Seriously though, remember Bill Russell. He weathered through a profession of ugly politics and obnoxious salaries. I don't know much about him, but it sounds like he learned not to (perhaps he never did) let people take advantage of him. And it's -sort of- alright not to reach a goal. Who knows? Here's hoping to see you on the Seattle U. campus; they have a stately new Law Building!

It also has that anti-authoritarian post-Watergate element that a lot of 70's and early 80's movies and TV shows had - Billy Jack, Bonnie and Clyde,the first Alien movie, Hill Street Blues, etc. I just saw the first Rambo movie again a couple of months ago, which came out before Reagan was elected, and was struck at how anti cop/establishment it was.

The Paper Chase could well have been sexist (I can't remember a prominent female character), but it did have its virtues.

Besides, compared to Star Search, it was postively edifying.

But Rambo, I pointed out to you at the time that it's anti-authoritianism was the special version cooked up by the right that passes in other manifestations today as having intellectual rigor. It's not about being cynical about the decisions of a few in power, rather it's breeding a mistrust in government and democratic decision-making structures. Rambo is anti-government as opposed to demanding representation and justice from government. It's nihilistic. It's about the individiual. It's as different from the message of challenging authority in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as Grapes of Wrath is different from The Fountainhead.

Yeessh, Rambo was totally right wing entertainment propaganda. It also exploited the obsession a lot of right wing, military obsessed, "the government abandoned our boys in Vietnam" (early messaging that quitting a war you are losing is cutting and running as opposed to the Vets for Peace perspective that supporting our troops means getting them out)" weirdos (my high school boyfriend for instance) had with the POWs that were left behind. This was an unfortunate fact of course, but I remember how it was exploited by those early neo-cons.

He perspired frequently, it seemed, and seemed quite sad sometimes. On other occasions he would point his finger at someone like a character from Dickens, yelling, "the truth, my son, is like a turtle."

At other times he would makes obscure references to Derrida or Marx. "The story never ends," he quoted to us once, "because the end is the same as the beginning." Afterwards he would insist that we research Marxism, right away.

The series ran on CBS.

Everyone needs a youth upon whom impressions can be made. (signed) Mark Foley

In college, I was a music major and my music theory professor reminded me every day of Houseman's character in the Paper Chase. I was terrified of him.