You're standing on my neck

Back before YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and even MySpace, the best was for teens to show their disillusionment and share their angst with the world (besides dying their hair, piercing their faces and tattooing a picture of the Sex Pistols on their forearms) was to gather around this glowing box called television. And leading the charge for the misanthropic everywhere was the original bespectacled, combat boot wearing Misery Chick, Daria Morgendorffer. While shows like “My So-Called Life,” brought the raw emotion of being a teen in the 90s into sharp focus, “Daria” shone a light on the absurd. Her weapons of choice were sarcasm and smarts. So, naturally, she was one of my heroes. And now, finally, she’s also mine to own. “Daria: The Complete Animated Series” came out on DVD today. I was lucky enough to score an advance copy. The show stands up just as well today as when it went off the air eight years ago. So now my fondest hope is that a whole new generation of too smart to fit in, too sarcastic to care fans is born and can revel in the collected wit and wisdom of Daria. La la la la la. La la la la la.

UPDATE: Yes, 99 percent of the music has changed because of copyright issues. But, to be honest, it isn't that glaring. And the witty dialog hasn't changed one bit.

You’re standing on my neck

This just might be my favorite screenshot in the history of ever. That’s right, your eyes do not deceive. “Daria” is FINALLY coming to DVD next year. This news makes me happier than a herd of beautiful wild ponies running free across the plains. That I loved Daria with all of my misanthropic soul goes without saying. Smart snarky gals in combat boots? Be. Still. My. Heart. The show was an oasis of cynicism for the misery chick in all of us. She pointed out the absurd, the superficial, the hypocritical in that delicious dead-pan. I watched and rewatched until I could rewatch no more because it had disappeared from the TV landscape altogether. But now, a full seven years after the show left the air, comes news that we can continue having low esteem for everyone else together.

Oh, and Daria and Jane totally hooked up when they got to college. Don’t even pretend that’s not just stone cold fact. You think they picked Iowa or Vermont to tie the knot?

[Image via deviantART.]

Uma, Rorschach. Rorschach, Uma.

INT. PSYCHIATRIST’S OFFICE - DAY.

THE SHRINK PEERS OVER DARK-RIMMED GLASSES AND PICKS UP A PIECE OF PAPER. SHE HAD A CHEESY THICK EASTERN-EUROPEAN ACCENT BECAUSE, HECK, WHY NOT?

SHRINK
I vant you to look carevully at dis image. Look deeply, let your eyes vander, let your mind relax. Now, vat do you see?

SNARKER
Uhm, a herd of beautiful wild ponies running free across the plains?

SHRINK
(tersely)
Vell, if you’re not going to take dis seriously, I’m not sure vhy ve are here. Let us try again. Ja. So, vat do you see?

SNARKER
Uhm, Uma Thurman looking at a herd of beautiful wild ponies running free across the plains?

FADE TO BLACK.

The End.

What? I don’t test well. But, really, after looking at Uma’s photoshoot for AnOther magazine, how could you not think Rorschach inkblot test?

Also, what’s the deal with the butterflies? Seriously, they’re starting to freak me out. Now I really do need a shrink.

p.s. Bonus points if you get the “wild ponies” reference. Seriously, we might have to start going steady.

UPDATE: Wow, you are all now officially my girlfriends. Well, except for Ida. We’re just going to keep doing our hot, steamy RSS-action thing on the side. p.s. Jane and Daria were totally doing it. At least, in my head they were.

My Weekend Crush

All this focus on the 12th letter of the alphabet (and more coming tomorrow) got me thinking about other TV shows I’ve slavishly watched in the recent past. There was Buffy, of course, and Sex and the City. My So-Called Life and Wonderfalls (all four aired episodes, thank you box sets). And then, there was Daria. That Daria Morgendorffer. She was smart, dark and snarky before snarky was cool. Plus, did anyone else secretly wish she would hook up with Jane? Daria was the show’s alienated, sarcastic, misanthropic, combat-boot wearing heart. Some called her The Misery Chick, I called her a role model. And, for those keeping score at home, I realize I’ve picked two fictional characters in a row as My Weekend Crush. What can I say, reality is overrated. Happy weekend, all.