That’s My Story

Italians barely had enough patience to deal with me butchering names of pastries I was attempting to order. So I am not sure what makes MTV executives think that they will be accepting of the “Jersey Shore” bunch.
One of my co-workers broke the news to me that the cast would be heading the land of my ancestors to film a season of the show. Really?
My first question is where are they going to send them. In theory, since none of them speak Italian or appear to have the brain capacity to learn, they would have to send them to a city that is Americanized. From what my sister, who lived there for a semester, tells me is Rome is a pretty Americanized area. So maybe they can party with the pope.
Yes tourists can get by in most areas, but it isn’t easy. There are British menus that are numbered for ordering in restaurants and language choices at the train stations. But based on the ignorance of Italian culture the cast already displays I am not sure if they will make it.
I have to admit that I watched one episode and decided the show was trash. The majority of my “Shore” exposure  now comes from “The Soup” and another co-worker who loves the show. To demonstrate how this show is ruining Italian-American culture I had to explain to my co-worker that a “guido” is actually a slang term for lower-class or working-class Italian Americans. Apparently the show teaches future generations that a “guido” is some sort of muscle-head tanned idiot you pick up at the beach.
Please MTV reconsider. Don’t let them make a mockery of Americans in another country. It is bad enough you guys put them on TV and let them do it here.

… Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? …
The memorable Jim Mora quote was referring to a question whether the 4 and 6 Colts could make the playoffs in 2001.
Hopefully he won’t mind if I borrow the quote.
I enjoy football and look forward to watching close games played by competitive teams. The AFC delivers the NFC – not so much. The divisional match-ups left me thinking “you kidding me.”
I would have bet money that the match-up between the No. 1 seeded Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers would have been an intense, close game. My math skills are not the best# – but 48 to 21 is not a close game.
Aaron Rogers, who fantasy football quarterback had only five incomplete passes. Matt Ryan, who was close to perfect the entire season threw two interceptions, one that returned for a touchdown. It looked like a strong team was manhandling a less experienced team. Similar to when the Steelers played the Bengals this season.
The Falcons became the second bird to fall last weekend.
My hopes were not as high for the Bears/Seahawks game since I concluded that the Seattle upset of New Orleans was a product of the Madden Curse. But again these are supposed to be the best teams in their division. But Hassleback made a late comeback scoring 21 points to bring the score to 35 to 24.
In my opinion playoff games should keep you on the edge of your seat even if your team is at home playing Madden.
While the Jets/New England game was one-sided for a bit, it was a close game with high intensity and some questionable celebration.
I don’t have the answer and I am not sure if I support re-seeding. But please NFC teams try bringing your A-game to the table.

Well it looks like the Madden curse has struck again.
Drew Brees will be the first quarterback to lose to a less than .500 team in the playoffs.
It looked as if this year the curse was broken. Yes Brees lost a few key players throughout the season but they looked solid going into the playoffs on a wildcard bid.
Once it was announced that the Saints would face the Seahawks it sounded like the Saints could be marching toward a second Super Bowl run.
But someone must have given the trumpet to the Seahawks.
The team most said didn’t even deserve a chance at the playoffs were marching up and down the field. While the game was close the Seahawks looked like a playoff team, not a team with a losing record.
Drew may have breezed through the season without injury, but to lose is such a historic way a bum knee may have been a better way to go down.
But at least Peyton Manning will have someone to play Madden with Feb. 6.
And, on a personal note, I hope Tom Brady, Mark Sanchez and Joe Flacco join them.

Check out http://onourtown.com/michelleganassi/2010/09/09/will-the-curse-continue/ for my original Madden curse blog.

For years I have counted down the end of year with Dick Clark‚Äôs New Year’s Rockin‚Äô Eve. But I think it is time for Clark to hand over the reins.
In 2004 Clark suffered a stroke. He took a year off from his gig then returned in 2005 and now co-hosts with the over-exposed Ryan Seacrest. (Apparently Seacrest wasn’t getting enough exposure from his Idol gig, E! job and radio show.)
I am not trying to be disrespectful but watching Clark on the show is painful. You can barely understand what he is saying. It is a shame that such a figure in television and radio now sits at a table and says a few words here and there.
Clark had a wonderful run, but maybe it is time for him to step back. You can still call it Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and maybe have him in studio as a producer they cut away to once and a while. But it is time for him to give up being on camera.
Also, on the program they had that trashy singer who thinks it is cool to have a $ in her name. They should also have a rule that performers must wear pants. Not sure where she forgot hers but it is New Year’s Eve in New York, it is cold. Pants are important.
(I welcome any comments, suggestions and criticism at michelleg@dailyamerican.com)