Chaos Under The Big Top: The College Years
-Sex, Drugs, and Midterms-
Exclusive Interview with
Creator / Writer / Protagonist
Mr. JiMBO Esquire
SEASON TWO
After a long-winded, unwieldy first season, I decided to make my journal even more like a TV show by sticking to a certain set of universal themes and doing it in less than 30 episodes. I intentionally wrote the Season 1 finale as a 2-part cliffhanger so the second part (Powerless) was the Season 2 premiere. Right after the Snow Ball: Masquerade for Relief, I devoted the majority of the other episodes to the overarching themes of love, romance, and sex. Not until this season had I written an explicit account of sexual gratification; I wanted to remind everyone that I'm still a man with needs who needs satisfaction. That episode served that exact purpose because it's the only sexual encounter I even mention. With this season, my intention was to break down all of the emotional walls and let everyone know how honest I'm willing to be with them. Of all the seasons I've written so far, I am most proud of Season 2--every episode is well-written and laced with intrigue.SEASON TWO THEME SONG: Sex Is Not The Enemy - Garbage
ALTERNATE THEME SONG: Bloodsport - The Sneaker Pimps
AWARDS: Honored as "The Best Of LiveJournal" (2006) by LJTop
FAVORITE EPISODES: Boys Don't Cry, Heels, Cake, and Booze, Powerless, Ridiculously Romantic, High School Confidential
Episode 2.01 - Powerless (12.3.2005)
Q: So, James, why did you open with this episode?
A: Well, I had already set up a To Be Continued cliffhanger on the Season One finale, That Burning Sensation; it was always meant to be a two-parter. As I said before, this was unlike any other pain I've ever experienced. Being somewhat masochistic myself, I've built up a high tolerance for bodily harm, but that infection attacked me where I was most vulnerable.
Episode 2.06 - Snow Ball Part 1 (2.5.2005)
Q: After what happened at Snow Ball, are you hesitant to dance with other guys?
A: Nope... well, he's gotta have rhythm. And Mark's dancing has actually improved since I gave him a crash course using the 2-step, Electric Slide, Britney Spears, and some Dance Dance Revolution just for kicks.
Q: Think you'll go to this year's Snow Ball?
A: Probably. I saw some cool, high-fashion Kung Fu suits @ GoodOrient, and I'd appreciate a legitimate excuse to wear one.
Episode 2.07 - Snow Ball Part 2 (2.5.2005)
Q: Knowing what you know now, does it break your heart to hear yourself say, "My biggest fear is that if I ever tell him how I really feel, he'll never wanna speak to me again and our friendship will be ruined over something so small?"
A: What can I say? Nightmares really can come true. But on the bright side, I was right.
Episode 2.08 - Journey to Brokeback Mountain (2.11.2006)
A: On that note, I find it pretty ironic now when I hear myself say, "No more games," and then I thrust myself into an intricate Valentine's Day scheme, possibly the biggest and most involved game in history, LOL.
Episode 2.09 - Ridiculously romantic (2.14.2006)
Q: What were the motivations behind this romantic gesture to Danny? Love?
A: OK, I'll admit it, I thought it would spice up the series; I could just see the story in my head. This entire seduction of sorts was uncharacteristically forward of me. I never act on my feelings that quickly; usually, I'd befriend and court a good male prospect for about a year, and then strike. I had no intention of even acknowledging Val Day with Danny, and this was me being spontaneous, romantic, insane. For the most part, I was relying on the aptly named Door in the Face phenomenon (in psychological terms)--y'know, proposing something HUGE in order to compromise on something reasonable. I went for Boyfriend when I was just looking for good friend. More games, I know.
Q: Do you have regrets from that day?
A: Although, one of my basic mantras is "No regrets," I do think it was very arrogant of me to want to "fix" Danny--make him more than just another Aberzombie wandering around campus. Other than that, I don't regret giving him those compliments; it's good for his self-esteem. I didn't censor or proofread that Val Day inscription to him; it was a free write full of pure, honest, raw emotion. As always, I was a total gentleman and didn't make any sexual propositions or anything remotely like that.
Q: Do you still love him?
A: I never did. I had one silly little crush on the guy. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that love is infinite; you can always make more of it. I'm over the entire thing, and someday, I'll fall in love for real.
Q: Do you still enjoy Valentine's Day or is it forever ruined?
A: LOL, yeah, I still love Valentine's Day, or at least, the sentiment behind it. Despite the fact that none of my serious relationships have ever made it to Valentine's Day, I don't have any weird Pavlovian hangups about the holiday.
Q: Well then, do you have anything crazy planned this year for Val Day?
A: You'll just have to wait and see... But seriously, I don't think I'll be professing my love to anyone or anything like that. Depending on the day, I might throw a private party to lift my spirits.
Episode 2.10 - Boys Don't Cry (2.15.2006)
Q: Why did you include this episode?
