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Dan Carlson
Los Angeles, California

I'm a twentysomething white male with ambitions to be a professional film critic and generally spend my days getting paid to watch movies and write about it. I try not to think too hard about how I want to build my life around talking about other people's creations and not mine. A compulsive reader and stubborn cineaste, I take an often contrary stance to my more fundamentalist peers and upbringing by celebrating the pursuit of the good, and the Good, in life, love, art and film. If you watched enough episodes of a few TV shows ("The Hungry and the Hunted," "The Cut Man Cometh," "The Body," "The Zeppo," "Waiting in the Wings," "Out of Gas," "April is the Cruelest Month," "20 Hours in America," "Colonial Day," "An Echolls Family Christmas," and "Look Who's Stalking," for starters), you would understand me completely, and you'd also realize that much of my worldview and philosophical insights are heavily influenced by fictional works/programs, and many of the good things I've said in my life are just a regurgitation of someone else's imaginings. I guess I was made to be a film critic.

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« Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix |Main| Review: Talk to Me »

July 18, 2007

Dammit, Willamette, I Love You

By Dan Carlson

So, today marks my first column for the Willamette Week. I'll be writing about TV, which makes me happy, since some of the best conversations I've ever had have been about season-long character arcs for people who don't exist. Anyway:

Click here for the column.

P.S. When I was a freshman in college, I stubbed my toe on the bookshelf (or something) in my dorm room, and uttered a barking "Dammit!" Immediately, my roommate said, "Janet," and then we turned to each other and sang "I love you" in a rough harmony. I don't even like that movie that much, but you have to admit, that's a pretty awesome moment.

P.P.S. My apologies to any residents of Willamette or the greater Portland area who don't like the fact that I don't actually live in Oregon. But I've been assured by my editors that the TV shows broadcast in Los Angeles are almost exactly the same as the ones shown in the Pacific Northwest, so I think everything will work out.

Comments: 14

Manny

*crickets*

Jul 18, 2007 4:20 PM

hmb

Congrats on the column! It sounds like you've been doing a crazy amount of writing lately.

And I'm so excited will potentially be in SA at the same time in December! Awesome!

Jul 18, 2007 5:20 PM

Brenda

I think you got what was wrong with Studio 60 exactly right. Sorkin's never been great at writing women, but the way it was publicly acknowledged that Harriet was based on his ex-girlfriend made the whole thing really creepy. (I'm thinking especially of the episode where seemingly every male member of the cast teams up to talk Harriet out of posing in a mens' magazine.) What's insane is that the Danny-Jordan romance turned out to be actually creepier. He stalked her! She's his boss! And then she gave her baby his last name! WTF.

Jul 18, 2007 7:31 PM

Bianca Reagan

I wrote a congratulatory comment on under your column on the Willamette website earlier today, but it disappeared. Did I do something wrong? :(

Jul 18, 2007 8:46 PM

Dan

Brenda: YES. That whole "I'm coming for you" speech he gave her wasn't romantic, it was terrifying. Since when does sounding like a really determined psychotic turn women on?

Bianca: I have no idea. Maybe it's because you're not from Portland. The website is awful picky like that.

Jul 18, 2007 10:01 PM

Constance

Congrats on the writing gig...even if you aren't from Portland!

I'm not overboard with the RHPS love but I do quite like the way Barry Bostwick sings:
"Here's a ring to prove that I'm no joker
There's three ways that love can grow
That's good, bad or mediocre
Oh J-A-N-E-T I love you so."

Jul 18, 2007 10:37 PM

Bianca Reagan

Oh, well, congratulations anyway!

Jul 19, 2007 6:56 AM

Seth L

You comminted a mortal sin for being from Texas, Dan.

Yes, I'm ashamed of Portland some times.

Jul 19, 2007 11:27 AM

Erik

Congratulations!

I just left Portland after about a year and a half living there. Loved the city, but wanted to return home.

Anyway, I used the read the WW every week and I loved it. I'm glad you've got a proper gig somewhere that deserves you.

Also, don't worry about Willamette itself, I'm not even sure if that exists as a real town anymore. But you should definitely check out Portland when you have a chance. Great people, great music, great beer.

Congratulations.

Jul 19, 2007 12:04 PM

Brian

Congrats - cool column

Interesting and unrelated side note: While looking through my company directory for someone's contact info (I work for a very large mutlinational bank) I found someone in London named Daniel Carlson. He has around 20 people reporting to him - so congrats on that job as well.

Jul 19, 2007 12:24 PM

Aaron Mesh

Bianca et al.:

Sorry about losing your comment. The Willamette Week website can be persnickity at times, but it has nothing to do with Portland's insularity. You're still welcome to drink our beer.

Jul 19, 2007 4:40 PM

Spender

Congratulations on the WW gig and thank you for a fantastic first column. Like you, I was passionately devoted to Sports Night; loved the West Wing ( and even applaud the final season for rising above what had become a bit of a mess) and had tremendous expectations for Studio 60. I appreciate the autopsy and hope that Sorkin has learned a valuable lesson about straying from what he does best.
Best of luck on the job and keep cranking out the excellent work, sir!

Jul 20, 2007 12:32 PM

Bianca Reagan

Aw, thanks, Aaron Mesh! I don't drink beer, but I'll still come hang out. :)

Jul 20, 2007 3:54 PM

JMW

Congrats on the new gig. And nice job on the maiden voyage...

Jul 21, 2007 12:59 PM

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