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  Good News 2007: a short list of what went right

All in One Box: It was the best of times and the worst of times for television in 2007. In the minus column were celebrity sycophant shows like TMZ TV, the frighteningly early news coverage of the presidential horse race and the dozens of reality shows about creepy, shallow, loudmouthed dumbkopfs. In the plus column was the final season of the Sopranos, The War, Ken Burns’ WWII documentary, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, Bill Moyers Journal, Thirty Rock, Extras and HBO’s moving drama, The Wire. The 2007 season of The Wire centered on the lives of four inner-city kids in Baltimore who were, in the main, crushed by the failing system. The story was by turns, Oliver-twisted, riveting and heartbreaking. The final season, which begins in January ‘08, promises to be just as compelling with its look at the death of the newspaper industry and journalism as we know it.

The Internets: With YouTube mounting videos of most of television’s highlights, in addition to the unique content posted by users, this site has become the bridge between the old tube and the new. Lawsuits aside, soon we will get as many “moving pictures” from our computer as we do from TV. And, so far, the process is pretty egalitarian. Let’s make sure that Congress keeps it that way and upholds Net Neutrality. Write your government representatives often.

Dinner at the Lodge: Like many of the old National Parks lodges, Bryce Canyon Lodge in Utah was taken over by Xanterra Parks and Resorts. When visiting these old lodges, it seems clear that Xanterra may be preserving the infrastructure of the buildings, but the company has clearly not bothered to hire designers who can make the experience of going inside the historic buildings as aesthetically pleasing as visiting the areas they inhabit. The Bryce Canyon Lodge, built in the 1920s, is a prime example. While it looks solid enough on the outside — and the individual log cabins one can rent in the surrounding woods are as cute as Disney cottages, with their irregular, handmade shingles, and woodsy front porches — the common area inside the main lodge is unappealing. It is dreary, filled with junk and makes one feel as if they were paying first-tier prices for third-rate accommodations — which they are. The dining room, however, which is the only decent place to eat within 50 miles of the canyon, still retains much of its old-time charm. The wood-beamed ceiling is high. The lighting fixtures, encircled with a pattern of pine trees, are charming. The stone fireplace is radiates comfort. And the food and service are truly good. But Xanterra, please hire a professional and get a makeover for these park properties to preserve our nation heritage with beauty and dignity. I think those Queer Eye guys are looking for work.

Leaders of the Ailing Free World: Not only do we only have one year left in the reign of the worst president of all time (you know who I mean), but we have the first viable female and black candidates running for the his job. It’s a shame they have to run against each other, and against several white male candidates in their own party — men who are also great choices. But progress isn’t necessarily orderly. There is so much more good here than not.

C’mon Get Happy: Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, an out gay man, made a ballsy move when he recreated the legendary 1961 Judy Garland concert at Carnegie Hall. The Garland comeback concert, which is considered by those who like that kind of thing, to be one of the greatest nights in show business history, had previously only been accessible to fans in the form of a live album, recorded the night of the show. But when Wainwright took to the stage, more than four decades later, and sang every song, in order and backed by a 40-piece orchestra playing the original Nelson Riddle arrangements, he infused the Garland legend with unexpected new life. And he did it all without wearing drag. After New York, he took his homage tour on the road to London and Paris and finally finished in Los Angeles, playing to an adoring crowd at the Hollywood Bowl. The sheer audacity of flying his fag flag that high in the face of straight America, not to mention daring to emulate an icon of Garland’s stature in the gay world, was awe-inspiring. As if that’s wasn’t enough, Lorna Luft sang, too.

Speaking of Re-creating Albums: In 2007, Lucinda Williams played six nights of concerts at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles. On each night she sang the songs from one of her records. Fans of the singer could buy tickets with the confidence that they would get to hear their favorites tunes. With recorded music now being sold by the song, the concept of albums of songs being ordered and organized for our listening pleasure by the artist is just about dead. This singing-the-whole-album-live thing is an appealing antidote. Let’s have more of it.

JANUARY 4, 2008 ©Suzanne Rush 2008.

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