An Open Letter To The Kings of Leon

Dear Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew,

How are you? I feel like we've been out of touch for a while. Maybe it's because you're so busy selling out stadiums all over the world, or maybe it's because I haven't been listening. Either way, we haven't heard from each other. Can I be honest? I miss you guys. But not the you of today. Remember when you looked like this:




No fancy haircuts, no stylists, just a family band recording in their garage whose mom (or aunt in Matthew's case) would tailor their pants for them because they weren't tight enough. Remember those guys? Caleb, I couldn't understand what you were singing, but I knew that you meant every word. Now, instead of songs about beating people up ("Four Kicks" from the wonderful Aha Shake Heartbreak), you're writing about needing people ("Use Somebody," pandering set to music if ever I've heard it). Where's my beloved bad ass band?

I've been to two of your shows, 2005 and 2007 at the Ryman. You were rowdy, reckless and rocking. People got into fights in front of me, everyone was dancing, and the crowd loved you. Now, I understand that it's hard to write raw, emotion-filled songs when your life is so perfect. You're seeing beautiful women, making boatloads of money and getting tons of radio play. And that's wonderful. I've always wanted for you to succeed. However, I wish you could stay a bit truer to your roots. This last album was too slick, too arena-friendly. It sounded like a producer worked it over, and that's not who you are. Everyone is comparing you to U2...is that what you want?

So, here's my advice. Tell your people to go on vacation. Sit in the studio and make music, not for the radio or the concerts but for your fans. Remember us? The fans who've known and loved you for eight years? We loved you when your hair was a mess and your jeans were a bit too tapered. Can we be friends again?

I'll always consider myself a fan, boys. I'm not fair weather, and, I get it, you've got to go mainstream. But, please, don't wait to return to your roots. They're waiting for you on "True Love Way."

Come home soon, Kings.


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Gone Before Their Time: TV Shows Canceled Too Soon

We're nearing the time when we find out what shows will stay on and which will be kicked off the air. What with all of the Charlie Sheen wizarding/tiger blood/winning -- duh drama and looming permanent demise of Two and a Half Men (a show I have never, ever liked), I couldn't help but think about shows I've truly loved and lost.

Of course, Gilmore Girls is the first I think of. An innocent bystander of contracting disagreements between the studio and creator/writer/producer/genius Amy Sherman Palladino, the seventh season of the show, without Palladino at the helm, felt just wrong. Lorelai married Christopher? Rory didn't get a job with The New York Times? Things didn't get back on track until the last two or three episodes, but the damage was irreparably done to a wonderful story. I have friends who won't recognize the final season as legitimate, and, try as I might, I can't be satisfied with its ending. I'd love to know how Palladino would have wrapped things up, but, alas, I guess we'll never know. Perhaps Luke and Lorelai are married with a baby or two and Rory is working at some fabulous paper or magazine in New York, but, unless there's a movie, I'll never be sure.

Another victim of TV politics, Pushing Daisies, the story of magical piemaker Ned and his charming girlfriend Chuck , was cruelly canceled in its second season after the writer's strike in 2007-8. It came back once things were resolved, but the fledgling show couldn't regain any momentum. It was a lovely quirky story: boy meets girl, girl dies, boy brings her back to life with one touch but can never touch her again, boy and girl solve crimes. If Tim Burton wanted to do CSI: Romeo and Juliet with Julia Child as an executive producer, their show would have been Pushing Daisies. There was some closure to the final episode, but I would prefer to still be basking in the warm, sweet world of Ned and Chuck instead of having stale slices of seasons on Netflix. Oh well.

A more recent show to meet the ax is The Good Guys on FOX. It was a throwback to 1970s buddy cop movies, and I loved each goofy episode. Unfortunately, viewers did not. It was a Friday night show, the kiss of death for most programs, and, as most freshman series are wont to do, it was at times inconsistent. But the acting was great, and who doesn't love a mustachioed renegade cop and his straight-laced partner? I'll miss you, Good Guys, even if I hardly knew ye.

The Grim Reaper of TV is at times unpredictable, ignoring a show's popularity or age. A series can last for 10 seasons or 10 episodes and still come to an end. Here's hoping my favorites have a long and healthy run. And as for Two and a Half Men? I'd rather stay tuned for Jon Cryer's next project...Pretty in Pink 2 please?