So a Pittsburgh judge is in hot water for hitting on women in his courtroom. Apparently the guy – Gerard Alonge – keeps making awkward passes at various attorneys, sometimes calling them at home and even showing up at their driveway unannounced! The women were understandably creeped out by the guy, but the judge’s lawyers say it’s all pretty harmless – the judge doesn’t pick up social cues very well.

Which, to me, makes him a lousy judge.

Anyhoo, this leads me to the point of this ridiculously powerful Gregalogue. We’ve created all sorts of disorders for behaviors that are, well, just behaviors. Take attention deficit disorder, which many folks use as an excuse for lack of focus. Or boredom. Or stupidity. Then there’s intermittent explosive disorder, used to describe people who can’t control their temper – otherwise known as violent jerkface syndrome. It was previously called Sean Penn Syndrome. And before that…oh wait, it was always called Sean Penn Syndrome.

So I ask you: why doesn’t the judge have a disorder too? Why can’t social ineptitude be a medical illness? Fact is, for many men, it’s highly prevalent, debilitating and humiliating. The only known treatment is booze. Fact: bars were created for SID (social ineptitude disorder) – without them, most men wouldn’t be able to approach women, get married and have baby boys, who are usually born with the same problem. (more…)

Don’t let the unwatchable sequels diminish how imaginative and heartfelt the original was. And though I’m not a big fan of Tim Allen’s film choices of late, in the right role like this (and Galaxy Quest), he’s very good. Also going for The Santa Clause is a perfectly cast Judge Reinhold, the hottest of all hot moms, Wendy Crewson, some terrific special effects, a warm Christmas spirit and, uhm, well, Wendy Crewson.

Most of the credit, however, belongs to the screenwriters who seized upon the beloved and well known story of Santa Claus and turned it into an original story that still very much respects what came before. The Santa Clause doesn’t rewrite or deconstruct, it builds upon the legend basing itself on all those lingering unanswered questions, such as: How does Santa fit down the chimney? How does Santa visit every home in one night?  It’s a genius premise and don’t forget that the divorced-dad-who-learns-how-to-be-a-better-father comedy wasn’t as tired and played out in 1994 as it is today. (more…)