Dick Solomon is a god. An alien god.

I really mean John Lithgow, not Dick Solomon. And by god I really mean comic genius, which after a week of official couch potato-dom I am fully equipped to attest to. 3rd Rock from the Sun has prevented me from going crazy in my flu-ridden state. For years I had basically forgotten this gem existed, until channel-surfing last week I stumbled upon the Sci-Fi station. Just two minutes into one of the first ever episodes I was reminded why John Lithgow fully deserved his three Emmy’s. It’s one of the few examples of when overacting has worked; exaggeration is the name of the game for these four aliens who’ve been sent to earth in human form to study human behaviour.

 Of course, they themselves end up becoming humanised, forming relationships and attachments to their new planet. They make some shrewd observations along the way about the human need to bond, to feel important and to find a purpose.

 Alright, so pretending 3rd Rock is deep is a bit of a stretch, but this lazy, hazy week has taught me one thing about myself – I love being a goofy westerner. I love that we make these silly shows for no other reason than pure entertainment. Check out this clip of Dick’s brain malfunction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHjaHlex5ZY

 On my television travels this week I’ve also unearthed a largely unwatched treat called Carnivale, starring Nick Stahl (of Terminator 3 fame). I’ve only seen the first two episodes so far and already I’m mystified, hooked… and slightly put out. Just once I’d like to see religious people not portrayed by Hollywood as paranoid and psychotic. As though every person with a cross around their neck is pursued in dreams by Satan’s minions, just one psychotic religious experience away from trying to cleanse the great unwashed masses with a healthy dose of a) exorcism, b) a forced underwater-minute as a faux-baptism, or c) plague. (We’re due a good plague, right? First stop: the Playboy mansion.) Just once I’d like to see a normal-amount of religious conviction displayed in Hollywood, (but not more of the sickly sweet 7th Heaven).

 Next week I’m beginning to structure my Britican Perspective rather differently, and turning the focus mainly on to literature. I love to read, Calliope is about encouraging a love of literature, and I’d like to use my column as a place to rant and rave about what I’ve been reading. Next week I’ll be discussing a novel called Company of Liars, by Karen Maitland. Think of me as Calliope’s Oprah… 

I’d also like to encourage you all to send us a little piece about your favourite novel: how it has inspired you, what makes it your favourite, why you love it. Luigi Marchini has provided a written tribute to the author Raymond Chandler, in the Literature I Love section, and I for one am feeling encouraged to pick up a Chandler, and follow the investigative adventures of Philip Marlowe. The more we share, the greater our appreciation of all different types of literature may be!

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