http://slyoyster.com

I’d just like to reiterate Jim’s recommendation for the new Ken Burns documentary series The War. There is a tiny group of documentarians who seem to always bat a thousand. Bud Greenspan, who does the bio sketches of Olympic athletes during the Games and the film summaries after, Barbara Kopple (Harlan County USA, American Dream), Errol Morris (Gates of Heaven, A Brief History of Time, The Fog of War). M a y b e . . . Michael Moore.

Even among these leading lights, Burns is in a category by himself. He captures not only the humanity of his subjects, but is able to frame them incredibly well within a cultural and historical context. Certainly the longer format afforded by a multi-episode documentary series contributes to that ability. But he is so consistently great, I have to credit Burns himself. Think of the resonance of The Civil War, the exuberance of Jazz, the racial subtext alongside the affection for Baseball. If your not watching him now, you should be saving your money for when The War is released on DVD (Oct. 2).

Is he a Red Sox fan or a Brooklyn Dodgers fan?

Just wanted to weigh in on Big Rob’s last post about what’s going on with tonight’s new premieres and the return of your old favorites.  The TV Diva should be weighing in, we hope, since her opinions are held in such revered places around here.

I’ll be checking out ABC’s lineup tonight of Dirty, Sexy, Money and gulp! Private Practice.  As no doubt many of you are.  We’ll get some thoughts up there for ya afterwards.  But if you’re in a bind and don’t have a DVR just know we’ve got ya covered.

Also be sure to check out Ken Burns’ latest documentary The War.  That airs on PBS at 8 p.m. like every night this week and dang it if it isn’t just another amazing emotional manipulator from Burns.