Elizabeth Bennet (yes that Elizabeth Bennet)

For NaBloPoMo, BlogHer is providing Daily Prompts for those days when the muse isn't musing. I had a couple of ideas for today but nothing really gelled, and I've always liked using writing prompts, so I'll probably use them again.

Aaaaanywaaay...today's prompt is "Who Is Your Favorite Character of All Time?" OK, that's practically impossible, especially if you watch a lot of TV *and* read a lot. There are so many fantastic characters out there. There's Scout Finch - who is one rockin' little kid, there's Fanny Brice who was all  kinds of brassy and ballsy, Holly Golightly (the movie version), Lisbeth Salander who's a straight-up bad ass, Hermione Granger who needs no explanation, Annie Hall so effortlessly beautiful and boho-chic and cool, and so many others.

I managed to narrow it down to Jo March and Elizabeth Bennet. I like that Jo is a writer and so determined and disciplined about it. As you can see by my so far hardly inspiring attempts at NaBloPoMo, I am not Jo. She's stubborn, and a little rougher than I would like to think I am, but she's loyal to her family - even when Amy is at her most annoying and destructive.

But finally Elizabeth Bennet won out for me. I love that she doesn't put up with Darcy's crap, and that she doesn't seem particularly concerned about getting married - other than her marrying would be beneficial for the family. She isn't as brusque as Jo but is equally literate and outspoken. She loves her father and her father respects her more than his other daughters, because...can you blame him? We see her accept, with relative grace, Darcy's seeming indifference to her and we see her admit she was wrong in allowing herself to be temporarily charmed by Wickham. She too is tolerant of her family and loves them despite their flaws.

I'd like to be that way, that strong and smart and determined. But is anyone really that way? Do we need to turn to literature or movies or television to find all the different pieces needed to make a "you" that you like? Probably. That's what keeps us coming back for more.

Fall TV Season

Remember when Fall meant a bunch of new shows or the return of old favorites that had been on reruns throughout the summer? I used to love the "New Fall Season" issue of the TV Guide. Like this one from the 1972-1973 season:

They were longer than the regular TV Guide because they had a page introducing every new show as well as recaps and scoops on the returning shows. They also predicted which of the new show were going to do well. I was such a TV geek that I would save the fall issue until the end of the season and compare their predictions to how the favored shows did.

It's all different now. Shows debut and return throughout the year. There's a semblance of a fall season but, not really. Now there are at least three "new and returning show seasons" - Septemberish, Januaryish and Summerish. Not nearly as exciting. 

Yes we have many more channels, both cable and premium, and there are some fantastic shows - but I miss the three network season premieres. I miss the anticipation.