A: Always the filmmaker, I saw the cinematic qualities of the entire situation, and I knew exactly how I would film it--by attaching Danny's voice-over to an ellipses of that day's activity. That way I could emphasize the mask I was wearing even though I was in great pain.
Q: After just hearing the title, did you cry?A: Nope, never. I just sucked it up and tried my best to just laugh the whole situation off. Besides, there was no love there in the first place; it was just one of my ill-thought out whims. In my words, I went from pain to anger to denial to black leather.
Episode 2.12 - Uncle JIMBO (2.14.2006)
Q: How is your sister, Jiselle, doing nowadays?
A: Better than ever. As I said before, she's a strong woman, and that miscarriage only temporarily brought her down. She's actually engaged to her dance pimp, Jeff, and I think they're perfect for each other. All these years she's been talking about him, I seriously thought he was a cool gay friend of hers, but he's a strappin' straighty with a love for the ladies. He treats her right--with love and respect; I like that.
Q: Nice. Have you considered having children someday?
A: Pfft! No stretch-marks for this man! And besides, Sara already promised me her first-born! M'hmm, that's right, she owes me for that latenight walk to the store to buy egg nog. But back to reality. If my future partner wants children, I'd consider adoption or, if we're financially comfortable enough, using a surrogate mother. I'm not a big fan of children, but it would be nice to have a picture-perfect family.
Episode 2.13 - High School Confidential (2.22.2006)Q: So, why'd you have to kill Steve? And with a chopstick no less?
A: LOL, I don't know! Honestly, I can only assume it was jealousy on my part. Steve's impaling was definitely one of the weirdest ways I've killed someone in a dream, but a hell of a lot nicer than the time I morphed into a 40-foot donkey, swallowed people whole, and then coughed up the parts I didn't like. THAT just scarred me for life.
Q: Have you had any weird dreams lately?
A: Tons! But I know I reached an all-time low when FaceBook appeared in my dream two weeks ago! Two nights ago I fell asleep after watching Toy Soldiers and Batman Returns. Translation: I handled quite a few machine guns and did dozens of back handsprings down the street that night.
Episode 2.14 - "Premature Burial" (3.17.2006)Q: Since you've been back in Pasadena, has tragedy struck at all?
A: Sadly, yes. One of my clarinet girls, Amanda Blackett, was killed in a car accident three months ago. It was horrible news because I've never lost a close friend from high school before; hell, I still keep her 10th grade portrait in my wallet.
Q: Were you able to attend her funeral?
A: No. Unfortunately, I was already in Gettysburg at that point. Plus, I like to remember her as she was; I don't have any bad memories of her. Frankly, I'd rather remember how she lived than how she died.
Episode 2.15 - "Tonight's The Night" (2.25.2006)Q: I'm speechless. All I can say is why Why WHY?
A: As I said before, I included this episode in hopes of humanizing my character in the College Years blog. Plus, I wanted to prove that I had moved on after that hasty crush.
Q: Did you fuck Billy just for the cinematic potential?
A: Of course not! Much to my own surprise, I was really starting to fall for him; however, I sometimes have overly high expectations for sex. To make a long story short, I wanna have an orgasm. *sigh* Sometimes one's sexual urges kick the crap out of those foolish notions of love fed to us by the movies.
Episode 2.18 - "My Big Fat GREEK Weekend" (4.1.2006)
Q: Have you seen the controversial Forum article entitled "Mr. Fraternity: A Greek Tragedy?"
A: Yep. And although I admire some of its witty qualities, I am definitely not the author... even though I had my doubts, LOL! The article criticizes Greek life in a very mean-spirited way; it lacks opinionated balance and as I always say, "Beauty is symmetry." I would never publish ANYTHING without attaching my name (or at least a pseudonym) to it. Besides, would I ever use the word "intelligible?" I think not, my good man.
Episode 2.19 - "Heels, Cake, and Booze" (4.8.2006)Q: Last year's Gender Bender Dance looked like a blast, Congratulations on your win. Have you been draggin' lately?
A: No, I'm not moonlighting as a drag queen, man! I think once a year's a healthy dose of gender-bending.
Q: Are you gonna try and defend your title at this year's dance?
A: Bring it! I will most definitely try. I'm debating whether I'm gonna impersonate Peaches, a Playboy bunny, or Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls this year.
Q: What's your favorite cross-dressing movie?
A: My #1's To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar and my #2's White Chicks.
Episode 2.20 - Spring Ahead (4.29.2006)
Q: One last question: why did you choose to end the season with SpringFest?
A: Sheer desperation? LOL, honestly, I just ran out of ideas, the semester was pretty much over, and this was the most climactic ending I could muster.
Got questions? Send 'em in and as always, I'll give you an honest answer. :-D
I'd prefer postings directly on the blog--that way if someone else has the same question, I can get a 2-for-1 deal. PeaceOut, JiMBOEsq!
No comments:
Post a Comment