Loose Ends
Parody’s End
Hoping to exploit the popularity of World War I and influenza pandemics, HBO promoted “Parade’s End” as the intelligent “Downton Abbey.” It wasn’t even an intelligible version. A better comparison would be that “Parade’s End” is the British “Burns and Allen”: Madcap wife dismays husband and Empire.
There are only a few minor interpolations. Just imagine that George has Asperger’s Syndrome, Gracie is sleeping with the entire membership of the Hillcrest Country Club, and the club’s golf course is the Battle of the Somme.
The Bread of Affliction
A.D. 30: When given the choice between flogging and crucifixion or a week of matzoh, Jesus proved that He wasn’t a masochist. Hoping to sleep in, He did place a wake-up call for a week later. The problem is that eternity can be off by a few days. Confronted with three more days of unleavened misery, Jesus must have quipped “the Jews are trying to kill me.” Unfortunately, the remark was taken out of context.
A.D. 2013: In what seemed to be a suicide attempt, my lunch was peanut butter on matzoh. The asphyxiation was not irreversible; I merely required a tracheotomy with a jackhammer.
p.s. From the Archives: https://finermanworks.com/your_rda_of_irony/2006/12/23/the-greatest-story-ever-miscast/
Hey Eugene! Nice post. You and I share a love of Downton Abbey and a hate for matzah. This far, I have eaten fewer than two full pieces, using rice, vegetables and fish instead. I love the holiday, but not the matzah.
Thanks Betsy. In Texas you might be able to substitute tortillas for matzoh. What is the local Haggadah? The Hebrews were undocumented workers who self-deported themselves?
Hee hee–I’d love to spend holidaze watching reruns with you–altho my knowledge may not be so keen, we’d still be LOAO.