The Oscars versus the Super Bowl

Add caption

The Super Bowl and the Oscars, the two biggest television events of the year--bigger than the World Series final game, apparently bigger than Election Night viewing.  So which one wins?

Viewership:  Definitely the Super Bowl

Commercials:  Again, the Super Bowl

Fashion:  Definitely the Oscars

Close-ups of celebrities:  Again, the Oscars

Hype:  Probably a tie

A football fan all my life, I love the Super Bowl.  The tension is higher because you never know who's going to walk off with the Lombardi trophy.  Who thought, after the first half, that the Patriots would stage the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.  Oh, the drama.

These days there are so many pre-Oscar award shows that some of the excitement is missing because you sort of know ahead of time who will probably win.  Of course, we can still focus on whether Jimmie Kimmel will out-host Jimmy Fallon, host of the Golden Globes, whose teleprompter didn't work.  Will there be more political speeches or will we just hear a list of thank-you's?  Will Trump tweet during the show or will he wait until tomorrow morning?  Who will be best and worst dressed?

(Football players are all dressed alike except for color--boring.)

To tell the truth, I love both events, so I'm looking forward to tonight as much as I looked forward to the Super Bowl earlier this month.

Note from the trail:  As far as I know, Tom Brady's jersey is still missing.  Approximate value of this piece of Patriot history:  $500,000.

Keep looking, Texas Rangers!

Quotes for the Week: Bookstores

"Alas!  When is human nature so weak as in a bookstore?"
                         Henry Ward Beecher

"When I visit a new bookstore, I demand cleanliness, computer monitors and rigorous alphabetization.  When I visit a second-hand bookstore, I prefer indifferent housekeeping, sleeping cats and sufficient organizational chaos to fuel my fantasies."
                          Anne Fadiman

"There is nothing like the smell of a bookstore.  If you ask me, it's actually a combination of smells:  part library, part new-book smell and part expectation for what you might find."
                           Kathryn Fitzmaurice

"Even an ice cream parlor--a definite advantage--the sorrow I feel for a town lacking a bookstore."
                          Natalie Goldberg

"I love bookstores.  A bookstore is one of the only pieces of physical evidence we have that people are still thinking."
                          Jerry Seinfeld

Super Bowl LI

I love football.  I grew up in Austin, Texas so I guess it's genetic. I love football on any Sunday but especially on Super Sunday. All the hype, the introduction of the players, the National Anthem--it's an American tradition and I love to watch the game.  Of course, this year was special because the game was in Houston.  The city had been getting ready for, it seems like a century.  Everything was spruced up and set to go.

The temporary building that holds 9,000 people was ready for Taylor Swift's performance.  Oh, excuse me--not quite ready.  They didn't have an occupancy permit for the building until Wednesday night.  Imagine if they'd had to cancel the show.

I loved seeing the joy on George H.W. Bush's face when he was wheeled onto the field to do the coin toss.  Barbara was on the field, too, and looked equally happy.  You know the Bushes love football.  He was barely out of the hospital, but he was determined to be there for the game.

Of course the Patriots won even though they were 25 points down at the half.  I thought it was time for a new team to win and was rooting for Atlanta, but, alas, Tom Brady was his usual self and the Patriots won in overtime.  Maybe next year, Falcon fans.

Lady Gaga was amazing.  Who else can move like that?  The halftime show was one of the best I've seen.  Of course, Houston's last Super Bowl featured Janet Jackson and her wardrobe malfunction, so I guess in its own way it was more memorable.

And who doesn't love the commercials?  My favorites were Coca Cola and the secret society of avocado lovers.

Added note:  Someone stole Tom Brady's game shirt.  The Houston police are investigating, but Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has also sent out the Texas Rangers.  Be very afraid, Jersey Thief.