Iconoclasts

http://www.sundancechannel.com/feature/index.php?ixContent=8381

I am not a big fan of celebrity worship. I feel as though it dulls the mind and corrupts cultural development for one to sit for hours and bemuse the trifling stock of popular figures. It is hard to get away from, the endless hours of speculation on Anna Nicole and Britney. I try and watch current event channels but am always refused by the "top stories" or "breaking news." I think American television news is mocking its own viewers with the constant diet of rehab, DNA testing, and hyphenated name dating. The joke is on you if you pay attention, and sadly most of you do. All I am saying is think for a second and try something new.

It seems that good television is possible when centering around the private lives of celebrities. I was trying to watch some news to catch up on the world without having to surf the entire internet, a big time sports writer doesn't have the luxury of 6 hours to get unbiased print coverage via the gift from Al Gore. I got lucky remote surfing and stumbled across a show called Iconoclasts on Sundance Channel.

I knew the name Maya Angelou, and after watching Iconoclasts, I know I have missed out in not reading any of her work. The show is brilliant because it takes two popular figures from sports, entertainment, art, or literature and puts them together in one of their homes. What they talk about is so interesting that there is no need for 4 minute sound byte editing montages or trumped up situational settings. Most of the shows are two people talking about each other and themselves and what comes from that is....well, I can't really describe it. The only thing I can equate it to is having a conversation with a favorite long lost friend. Dave Chappelle came to visit Maya at her home in Winston Salem, N.C.

Some of the advice and thoughts that Maya gave to Dave throughout the conversation were powerful. An artist of the civil rights struggle and popular comedian...Now that I have started this, I can't finish. I apologize, but all I really wanted to do here was explain to you the internet that this is a great show and worthy of the DVR-Tivo season pass. I highly recommend watching the show with Maya Angelou. She had a bigger impact on me through that conversation with Dave than I can explain. It was that good.