There’s no way that today’s post could be about anything other than nine oh.  Can you believe the first people I watched this show with referred to it as BH9? And this was in a pre-DS9 world, people! 9-0 is definitely my verbal shorthand of choice.

And of all guilty pleasure TV, this is my top choice. I loved Saved by the Bell as much as the next loser, but 9-0 took things to another level. The sleepover episode was the first one I saw, and I saw it 3 times just randomly flipping channels and ended up watching the rest of the episode each time.  Upon retrospect, I did get hooked in with a particularly good episode - but contrast 9-0 with any other show starring child actors at the time and it’s miles apart.

9-0 was ridiculous, no doubt. But it wasn’t entirely frivolous. They addressed some real issues and sometimes they got it right.  And sometimes they had David Silver averting an outbreak of gang violence through his use of the “Squash It” technique.

But there were some themes that ran through the show.  And some were really important positive messages about acceptance and forgiveness.There were also the ones about how the Minnesota kids, while better people, would never end up belonging or winning the affections of Dylan and Kelly, who were predestined to be together and when it comes down to it sort of deserve each other.  Which isn’t necessarily aspirational, but is perhaps an honest reflection of real-world circumstances. And if you look at the character arc of Steve Sanders - the guy who is just the worst in high school and really becomes a responsible stand-up guy and in truth the only character who seems both true-to-life and sympathetic - it’s just, wow. I could write papers on this show and I’m sure others have.  It’s rife with material to dissect and discuss and its reflection of American culture over 10 years is pretty astounding when you think about it.

I’m only going to spend time reviewing things I love, and one of those things is Wednesday night trivia at Bull McCabe’s.  I’ve been faithfully attending for about a year, maybe a little longer. Trivia is like a little weekend in the middle of the week. 

It’s a reason to get together with friends and coworkers and share a drink or 3.

It’s great for introverts like me. Questions provide something to focus on. Brings the socially awkward together in a way that can reward our nerdiness. 

Diversity is actually rewarded.

After being in a kid-friendly work environment all day, the competition for best team name provides a welcome relief. Winning names are typically a combination of sexual & topical. We’ve gotten it 3 times, but I’m most proud of one I came up with the week of the volcano shutting down air traffic worldwide: Finally White people need to learn about being ashy.