Chapter 12 - Insanity (Theme 12)


"Shawn, what are you doing?" Henry demanded tiredly.

"I'm preparing for the greatest television event in the history of the world!" Shawn declared amidst a sea of snacks in bags, plates, cups, boxes, and platters worthy of a large house party.

Henry rolled his eyes, gesturing to the large assortment of goodies covering every surface surrounding his son. "And what's all this?"

"Provisions," Shawn answered simply. Henry sank into the opposite end of the couch.

"Don't you have any homework?" He asked suspiciously. It was Wednesday; Shawn always had homework on a Wednesday.

Shawn shook his head, eyes on the TV. "Finished it all."

Henry gave him a look that Shawn could feel burning a hole into the side of his head.

"All right, all right, not all," Shawn admitted at last, turning to face his face his father and plead his case. "But this is too important to miss!"

Henry unbuttoned the top two buttons on his police uniform and rubbed at his collar. He didn't share Shawn's obvious enthusiasm for whatever momentous televised event was occurring that night.

"Give me the remote," he said quietly.

"No," Shawn protested. "I've commandeered the remote and the TV. Mom said it was okay."

"Shawn, it's my remote and my TV. Now go finish your homework."

"Aw, come on, Dad!" Shawn whined. Henry's stern look remained plastered to his face. Shawn sighed and tossed the remote control to Henry.

"Fine. But will you watch it for me in case I'm not done in time?"

"Yeah, yeah," Henry agreed in an attempt to get Shawn out of his hair.

"Dad, you don't even know what I was going to watch!" Shawn complained.

"Yes I do. It's the television event that's going to change the world tonight, isn't it?"

Shawn grinned. "Eight o'clock. ABC. You won't want to miss a second. I'll try to be down in time."

Shawn ran up the stairs, leaving Henry admittedly curious about the TV schedule. He half-heartedly searched the immediate area for the TV Guide but gave up when he knocked over a bowl of popcorn. He tossed a few kernels back in the bowl before deciding he'd make Shawn do it. After all, it was technically his mess.

Henry flipped through the channels and killed almost an hour without really watching anything. Just as he was ruminating on the powers of television to waste time, he happened to catch the time on the VCR display.

Curious despite himself, Henry grabbed the remote from its resting place on the arm of the sofa and clicked over to ABC.

The scene was dark and a bunch of cops were grappling with some teenage gang members.

Henry was contemplating why his son would be so excited about yet another cop show that he was caught off guard when the singing started.

He did a double-take.

Yes, that's right. The cops and gang members were singing to each other.

It was awf-

"Awesome!" Shawn decreed, running into the room and hopping on the couch next to Henry. "What did I miss?"

Henry couldn't quite comprehend what was going on. Yes, it had been a long day at work but surely he was not sitting and watching the insanity of a cop musical?

"Shawn, what the hell is this?"

Shawn grinned happily. "Only the greatest show ever!"

Henry looked back at the TV. Yup, they were still singing as the cops arrested them.

"What is this crap?"

"It's not crap, Dad. It's by Steven Bochco. He did Hill Street Blues. You like Hill Street Blues, right, Dad? Not to mention L.A. Law…"

Henry his the power button on the remote. "Shawn, this is not television. It is certainly not the greatest television event of all time."

"But they're cops. And they're singing," Shawn defended, gesturing to the TV. "They're singing cops!"

"Exactly! They're singing cops. It's the stupidest thing I've ever seen."

Shawn pouted. "It's the best thing you've ever seen," he said sulkily.

Henry looked over at him. "Pick up the popcorn and then go finish your homework."

"How did you know I wasn't done?"

"The same way I know this show will be cancelled before Christmas."

Shawn sighed heavily and picked up the popcorn without further complaint. Shoulders sagging, he trekked back upstairs.

Henry turned the television back on and switched over to NBC. There had to be something better on.


Okay, for those of you who've never heard of it, the show was "Cop Rock." Seriously - youtube it right now. Priceless!

And Henry was wrong. It made it until December 26.