Stills

Am I alone in entering a hotel room and turning on the TV to see what channels are available

Well, my first reaction is to turn the damn thing off. I don't need a machine to welcome me to my room - especially as my name is invariably mis-spelled.

I enjoy the use of shape and space here.

The scene is, of course, not exciting, but nonetheless important for all that.
 

Now, this is bleak. I never yearned to spend a great deal of time in nameless, faceless hotel rooms and this is the reason why. Strong story, told so simply. I love the rakish tilt of the lamp that goes against everything else in this sad little tale. It's a bit like a crooked smile, or cocked hat, on the down-and-out hero of the story.
 

I don't know if this is a hotel room but there is a lack of homely things around the TV so it does suggest such a place. Reminds me of a job I used to have travelling all over country NSW.
Marge is tired/upset, the mirror behind her looks as if it is a mirror to the room the TV is in, interesting.
 

I presume that it is 'The Simpsons' on the TV screen: I've never seen an episode but the cartoons sporadically appear in newspapers. I've never watched it because there is only so much time in a day and I think it was on at around 1830 on Channel 4 in the UK, which is a time when one is involved with the farm!

I disagree with the bleakness and the observation about b/w and utilitarian: this rendering in b/w is positively dripping with rich, welcoming black and I find the thought of being here for a while with a book reasonably attractive. Apart from Matt leaving a bit of plastic around it seems clean enough doesn't it?

It's amazing the way the picture on the screen emerges from the deep blacks and then appears to have a depth that one wouldn't normally get just watching.

Having spent all the time in hotel/motel rooms in the States on business I have never had to worry about paying the bill - although they are cheaper than what one has to pay in the UK, which is daylight robbery!
 

'Am I alone in entering a hotel room and turning on the TV to see what channels are available?'

I do too, but mostly because we don't have a TV at home, so it something of a novelty.

The starkness of hotel interiors fascinates me photographically. The cheaper you go, the more interesting they get, if you can stomach staying in them. This place was awful, next to the airport in Indianapolis, and only chosen because free long term parking and shuttle transit were including with a night's stay. The free breakfast was hideous.

John, if you are curious, you can watch the Simpson's online legally and for free at hulu: http://www.hulu.com/the-simpsons
 

I have traveled tooo much, as I recognize the plastic bag hanging out of the ice container. I don't have found memories of business hotels and the pattern wall impies that this is one of the cheaper ones. I think that the choice of Marge with her eyes closed is a wonderful commentary on what she thinks of this room as well.
 

This one brought an instant laugh. I don't know exactly why. I don't see it as bleak though it was quickly recognizable as a cheap hotel room.

"It's amazing the way the picture on the screen emerges from the deep blacks and then appears to have a depth that one wouldn't normally get just watching."

Yes, it is. I can't see this working at all in color -- in fact, then I might think of it as bleak, despite Marge's blue hair.

It is still making me smile.
 

'I don't know exactly why. I don't see it as bleak though it was quickly recognizable as a cheap hotel room.'

The Simpsons can make nearly anything bearable.
 

I think Marge sums this scene up more than words could ever do. She has a radiant glow which works well with the lamp. The light tapering right to left and the detail in the wallpaper are well handled. What is left out of the photo is in some ways stronger than what remains. This will appear very high in my top ten favourite photograph list of the year. Well seen.