Kenny Powers’ Delusions

Kenny Powers is one hell of an American.  In many ways, he’s the embodiment of the country’s id.  Brash, staggeringly overconfident without any quantifiable success in years, he meanders through life on his own terms, knowing that he is the best no matter what gigantic flaws might be evident.  So evident, in fact, that it even cracks his put-on image just enough to legitimately affect him, but not enough to really affect the persona.  “Kenny Powers” is the big shot pitcher who won a world series by himself (just ask him about it) and has a god-given gift to throw the ball “faster than fuck.”  As we pick up with Kenny after he’s hit rock bottom–as evidenced by the shocking conclusion to the first season–where do we pick up our mulleted hero?  In Mexico, kinda doing the same ol’ shit.  And that’s sort of a problem.

Sir Ian McKellen’s Acting Lesson

This space was originally going to be devoted to the “9/11 Mosque” and Keith Olbermann’s editorial monologue aping Edward R. Murrow.  After a draft or two concerning how hateful a section of this country is becoming toward our new Muslim Overloads and how that truly terrifies me, I realized it had no place on a blog entitled “I’ll Never Get Tired Of…” when the whole thing fatigues me already.  It also made me obscenely depressed the deeper into the issue I got.

So in an effort to make myself not want to bang my head against the wall while weeping, I thought of Sir Ian McKellen, one of our finest actors, sharing with us the gift of his process on Ricky Gervais’s brilliant series Extras.  It truly is an honor to learn about the craft from someone as eloquent and experienced as Magneto is.  If you’re an aspiring actor or actress, heed his words; they are illuminating.

Have a great Friday, kids.  See you on Monday, where will discuss the shittiness of being in your 20s, straight from The New York Times.