Show Viewing Date: 6-3-2008
Show Title: 30 Days: Workin' in a Coal Mine
Network: FXHD
Reviewed By: Mike Wilkerson - 2GuysTalking.Com

Intro:

I have never been a reality show person. The time it takes to follow, believe, and suspend disbelief that people would treat people like they do in reality programs is something I just can hardly stomach. While waiting for an episode of "The Shield" to start last season (I did a series of something called "Overcast Reviews" of several episodes of "The Shield" last season for Overcast Media - don't miss them) there was a show that caught my attention called "30 Days." During this show, you have a filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock (yes, the guy that made the "McDonalds Movie" which is an excellent showcase of what much of America is doing to itself when eating out 6 times a week), who subjects his life to a different career or situation for 30 days, and gives you the perspective he garners during that time. I instantly gravitated towards it because - well - in my life I've had the fortune to have participated in a variety of jobs as well. Not because I had my own custom television show, but because I was a professional sign language interpreter for so long. Name, the job, I've participated in it or had a part in it at one time or another. It was a great job, but like everything else, other opportunities come up and things change.

This show reminds me greatly of my life as an Interpreter - the difference? It lasts 42 minutes, during which I get to entertain myself, watch the captioning and tell all of you find people about it. Read on below for more details in regard to the Caption Hunt review of "30 Days: Workin' in a Coal Mine.:

Previews/Commercials Captioned: Yes

Opinion Review:

There are very few shows on television that I could possibly recommend not only to Deaf/Hard of Hearing viewers, but to anyone. The cavalcade of shows that are available on the perpetually-growing dial that just feel and are a waste of life experience continues to grow. This is not one of those shows, folks. You NEED to be watching this show. While I don't agree with some of the politics that Morgan tends to inject into projects, this program, this episode in particular, is something that not only helps youi appreciate the job and life that you currently have, but helps you find newfound respect for others in their sometimes-not-chosen professions.

Morgan visits his home state of West Virginia to take on the role of a coal miner for "30 Days" - a trade many in his hometown eventually took part in, while he went to New York to become a film maker. For the month he'll be working on the job, his new "boss" will not only be his direct supervisor, but also his landlord, as Morgan sets up virtual TV camp in a very colorful, pink girls bedroom to help "bring out his feminine side." His first day of work - folks - it's hell. It's some of the most unimaginable do-it-again for 8 hours straight with a 10 minute sandwich lunch that you can just barely imagine.

The closed captioning for the program is outstanding. I think that perhaps they got a hold of what was the production script before the actual audio was dubbed in though. In the captioning, his training consisted of a "40 training period" while his audio states that it took "80 hours" to get ready to go down below. Ahh, the comfort, of being hard of hearing. :) There is also something strange for FX - the elimination of the word "*****" in an area during the program where he states "covered in coal", is captioned as "as dirty as a pig in *****." Again, my experience with FX for the last several years is that they're very bold about being - bold. *****, crap, *****, goddamn it, hell, sonuvva***** and more - they're all commonplace on FX and I was surprised that they took something as straghtforward as "dirty as a pig in *****" as one of their "need to put that on the cutting room floor" moments from this episode.

Morgan's boss for this episode took the time every morning to write his wife a short note - one that Im sure all of us have written at one time or another, that told her how much he loved her and it struck Morgan enough that he began writing a postcard to his wife in New York everyday. That was something that struck me as I have developed over the years (mostly since 9-11) the habit of giving my girls a home a kiss before I leave. Do you do something like this every day? Let us know by using the contact form at 2GuysTalking.Com.

I had previously mentioned my disagreements with Morgan's politics, but I am very happy to announce that he straddles the line of common sense, reality, and reasonable thought as he addresses not only the coal miner's take on the environmental impact of "their job" but also the viewpoint of what are the people that are trying to save the vast and rich culture and environment that are the Aplallacian Mountains of West Virgina. Very well done, and adeptly captioned right in line. Something I do agree with him on, especially in what is the center of a nationwide gas escalation - we need to research alternative fuel sources , and we have simply not taken the time, effort or money to do it. Coal mining currently makes the "country go" and while everyone screams for them to stop doing it, no one can offer up an alternative - something that is also a problem in the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community as well.

One of my favorite movies, that is also wonderfully captioned (including the recent gold release - great stuff) is The Hunt for Red October. In it is one of my favorite quotes: "The Peace of Fishing". Now understand that I am not a fan of fishing in fact the last three fishing trips my Pop and I Have taken - well, we didn't catch a goddamn thing. :) BUT, the fact remains is that there's peace in the experience of fishing, and it's something that Morgan clued into while doing his wrap for this episode. The ability and opportunity to bond with the Earth while mining, the solace of "silence". The ability to be essentially one-on-one with a shovel working away for hours on end. That's something I know many people can associate with. As Morgan finished his "final lesson from his Mr. Miyagi of Coal Mining", there were several things that make me realize why I like watching this show, and why I totally recommend that you watch it as well.

My journey as an interpreter gave me just a smidgeon of magic that Morgan was able to experience during his 30 days in this vocation/situation, and it gives me and all potential viewers and incredible glimpse into something that is much more human than just the mechanized matter-of-course process that people think coal mining is..

"It's all about respect", Morgan Spurlock, exclaims.

It sure is. Morgan, and you are respected by this hard of hearing reviewer, friend.

Special/Supplemental Features Captioned: Yes! An outstanding additional note. Not only was every second of this and all of the commercials during this show captioned, they actually captioned (subtitled) several of the West Virginians that were a bit hard to understand because of additional noise while recording, or becaues of what is a sometimes-particularly deep drawl in that area of the southwestern United States. :)

Overall Caption Rating:: 5

Overall Show Rating: 5

Total Rating: 5

Do You Recommend This Show to Others Who Depend on Captioning? Yes

– Mike Wilkerson
Creator/Graphic Designer/Talk Show Host
- The 2GuysTalking Podcast
2GuysTalking Original Content Podcast Network
http://www.2guystalking.com
Mike@2guystalking.com – 314-229-7683

[Mike is a professional entertainment critic and talk show host for The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network, a multi-media podcasting company specializing in the broadcast of opinion, thought and ideas. Be sure to visit 2GuysTalking.Com for more information.]