Keith Padin, a Shelton man who works as director of marketing for Jones Family Farms, has a side hobby: Writing about television shows on his website TheTwoCents.com.
In the past four years, the site has gained 35 volunteer writers, thousands of readers and respect in the television journalism industry. (Read more about that here.)
So the Valley Indy decided to put Padin’s television knowledge and opinions to the test.
Padin recently sat down with Valley Indy reporter Jodie Mozdzer to talk “Dallas,” “The Office” and “The Wire.”
Editor’s Note: Mozdzer has not had cable since 2006. Eugene Driscoll compiled these questions, and Mozdzer awkwardly asked them during the interview.
Valley Indy: What is the best show on television right now?
Padin: The best show on television right now is probably “The Big Bang Theory.”
Valley Indy: Why?
Padin: It’s funny. The writing is incredible. And the actors are phenomenal. It’s a triple threat.
Valley Indy: WRONG. It’s “Treme.“ React.
Padin: (laughs) “Treme!” On HBO. So he’s going to be one of those people that feels the need to say it’s all the big network TV shows. “Treme” is a good show, if you like dark. People who like “The Wire“, people who like “Oz“ are going to like that.
I prefer comedy. And “Treme” is anything but a comedy.
Valley Indy: So you don’t like “The Wire?”
Padin: I do. I think it’s really great television. But if I’m going to watch something five episodes in a row, I’m going to put in five episodes of “The Big Bang Theory“ and not five episodes of “The Wire.”
Unless it’s “The West Wing.” Because that’s the greatest show of all time.
Valley Indy: Should Congress pass a law mandating that the only shows on television are ones created by David Simon?
Padin: No. Because he didn’t create “The Big Bang Theory.”
Valley Indy: Is your website approved by Oprah?
Padin: We tried. Actually, we have a good Oprah story. We were on a conference call with Tina Fey about “30 Rock.” And any time you’re on a conference call, each outlet gets one question.
Mike, my writer, asked Tina Fey, ‘Who would you love to have on the show?’ Because they’re always getting called out for having too many guest stars.
She said ‘I’d love for Oprah to play my best friend.’ Oprah heard about this conference, and was on the show within six months.
Valley Indy: As a result of the question you asked?
Padin: Yeah. So Oprah approved of our question.
Valley Indy: Ok. Quick. Who shot J.R.? Three, two, one . . .
Padin: No one. I didn’t watch it.
Valley Indy: You don’t know?
Padin: Bobby Ewing shot J.R. I don’t know. Sue Ellen?
Valley Indy: Kristin? The sister-in-law?
Padin: It’s coming back. “Dallas“ is coming back. They are re-making it. It’s not going to be good.
I knew Bobby ended up in a shower at the end.
Valley: Leno or Letterman?
Padin: Letterman.
Leno is, my friends and I refer to him as pandering. Letterman has a little more edge to him. Letterman won’t let his guests pull away with as much as stuff as Leno does.
Leno kind of lets his guests run it, and Letterman wants to be a part of the show.
Valley Indy: Kimmel or Fallon?
Padin: I like Fallon, because I like the skits. And I think he’s more the kind of humor I like. He giggles at everything. And Kimmel is more crass.
Valley Indy: What does Snooki smell like in person?
Padin: My guess is that she smells like Tabasco sauce.
Valley Indy: Have you met her?
Padin: No. We don’t really cover those reality shows. It’s one of the things I hate. The shows where they just follow people around and watch them live. I don’t mind competition shows. Those are fun to watch.
If you listen to the first episode of my podcast, I go crazy about those shows, like the Real Housewives, and whatever. Like you just follow these people around and watch them be annoying to each other?
Valley Indy: Not entertaining?
Padin: No. (And) I hope I never find out what Snooki really smells like.
Valley Indy: Who is your favorite “Bad Girl” from Oxygen’s “The Bad Girls Club?”
Padin: See that’s the shows I don’t watch. Eugene needs to find some better television. Put back on “Treme.” I have no idea, I’ve never watched that show.
Valley Indy: Here’s another Eugene question. Why is “The Wire” the greatest television show of all time?
Padin: There you go. “The Wire” is absolutely one of the greatest shows, but first of all, the obvious answer is that it follows around reporters in its final season. Come on.
Valley Indy: That’s why Eugene likes it so much?
Padin: Sure. And it’s in Baltimore, which is a great city. And the actors in it were wonderful.
It was a world that many people didn’t explore. It was dark. It didn’t have a problem going to places that people didn’t necessarily want to watch on TV. And it was riveting.
And it was the writing.
Everything stems from the writing. So if you have great writing and amazing characters . . .
Eugene is kind of close. It’s no West Wing, but it’s close.
Valley Indy: Is Colbert funnier than Jon Stewart?
Padin: Yes. Absolutely. Because Colbert knows he’s funnier than Jon Stewart. So he plays off of it. If the two of them got into a room and had to be funny over each other, Colbert would win.
Valley Indy: And finally, can “The Office” survive without Steve Carrell?
Padin: One more year.
Valley Indy: Do you think that’s because no one will watch it next year and it will fail?
Padin: I think they will probably have three to four episodes to prove if they can do it next year without Carrell. I think it depends on who their new boss is. If it’s James Spader, they have a chance.
If it’s Catherine Tate, who no one has ever heard of if you didn’t watch Doctor Who, I don’t think it can happen.
I don’t think it can happen if it’s just Dwight, or any of the other characters in there.
I think it needs three episodes for a new boss to work.
Valley Indy: Ok. You see, Eugene’s questions were better than mine.
Padin: They were good.
Thanks for the fun interview Jodie!