Starting with "I Love Lucy," why has almost every long-running comedy show in American TV gone on a long trip? To boost the ratings. When things started sliding for the Beverly Hillbillies, even they went to England.
So, I come back from Italy -- high ratings, that is, high site traffic every day, new levels of it. Now, sadly, ratings are tumbling.
What to do, what to do?
Aha! I have it! Another trip.
Has anyone got any suggestions as to where I should go next time?
And have you got any suggestions as to how I'd pay for it? I suppose I'll have to sully my noncommercial purity with, oh I don't know, ads and such.
Hey, if it'll get me to Sicily or Barolo country...
And yes, this is a comedy show. It may not always be so funny, but it aspires to be.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | August 31, 2006 at 06:52 AM
sad thing is, that image of Lucy probably has done more harm to the Italian wine industry than we think. The picture of "Peasant Italians" making their "rustic wine"
Posted by: Alfonso Cevola | August 31, 2006 at 11:44 AM
I suggest you ask your accountant for a bigger discount!!
Posted by: Richard | August 31, 2006 at 01:53 PM
Alfonso, don't pick on Lucy! Lucy is sacred.
Anyhow, doesn't the grape-stomping thing sort of suggest artisanal, organic wines? I think so.
Richard, tell my lazy ass accountant to get creative AND give me a bigger discount.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | August 31, 2006 at 05:11 PM
Perhaps a bit too organic...
I am considering a trip to all of the local sagra del paese region by region.
Posted by: David | August 31, 2006 at 06:01 PM
So, David, you're going to spend the rest of your life there, without ever returning? How many sagre are there -- hundreds??
Can I tag along?
I'm having a hell of a time readjusting to life in the USA. A month in Italy and I'm ready to sing Domenico Modugno songs from morn till night! I guess I was ripe for a fall.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | August 31, 2006 at 06:07 PM
Hei guys! Aristide knows almost everything about sagras. I do not hesitate to dub him as the greatest sagra expert in Italy.
;-)
Posted by: Stefano Frega | September 01, 2006 at 08:28 AM
A trip that had been postponed is conveniently going to happen in the next week or so. I figure every year I can work it out to be on the trail from early September through the 10th of October.
Are you ready?
This will be a Val Cavallina and Franciacorta trip.
Posted by: David | September 01, 2006 at 10:53 AM
David, that sounds terrif. I envy you. You will no doubt stumble upon great but unsung wines, as I did in Abruzzo.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | September 01, 2006 at 06:47 PM