Shot In The Dark: It Takes An Idea

April 13, 2006

It Takes An Idea

Margaret Martin notes a TV show that my daughter hooked me on:

My latest guilty pleasure is a show on the discovery channel called It Takes a Thief. It features two guys, supposedly once burglars who served time and now one’s a security expert and the other is a school teacher. (I wonder if he got his record expunged or the school district he’s in doesn’t do any criminal background checks?) Anyhow, these two guys (along with a camera crew) convince a homeowner to allow them to try to break into their house and if they succeed, to give them a bunch of new security equiptment, including an alarm system, locks and other stuff. The homeowners usually admit that their homes have security flaws but have some combination of beliefs that (a) they could kick any robber’s ass, should one try to get in the house, (b) the knife they keep in a nightstand will help them fend off robbers, (c) Fido will protect them (d) the neighbors will call the police.

Once the homeowner signs on, the fun begins.

The show is fascinating.

And it gets the old noggin' turning. Which of my old vices could I turn into a lucrative Discovery Channel gig?

It Takes A Guitar Player - Former guitar geek rates your band, gives you gear to help your band suck less.
It Takes A Club DJ - Former club jock rates your bar by sampling your top-rail stock and hitting on your female customers.
It Takes A Divorced Guy - Mitch will sit around your house (breakfast and dinner, please) and critique you and your spouse's relationship

I'm liking this...

Posted by Mitch at April 13, 2006 06:51 AM | TrackBack

Comments

You forgot It Takes A Blogger - Amatuer socio-political commenter advises organizations on the viability of their cause/movement (gets free plane trips).

Posted by: Kermit at April 13, 2006 08:12 AM

CourtTV for the last year or two has also had a fantastic (very late night) show called "Takedown," where former con artists are hired by casinos to try to break their security, rig a game, and/or otherwise get away with a lot of the casino's money illegitimately. It's extremely entertaining, though I have no idea what it's doing on CourtTV.

Posted by: Beeeej at April 13, 2006 12:13 PM

How about, "It Takes a Failure". A failed businessman with a rich daddy decides to run for Governor of a large State and later, for President. He gets a brilliant yet evil strategist to run his campaign and the audience gets to watch as the failure screws up over and over he blames everyone but himself for the problems he creates.

Posted by: Doug at April 13, 2006 12:32 PM

Who is responsible for your problems, Doug? Why do you compulsively display your problems here every day? You need help.

Posted by: Max at April 13, 2006 12:44 PM

How about "It takes a Bitter Monomaniac?" Years after being humiliated by "the dumb guy" twice, bitter, monomaniacal fellow won't stop spouting long-discredited conspiracy theories about the winner. Tries to advise people about how nation shoudl be run. People laugh at him.

Posted by: Stu at April 13, 2006 12:45 PM

Max said,

"Who is responsible for your problems, Doug?"

Well, the only real problems I'm dealing with are weeds popping up in the garden. And, I admit it... I'm responsible for not getting out there and pulling them...

"Why do you compulsively display your problems here every day?"

I've never mentioned the weeds before. It's too shameful and I feel just awful about it.

"You need help."

Got a gallon of Roundup?

Posted by: Doug at April 13, 2006 01:02 PM

Stu said,

"Years after being humiliated by "the dumb guy""

Hmmm... I just met kermit this year and he's never really humiliated me... Not that he hasn't tried...

Posted by: Doug at April 13, 2006 01:04 PM

Doug, Stu is right. You are one sad, bitter little clerk.

Posted by: Kermit at April 13, 2006 01:09 PM

Doug is showing us the insightful criticism of administration policy that he hopes will lead his party to victory in 2006 & beyond.

Posted by: Terry at April 13, 2006 02:34 PM

Kermit said,

Doug, Stu is right. You are one sad, bitter little clerk.

Awww... You hurt my feelings Kermit. And I thought we were getting along so well...

And just last week you had me at assistant manager. Why the demotion?

Posted by: Doug at April 13, 2006 11:31 PM

How about "It Takes a Saint Paul Liberal"?In it DFLers from Mac-Groveland, Highland Park and St. Anthony Park support silly, unenforceable and expensive programs. They'll then complain about their property taxes going through the roof or about how they support said programs, just not in THEIR neighborhood. Oh wait, that already happens everyday...

Posted by: Just Me at April 14, 2006 06:55 AM

It wasn't an attack, Doug. It was sympathy and compassion.

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