Dream a Little Dream

So, being a product of my family, coupled with the fact that I live smack dab in the TMZ, it's really a foregone conclusion that my eyes might happen to partake of the occasional tabloid fare. As I outlined early on in my Buhlogic history, I feel it almost my local civic duty to keep tabs on the haps. My latest guilty pleasure revolves around "The Two Coreys" season two, on A&E. For the uninitiated (or those who won't fess up to knowing), the show centers around Corey's Feldman and Haim, two former teen superstars from the 80's, who's careers spiraled downward such that it was basically the template for every "E True Hollywood Story." All of the requisite cliches are present, so I needn't recap them specifically.

Anyway, I wasn't really feeling season one. It was a bit too canned for my tastes. "Let's put Haim in Feldman's house with his wife and let the hijinx ensue!" The first four episodes of season two on the other hand, I must admit, have piqued my interest. In a nutshell, the two Corey's are trying to salvage their friendship, while Haim simultaneously tries to resurrect his career. Add in the fact that Haim's apartment is spitting distance from where I live, and I'm all in.

I don't know if it's my "old" age, but I've definitely noticed a seismic shift in my outlook on this. Historically, Haim would be nothing but fodder for my snide, sarcastic barbs I'd spew to anyone within earshot. I find myself surprisingly compelled by his saga. He's clearly floundering, and rife with visible insecurities. But he's trying. The odds are stacked that he'll never remotely reclaim any type of a-list status again. He's much more likely to be on "The Surreal Life" than the Oscars. But he's trying. Having been around the block enough in my life, both creatively and just life in general, I have a healthy respect for the ongoing trial that life fundamentally is. As such, my days of cynical hating are largely over. I have respect for anyone that perseveres. Be it the greatest overlooked talent, or the most ridiculous half-wit, I ultimately have respect for anyone that keeps on trying. To try is the true challenge, not the results. To get back on the horse after getting dumped and bucked is the measure of someone.

And so I never thought I'd possibly say this, but I actually have some degree of a new respect for Corey Haim. In tonight's episode, he made an ill-fated attempt at a public reconciliation with all of Hollywood in the form of a full-page ad in Variety. Just not well thought out. But you know what, he tried. He tried foolishly, but he tried. And I hope that dopey sonofabitch keeps trying.