Missing "The Old Man"

 I used to enjoy watching Pawn Stars on television. Now, I would rather set my crotch on fire than watch that show. Why? Because without Richard Harrison Sr. or "The Old Man", as he was known, the show just sucks. It's just a fairy tale with bad actors. Is "Chum Lee" really that stupid? Is Rick really that arrogant? Is "Big Hoss" really that dull and lifeless? Without "The Old Man" to provide balance, watching that show is like watching the Democratic Party's National Convention.

Is it just Pawn Stars that I am whining about? Of course not, I am talking about lots of shows and groups. When Barney Fife (Don Knotts) left the Andy Griffith Show, the show was over. They hung on for a few more seasons, but it was never the same again. Here in North Carolina, many stations still show Andy Griffith reruns, but they never show the episodes after Barney left. The magic was gone. The chemistry that made that show work was finished. Time to move on!

I enjoyed American Pickers on the poorly named "History Channel". In my "stuff for sale" business, I considered that show to be something like a Continuing Education Program. Not that there was any realism in their prices, but the odd items always fascinated me. Without the diminutive Frank Fritz and his atrocious grammar and destruction of the English language, the show sucks as badly as Pawn Stars. I don't think that Mike and his butt licking brother Robbie can carry the show. As far as a "reality" show, if I open my door and a woman who looks like Danielle is standing there, I am slamming that door closed. Bring back Frank Fritz or make a living actually selling that crap they buy.

Tim Allen in Last Man Standing is now officially pathetic. The doofus imitation Mandy, the little Asian girl, and the new, improved(?) Kyle have taken the show to the depths of mediocrity. Kyle now appears to have spent the last two years bicycling through Denver as some kind of missionary. Watching Last Man Standing leaves me longing for "Swamp People". 

The Democratic Party is in the throes of a similar situation. They have a handful of normal adults in the party who are being overruled by the "progressives" who are hellbent on self-destruction. They are hanging on the edge of a cliff taunting Joe Manchin to kick them over the edge. If Manchin leaves the Democratic Party, they will be the "Pawn Stars" of political parties.

I ran a restaurant in Greensboro for twenty-one years. Ten years ago, the owner sold the business to one of his sons. He went off to run another restaurant that he owned, and I left to do anything that didn't involve working for his kid. For the last ten years, I have run into old customers who want to talk about the old restaurant. They almost all say the same thing, "It's just not the same."  

So, what's the message here? It is simple, the personalities of the characters are what determines the success or failure of all kinds of enterprises. Whether you are cooking pancakes, buying old stuff, or simply trying to entertain people, it is all about chemistry and human interaction in order to achieve success. Somebody has to be different from the others.

If you don't believe me, ask MSNBC or CNN about their ratings. They have spent the last six years attacking Donald Trump. Memo to the major media groups: Trump is no longer President. Without Trump to kick around, the networks are ratings skydivers freefalling to see who will hit the ground first. The only survival hope for MSNBC and CNN is that they have to get Trump reelected. Okay, maybe they can get Joe Manchin to switch parties.

As Joe Biden says,

Let's Go Brandon!!