TV Update: Friends and Mets

Over the years, I enjoyed various shows in syndication and it often was a matter of them being on at midnight (Star Trek, years back, with baseball at times pre-empting it; Dharma and Greg, Rules of Engagement, The Closer on Sunday nights etc.).  [To toss in an aside, since a key character is played by someone on All Rise, I'm going to try China Beach again.]

The latest was Friends and as perhaps a sort of book-end purchased Friends ... 'til the End: The One With All Ten Years by David Wild. For the $5 or so it cost me used, a worthwhile purchase.  The cover price is $24.95, which probably is appropriate too for what amounts to a coffee table book. But, it is an example of good book to get used for a fraction of that price. 

It is not comprehensive but summarizes each season with a list of episodes, interviews each friend as well as the big three producers/writers, has two more quick interviews (including Janice), a bunch of photos and comments from a range of supporting/guest stars etc.  On the comprehensive front, for instance, the third season summary and photos barely reference an important Chandler/Janice relationship subplot (I liked them together).  But, there is a good amount of stuff there.

One suggestion: when people talk about "such and such," ask for an example.  How was scripts edited on the fly? What sort of things that don't sound like jokes did Lisa Kudrow make funny?  But, it often seems that I read articles and other stuff, and feel wanting more. And, I think the "Friends make people get over 9/11" thing was overdone a tad. 

My copy was originally a present for a fifteen year old. 

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Jarred Kelenic, a leading Mets prospect that was traded to the Mariners in the Cano (remember him?) and Diaz (doing well this year) deal, got his major league debut. Started off 0-4 but then hit a homer. Teams do that regularly -- they trade key prospects for a "win now" attitude. Diaz was seen as a top closer, though he had some growing pains. Cano was the real dubious move given his age, contact and history. Good luck -- the Mariners need some. 

Matt Harvey recently started versus the Mets too; he didn't do well though overall is doing decent for the Orioles after years of post-Mets struggles. Good luck to him and his team.  It was too bad that he didn't do well -- he did have a good first inning -- though he received a nice reception at Citifield. 

Update: Just heard on the Mets broadcast that the team is not close (says Gary Cohen) to the 85% threshold for the vaccination requirement to avoid wearing masks. I was wondering why they all were wearing masks at this point.  Weeks back, the player rep used the standard line that it was a "personal decision," which is sorta bullshit since it has group effects.