Have you seen this show? It is on HBO and is fantastic! The acting is superb, the direction is gritty, and the poignant staring is at an all-time high. I cannot stop watching.

I also have no idea what the f*ck is going on.

It’s as if someone threw a bunch of Skittles into some pudding, baked it for an hour, and then served it up calling it meatloaf. Crazy, makes no sense, but I would still eat it.

When I watch this show I feel like that annoying person in the movie theatre: “Why is that deer staring at him?” “I bet that is his wife.” “See! I told you it was his wife.”

What does this even mean????

Let’s break down why this show is my new TV crack:

1)      Acting. Okay, last time I saw Justin Theroux, he had hippie hair and was passing the gonge in Wanderlust. Looks like he found his “it” role because he is so real in this. Amy Brenneman – that chick hasn’t opened her mouth once in this show, and probably won’t. Her character is relegated to staring, frowning, looking confused, and poor penmanship to get her point across. She kicks ass in this show. Everyone else – all good actors. Not a weak link in the bunch. Maybe this series can loan one these thespians out to a Disney channel show. Their method of acting seems to be shouting.

2)      Intensity. Holy crap. Here’s what I walked away with after the first episode – I am never letting my daughter out of the house. Theroux’s character (a cop), has a teenage daughter. She goes to a party where they are playing Spin the Bottle, but with a phone. They spin the phone. Instead of just having to kiss when the arrow lands on a person, the phone app has such directions as “f*ck,” “kiss,” and “choke.” I didn’t get the choke part, and then was like “Oh – wait – ew – Oooooh.” If that’s what an innocent game of spin the bottle looks like now, I’m shoving my daughter into the cellar. Also, I downloaded the app.

3)      Storyline. Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta (who also co-created the series with Damon Lindelof for HBO), this show is a Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Apparently, three years ago there was a rapture-like incident in which two percent of the earth’s population inexplicably vanished. Including Gary Busey and Bonnie Raitt. The people in the show are the leftovers – hence the title. Sub-population: a group of quiet, chain-smoking, people dressed in mismatched white clothing. I don’t get them yet, but I am sure Tom Ford and the American Lung Association have a few things to say to them.

Lindelof and Perrotta. You people did this to me.

4)      Crazy Ass Characters. We have the white-wearing, non-talkers; some bald guy who shoots dogs; a shirtless Svengali who keeps young Asian women around and is a bit of hugger; and then a giggling, tree-chopping Liv Tyler. At one point I expected Cornelius from Planet of the Apes to come waltzing across the screen.

Crazy….good.

At any rate, if you don’t have HBO, go get it – now. Sundays will have a whole new meaning for you.

Then I’ll have somebody to call and ask why that guru guy keeps kissing people on the mouth.

Photos of Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, and group photo – courtesy of NYTimes.com.

Photo of Liv Tyler – courtesy of Zimbio.com.