Yesterday Nerissa and I went to see the new movie 16 Blocks starring Bruce Willis and Mos Def. We loved it. It’s a fast-paced thriller with a positive message.
Bruce Willis, Mos Def, and Frank Nugent give command performances and Richard Donner makes the movie sing with action. I urge you to see it.
But that’s not why I’m writing this.
When we relaxed in front of the television last night, which is our norm before going to bed, we decided to watch an old re-run of Don Knotts as Barney Fife. We miss Don Knotts. Watching him on TV would be a bitter-sweet experience.
The Andy Griffith Show episode we watched was filmed in 1962. It was about Don Knotts/Barney entering a choir but not being able to sing a note.
Everyone knew Barn was a lousy singer except Barney himself. The thing is, no one wanted to break the news to Barney about his singing.
The entire show was about protecting Barney’s feelings.
Contrast that to the TV sit-coms of today. Most of them gain their “humor” by taking cheap shots at the other characters. The comedy comes from belittling or hurting others.
I couldn’t help but feel we need more wholesome shows based on love and respect, like the old Andy Griffith/Mayberry ones.
Since television is programming our minds, at least unconsciously, it is shaping who we become. It would help all of us if it offered better role models and behavior. Barney proves that it is possible.
The Bruce Willis movie 16 Blocks has positive character messages in it, so I know there’s hope for us, and for the media.
My assistant, Suzanne, saw the same movie on the same day we did. She asked me if I noticed what was on the side of the bus in the movie.
I hadn’t.
I was hoping it was an ad for my next book.
It wasn’t.
Instead, the bus ad conveyed something better:
“Send love.”
Exactly.
Ao Akua,
Joe
www.mrfire.com
PS – We miss you Barn.
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