Poop Shute

I have just had a wonderfully refreshing bit of perspective wash over me.

Whilst I was brushing my teeth I began going over the reviews of my current show in my head. One very favorable and two not-so-favorable.

As much as the great response we got Saturday night and the one VERY favorable review make the other two kind of insigificant, I have still been stewing a bit about them.

I began thinking about what those two critics said about me and about the show, and it occured to me that a lot of what they disliked was exactly what Ron was going for in his direction. Which means, we did our jobs, we conveyed the message and the story the way Ron wanted, and these guys saw it just that way, but they simply didn't enjoy it. It really seems to me that this is a positive reflection on all our work. It makes me feel validated that what I was striving so hard for was recognized, even if it was disliked.

Then a remarkable parallel popped into my head. What these guys essentially do is tell you what was bad about a show and give you their ideal directing version of it. Right? Whatever it is they didn't like is usually accompanied by a thinly-veiled suggestion of their preferred alternative. They'll say things like Moore yells too much and misses Ned Weeks' charm, or the show has so much to say, if only blah blah blah.

That is when it hit me. The job these guys do is as relevent and important as sports fans who do fantasy football leagues on the internet. Think about it. They give you their alternate, fantasy versions of how they would have directed it, or which actor was a bad choice for what role. It's like they get to coach an imaginary team from the safety of their offices, without fear of anyone not enjoying these fictitious plays they design for us. But if their opinions are so valid, and vital then why aren't they directing? I mean, surely they should be, right? I mean, if they have all the answers, why is the world keeping their great works buried under a quagmire of newsprint?

A conundrum for sure.

My friends have heard me say what I am about to say many many times. There is this old saying (that I hate) that goes "Those who can; do. Those who can't; teach."

Wrong.

The saying should be "Those who can; do. Those who can't; critique."