Tell Me You Love Me - The Show, But You Could Do It Too, I Don't Mind The Attention, This Is The Narcissistic Post

So I watched the first episode of HBO's Tell Me You Love Me on the airplane this past weekend (probably not the best place to watch the sexually explicit show cause I'm sure the people behind me think I'm a perv right now but I'm guessing anything really racy was cut out since it was still pretty tame for HBO standards), and I usually love relationship talks and everything. I can't tell if I was enthralled with the show that deals with 3 couples and their relationship woes, or if I was tediously annoyed.

I love relationship banter. That crap just comes to me. Apparently I'm THAT guy that everyone runs to for advice on their relationships. (In fact, I'm currently MSN'ing a coworker about her long distance boyfriend woes). I know WAY too many details in peoples lives (sex, finance, in-laws, love, marriage, careers, sex). Not just friends, sometimes people I just met. Do people always tell people their inner most secrets or do I just have that "I'm listening" face? It must be my round approachable soft face. I can't look angry. And yes, I really am listening. Still, odd, since as the perennial single guy, am I really the best person to ask about being in a relationship?

Still, I've heard everything and I deal out enough of the therapeutic advice that I really should start charging! (Dan Savage is actually my hero. BTW, if you're getting married, you MUST read The Commitment, and if you're having or planning on having kids, read The Kid, whether you're gay or not, it's very life affirming!).

In fact, as I continue on this tangent, I have a pretty good track record (that or apparently I'm a lucky charm at weddings) with only 1 divorce amongst the 40 weddings I've attended since 2000. Not a bad track record (probably because I WILL voice my opinion if I think it's a bad idea). Also, if you need wedding tips, I have my rules as the ultimate wedding guest (btw, rule of thumb, the smaller the wedding party, the more fun everyone is going to have). (Also, even though I like the idea of a small wedding, I'm going to have to invite everyone because I WANT MY GIFTS BACK! (As Esther helped point out for me, like that SATC episode where Carrie calculates the poor rate of return for the showers, babies and weddings a single must endure). And yes, I'm going to the 41st wedding tomorrow. Wedding season has begun again (but only 5 this year! woo! Oh. you know I love them!).

Anyways, all this is to say that relationship talk doesn't scare me. I usually love it, so I'm kind of fascinated with Tell Me You Love Me, though part of me is like, I hear this all the time in real life, why do I need to watch it?

It helps that it's got a pretty great cast, which is what intrigued me to watch in the first place. Two Losties, Penny Widmore's alter ego Sonya Walger and Ian Somerhalder both appear in the series, as well as ER vet Sherry Stringfield. Plus, one of my favorite THAT GUY's Adam Scott (in top photo, Veronica Mars). Plus the adorable Mambo Italiano Canadian actor Luke Kirby (above), and another THAT guy Tim DeKay who is paired with Ally Walker (below).

It's all very straight (as in straight up, and also no gay storyline that I could discern of from the first episode), with Jane Alexander as the therapist in common, but there's a plainness to the proceedings that keeps them interesting in a voyeuristic way. I will say, the young couple (with Kirby as the typical young engaged man and his qualms) is the least interesting of the stories, and it all feels slightly too glossy and contrived while still attempting to seem very docudrama verité, but the cast and the basic premise intrigues me enough.

Should I stick on? Has anybody else watched the rest of the series? Is it worth seeking out for the rest of the season? Or should I just sit back and wait for my friends emails and calls and continue to watch it in real life?