Jen, I'm quite sure I Love Loosely Lucy reruns are out there someplace, along with reruns of Gilligan's Island. In which case, I am moved to ask: is the TV support group you mentioned something like a twelve-step program?

Seriously, though . . . Barbara and I have long been followers a lot of stuff on PBS, like Masterpiece Theatre and Mystery. The Brits do that sort of thing so well. Lately, however, we've noted that some American-made TV shows come pretty darned close to the standard the Brits set. Not many, but every now and then. And the occasional series, such as Northern Exposure, achieves a pretty high level. You have to be really selective though. Hallmark Hall of Fame productions are consistently good.

There are some episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (rerun on TNN, sometimes several episodes in an evening) that are really top drawer, rising well above the level of space opera to become excellent science fiction in particular and good drama in general. I think my favorite episode is "The Measure of a Man," wherein a cybernetics expert from Star Fleet wants to requisition Data, dismantle "it," figure out what makes "it" tick, and attempt to make a bunch of duplicates. Data refuses, and is then told that since he is a machine—the property of Star Fleet—he can't refuse. The matter goes before Star Fleet's Judge Advocate General (JAG). The hearing gets into such questions as "what is life?" and "what is consciousness?" with an uncomfortable reference to "manufacturing a race of disposable people." Heavy stuff. Courtroom drama in a science fiction setting. Irresistible!

Just a thought. . . .

Don Firth