A discussion on the radio prompted the question, “Who’s on your Guilty Pleasure List?” Near as I can tell, the Guilty Pleasure List contains people you are attracted to but for some reason shouldn’t be. Or at the very least, you can’t explain why you are attracted to them.

So I expanded on the idea and came up with a handful of my own guilty pleasures; people, music, books and movies I have an irrational and undying love for. Mind you, these aren’t simply favorites. They are favorites that I can’t really justify, and don’t expect anyone else to understand, since I don’t understand them myself:

#1 – Flo, the Progressive Insurance Girl

I’m not sure if Flo IS the devil or if she simply made a deal with the devil, but I would gladly sell what’s left of my soul to knock boots with her.  I can’t explain why. I’m not saying she’s not beautiful, but there’s nothing even slightly amorous about insurance, which makes the attraction all the more incomprehensible.

Debbie Harry and Courtney Love might fight it out for second place on the list.

#2 – The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

This is the first book I read twice. In fact the first time I finished it (on the grade school bus) I immediately started reading it again.

It surprises me that a kid’s book can be so engaging, but every time I read this book, I’m truly transported into the world of Milo and his adventures beyond the tollbooth.

That said, I don’t think it’s a masterpiece of literary genius, and I don’t think adults would find it more than just “cute” but its a story I never get tired of reading.

#3 – The Crow

Were I trapped in a theater with one movie  stuck on infinite repeat, hands down it’s The Crow, starring Brandon Lee. A dark and wonderful tale of horrific violence and revenge from beyond the grave, and the best soundtrack of any movie I know.

However, of all my favorite films, The Crow is the one I’m least likely to recommend to others. I think many would find the story too comic-bookish, and the violence and drug use could make this movie a tough sell for some.  Also, I understand that not everyone likes grunge music as much as I do.

So, were I trapped in a theater with The Crow stuck on infinite repeat, I’d be OK with having the theater to myself.

#4 – Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut

For many years I had a cassette with Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut” on one side and Marillion’s “Misplaced Childhood” on the other. I wore that tape out. The Final Cut truly is THE final cut of the legendary Pink Floyd before Roger Waters and the band parted ways.  You can almost feel the animosity between the band members on this recording, which is strange because as I understand it, they visited the recording studio one at a time so they wouldn’t have to interact.

Regardless, the end result is something you won’t hear on the radio, and I wouldn’t try to argue its Pink Floyd’s best work. It certainly isn’t for everyone, but my Final Cut meter gets low if I don’t listen to this album occasionally.  It’s methadone for my soul.

Marillion’s albums “Brave” and “Misplaced Childhood” could substitute for The Final Cut in a pinch.

And You?

I’m trying not to imagine me and Flo on a desert island with nothing but a lot of time on our hands and The Final Cut to keep us company.

So what’s on your Guilty Pleasure List? Drop a comment below, or post to your Guilty Pleasure List to your blog and add a link back to here.

Posted in A Day In The Life, Ubercool