FOR THOSE OF YOU READY TO FLIP OFF MSNBC: For those of us who live in Blue America (or are Blue in Red America), I'd like to offer a few cultural recomendations for you to view for hope, heart, and thought in these next few trying days. (Or, honestly, for anyone who's trying to find answers about this election and hope for the future.)
The West Wing: Season 2--A much more hopeful and better version of what's airing on NBC right now. Particular attention should be paid to "In This White House," and "And It's Surely To Their Credit," featuring Emily Procter as fundamentally decent Republican pundit Ainsley Hayes, and the deeply moving "Shibboleth," which explains just how faith and religion can be Democratic values. It's a show that reminds us of what our government can be, and that inspires hope that maybe our government can be that good.
Pleasantville--This is an underappreciated gem from six years ago that's probably the best parable of tolerance, trust, and change of the past decade and one of the best films of the past decade to not be nominated for any major Oscars. Watch it and be reminded that even a small act of kindness and caring can have profoundly liberating effects for a community. And watch relative unknowns (at the time) like Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, and Jane Kaczmarek all deliver top-notch performances. Also, mourn original H!ITG J.T. Walsh, in his last performance.
Gilmore Girls: Season 1--The story of a dysfunctional family finding a way to put it together again, divided between the conservative parents and the daughter who ran away from home at 16 and her daughter. Leaving aside any political metaphors that there may or may not be hidden in the show, as Salon discusses, the family dynamic will have you laughing and crying. And the frequent town-meeting sequences restore faith in democracy. And despite TWOP's Pamie's dislike for it, this season's episode "Tippecanoe and Taylor Too!" is an eloquent tribute to the power of the democratic process (and how can you not like a show that uses puns about William Henry Harrison and features guest star Norman Mailer).
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou--Yes, I know it's not arriving in NY/LA until December 10, and not arriving in the rest of the country until Christmas Day, but it's advertising on places like Atrios, Political Animal, and This Modern World. Mind you, I'd be seeing it anyway, but that advertising makes me even more interested making sure I'm there opening weekend.
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