Professor Lance.

Every great teacher I know has been something of a lecturer. I once knew a guy, who left academia with bad memories and vows of never again, and yet, at parties, sooner or later there’d be a knot of people sitting on couches and chairs, and he’d be standing in front of them, leading a discussion. Someone would make a remark, and he’d nod at them and say, “That’s correct.” And he seemed utterly unaware of it, the way a sheepdog will cross back and forth in front of you, occasionally dropping behind if you slow down, to nudge you along. It’s just in the blood.

All this by way of saying Professor Lance Mannion (Ball State University, College of Hobart and William Smith, others) is at the lectern, using “Cheers” to discuss types in the human family. Start here, then go here and finish here, although I believe the lecture still has one more part.

There will be no test, but if you’re a “Cheers” fan, it’s a required course.

Posted at 4:59 pm in Television |
 

3 responses to “Professor Lance.”

  1. brian stouder said on September 22, 2006 at 10:20 pm

    Entertaining stuff.

    A great movie which explores various character-types interacting is The Caine Mutiny. I always thought that that movie should be required watching for my workplace – with the interactions and clash of types of people (Fred MacMurray plays a classic snake [who is a coward at crunch time] – every work place has one of those)

    I read a funny line, recounting how an admiral congratulated Herman Wouk on his book and said “I’ve met every one of those sons of bitches – but not all on the same ship!”

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  2. Chrys said on September 22, 2006 at 11:43 pm

    I agree…Lance’s Cheers posts have been terrific! I’d love attend one of Professor Mannion’s lectures. You can tell just by reading his blog that he must have been a wonderful teacher.

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  3. nancy said on September 23, 2006 at 9:56 am

    I have, and he was. Probably still is.

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