You can't run from American politics, but can you hide?

Television

Come hide with me down under. I've discovered a slice of it in New Zealand, on Acorn TV. There's room for you too.

Look, life sucks, especially during a presidential election year. Especially during this presidential election year. We're struggling to cobble together some rational basis to vote for one or the other of the two worst candidates in history. Forget about the fringe candidates. Their quixotic runs are doomed. Like me, I bet you've made up your mind and it's time to get away from the fanatics who actually believe that either candidate is God's answers to our problems.

Forget American TV. The writers and producers as well as the actors are well-indoctrinated and every story is laced with political propaganda. All the new shows this season are a bust. Even our old favorites (with the possible exception of Blue Bloods) are wearing thin. Take a look at Acorn TV.

What's Acorn TV? It's a vehicle for the best in British, Australian, and New Zealand productions, and 800 Words is one of its best new offerings.
​
800 Words is the story of a widower who drags his kids from their home in Australia to a small town at the arse end of the world in New Zealand, in hopes of renewing their life. It's full of quirky characters and even the worst among them, a devious realtor, is likable in a perverse sort of way.

The story reminds me of one of my favorite books, Raising a Riot, about an American correspondent who returns from the Korea War to find his wife gone and left him with three children to raise. He retreats to a dilapidated vacation getaway home on a back creek of the Chesapeake Bay where he can herd them while he attempts to write the great American novel. He has to learn to cook to feed his brood as well as his father and an odd collection of handymen who are attempting to sort out the various deficiencies in the lodgings. I could almost use the same description for 800 Words. However, instead of three young children, our hero in this story has two teenagers. Instead of a father and a collection of handymen, we have one carpenter who would rather surf than hammer a new addition onto the house.

And what is the real talent of a widower? The ability to attract women. Although still mourning, our hero is the target of several candidates. (Forgive me. Did I say candidates? Damn, I broke the spell.)

That being as it may, 800 Words has nothing to do with politics, American politics, and that is recommendation enough, don't you think?