Sick

I think I have the flu. I am tired and achy, and I keep coughing -- so I am spending the evening watching TV en lieu of anything more interesting.

I came home early from teaching today because of a very frustrating mix-up so I was able to see the entirety of New York: police judiciare (Law and Order). I've become quite a critic of voice-dubbing, and this show is an excellent example of good dubbing. You can tell when a TV show or a movie is dubbed well if you can listen to it (without watching) and still be able to follow the plot; it is essential to be able to distinguish each individual's voice. In addition, all of the actors with very distinctive voices have similar voices in the French version.

After New York: police judiciare comes Las Vegas, which depends so much on the unnatural prettiness of its characters that the plot is less important. After that is Cresus, a game show at such a low level that even I (barely speaking French) can answer the trivia questions. It is really not very entertaining and if I weren't sick, I would not bother to sit in front of the TV for this program, not even for the French practice.

Finally, I am now watching my favorite show on French TV, and it's going to sound incredibly silly! It's a game show called A prendre ou a laisser (Take it or leave it) where there is one contestant from each region of France and each is given a numbered and sealed box. The boxes contain from .01E to E100,000, or gag prizes like a windshield wiper, a crutch, or a baseball cap. One contestant is chosen to join the host and have the opportunity to win whatever is in his own box.

The game progresses as the contestant chooses which of the others' boxes to open, therefore eliminating possibilities of what is in his own box. At dramatic intervals (with dramatic music and sometimes a dramatic dimming of the lights) the 'bank' calls the host and offers the contestant a sum of money if he quits. Rarely does anyone quit, but people do talk at length about their families, hug the other contestants, kiss the other contestants, and cry.