Buffy The Vampire Slayer

AND NOW, FROM THE CULTURE DESK

Speaking of the "About Schmidt" RV enthusiast: The initiated among you will know that that character was played by Harry Groener, whose greatest star turn in recent years was of course his portrayal of Mayor Wilkins on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," one of the great works of art produced in recent television history.

"Buffy" is genius. But this season has been kind of a weird disappointment, no? I mean, what’s with the extensive war imagery and all these good-and-evil metaphors? One aspect of the show’s brilliance has been that it has always presented its morality, which is in some ways quite clear and direct, with a nudge and a wink - there was always a nod to the idea that that there was some bad in the good people and some good in the bad people, or that the moral coordinates could turn on a dime; and it was always done in a light way that took the pressure off. But now, the writers are sounding, I hate to say this, like the Bush administration.

Thoughts, fans? I’m open to more benign interpretations.