Repeat Offender

As I begin sharing some of the inner workings of “me” I think it’s important to get something off my chest, cleared up and out in the open as soon as possible. In the interest of full disclosure and in the hopes of being interesting I figured I should start off by sharing a something that really haunts me. It’s a huge issue that I’ve struggled with for years, I find it very hard to control and it literally keeps me up at night…I am a “Law & Order” junkie. I go back and forth between the word fanatic and junkie because they both could easily apply. I am basically speaking about the original L&O – although I can be satisfied and get enjoyment out of SVU, and in a pinch Criminal Intent – but it’s the one that started it all that still pulls me in like a tractor beam. I have seen every episode, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is the fact that I will watch an episode I’ve seen again, and again and AGAIN! I will stay up too late or I will be late to wherever I’m going to watch the end of an episode when I already know the outcome! I am at the level where I can tell you the plot line based on the opening scene and the random conversation of two unsuspecting people that are either about to discover a body, get hit by a stray bullet or find a foot floating by. And by the time Briscoe delivers his first witty one-liner and that oh-so familiar theme music starts, I can give you the plot twist about the daughter and her teacher that won’t even come up for another 30 minutes. And yet, I will still watch it. And I will love it.

When I break down my affliction I come up with 2 things. First if of all – it is a phenomenal show! The writing is first rate. They respectfully and tastefully bring the natural dialogue of police officers and officers of the court to us in a smart and realistic way. I loved NYPD Blue but between their overdone New York accents, crazy “cop speak”, and long winded moralistic monologues sometimes I didn’t know what the hell they were trying to say. L&O’s plots twists, the whole “ripped from the headlines” theme and the drama of the on-going human struggle to find justice makes for great stories. Secondly, it’s the perfect hour of television. Everything you need to know happens inside of 60 minutes. You could’ve been in exile, fallen from Mars or never have watched an episode of television before in your life but if you are there from minute one you can find the same enjoyment in that show that I do – it’s equal opportunity entertainment! No back story required, no “on last weeks episode” needed and no reason for anyone to feel left out. What more could you ask for?!

So I will watch the same episode over and over – but am I crazy or am I super smart? I know I will not be disappointed with my L&O hour of television. I really love to watch all kinds of TV but when I give my valuable time to a show and it doesn’t deliver I get pissed. Aren’t we watching television with the hopes and unspoken promise that we will be entertained? A lot of shows don’t live up to their end of the deal and L&O will not let me down. It’s the same thing when you watch a movie over and over again. Who hasn’t seen the “The Godfather” a million times, and yet when you are flipping channels and it comes on you put down the remote and you watch it. You start thinking about your favorite lines or your favorite scenes and you get that warm fuzzy Corleone feeling inside. It may not be a new rush but it’s a great high nonetheless.

So I’m not giving my L&O addiction up. I’ll admit it, I’ll blog about, and I may even go to some support groups but I have no desire to rehabilitate myself. Hello, my name is Nikki D and I am an L&O Repeat Offender.