bear and The Power of Persistence

/ Alex Doriot / 1 Comment

Fozzie Bear believes in the power of persistence.

He’s an old-school Vaudeville comedian. He believes in his jokes, and he pushes them through to the punchline no matter how many stops and starts he faces along the way from frogs who don’t understand comedic timing.

Fozzie believes in his act. He commits to it with his entire furry self.

Whatever opposition you face this Friday, be persistent. Commit to your cause. And do it with a Muppet-like smile.

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