Neat idea

For longer than I'd like to disclose, I've had a very distinct idea of myself as John-Lennon-type house husband, raising a rugrat whilst the wife goes off and adds to the investment portfolio or what have you. The child in question would not be made aware of color television until he or she was at least ten; in the meantime, he or she would be schooled in the classics. "Today," I imagine myself saying to the toddler, "we'll check out Bresson's Diary of a Country Priest, adapted from the novel by Georges Bernanos." I believe that my articulation of this fantasy is one of the several reasons that...well, never mind. I'm not a dad myself, surprise, but if I was one, I'd check out TCM's summer series "Essentials, Jr.," which has been airing all summer at eight on Sunday nights, unbenownst to me until now.Tonight, ambitiously enough, they're showing the 1939 The Hunchback of Notre Dame, starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara. And one doesn't have to be a dad to appreciate the fact that funny fellow Bill Hader, a friend of this blog and a genuine cinephile, is the series host, a cool and apt gig for the multi-talented man, so I'll be tuning in to check him out, at least. The web page for the series is here; a splendid series of Sunday nights seems guaranteed for all.