Buh-Bye Now

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 26, 2006 7:02PM

The Chicagoist offices are alive with the sounds of schadenfreude as we turn our attention to television’s biggest losers.

The first bit of news that had us chortling with glee was the mercy killing of that ersatz-Chicago Fox sitcom “Happy Hour,” which we ranted about last week and has been cancelled. Technically it’s only been put on “hiatus,” so it’s more life support than euthanasia. But we all know what that means. It’s the approximate equivalent of giving out your digits to someone Friday night, only have to have them tell you, “I’ll give you a call in November.” Sure, sure.

While we’re on the subject of losers, tune in to HBO tonight for the documentary “Wait ’Til Next Year: The Saga of the Chicago Cubs.” As HBO’s blurb reads: “The Chicago Cubs were the best team in baseball — almost a century ago.” We need not tell you their current standing. And yet, as no one tires of pointing out, the Cubs remain in the top ten of league attendance. Perhaps this documentary will offer up some answers why. The film starts at 9 p.m.

Our readers know that we try very, very hard not to tip our hands when it comes to displaying a Cubs/Sox preference. And if you believe that, we have a bridge in Brooklyn which might interest you. But in all fairness, now that the Sox are out of contention for the year, all Chicago baseball fans finally have something that brings us together. Misery, after all, loves company, and that's something we can all raise a glass to. Last one to the bar is a Packers fan!

"Cancelled" image: Schadenfreude.net

Thanks, Rob!