I never read any LOTR and only saw the first movie. Bored me to tears.

I liked the original as a kid but even as an 8yo I could smell the fromage factor of it. The cool things really were Chris Loyd (who I loved in Taxi much to the chagrin of my parents) and the Iranian scene/element (I didn't understand the politics of it but for some reason that type of global terror wackiness made my puny little mind think it was important).
 
As for Dave Grohl... as a huge Nirvana fan I would say he was actually the LEAST "cool" member of the band (even including Pat Smear who used to play for the Germs which I did not know until a few years ago... HOLY CRAP!!!) but he was certainly the coolest (and one helluva) drummer.
 
I like some Foos but dislike a lot more. Dave strikes me as just a nice, kind of dorky, guy who loves music and took what was handed to him and ran with it. I'd totally hang and jam with him. The Foo oriented worship seems to be the result of frat boy crap (which was apparent when I went to one of their shows ages ago). I don't think he even really digs that and is more interested in the stuff you or I would be into (which is evident with Probot and his stint with QotSA which was some niiiice drum work).
 
I love Dave's drumming and some of his harder ass tunes with the Foos (I really like the tune Low) but for the most part it's not the stuff I'd put on just to listen to. He did at least give pop rock a good kick in the arse though and made something of himself after Nirvana.
 
I wish Noveselic (sp?) had kept at it though. He was a really interesting bass player and extremely underated IMO. I honestly think with out his sound and wacky walking basslines to prop up Kurts riffs the Nirvana tunes would not have been nearly as appealing.
 
Seriously listen to those tracks and mentally omit the bass. The vocal lines and guitar riffs are cool but the bass really adds that unique flavor to it all.
 
/meh
//ramblin'

I hate acronyms too - in fact, until very recently, I made a point of trying to avoid them. But at some point, the acronym seems to become the standard.
 
James - Thanks for the heads up on the spelling error, my fellow grammar nazi. ;) Sincerely, I expect to be told when I make mistakes. That's how one improves.
 
As for Lord of the Ring... For a while, I lived with roommates who were into role playing games and all things medieval and/or involving knights and swords and wizards and midgets. They worshipped Lord of the Ring to a point where I got sick of it before I even read a line.
 
Beepster - I like Grohl. I loved Nirvana. I love his work w/ Them Crooked Vultures - one of the very good shows I've seen. And the entire first Foo Fighters album was one of my go-to when I was DJ'ing. I actually played most of it the very day it came out.
 
But as for the rest - it's not the actual person or thing, but the cult around them and the fads that just annoy me. The culture of gossip, I guess.
 
Rudy Sarzo once broke a leg the day before he went on tour w/ Whitesnake. He went and played w/ the cast on. He didn't actually make a show out of it though, so they did not build him a throne.
 
Grohl has been made into some kind of messianic figure and THAT's what annoys me. He's milking it - and why shouldn't he? But that's also slightly annoying. 
 
About Rome - now THAT's more like it. I'm actually glad that it was spared and didn't become such a fad.
 
 

Rome. I loved it. Probably because of the pseudo historic nature and the amazing sets and props. I don't find it resembles Game of Thrones, other than the sexual content. I like them both but the nod would be to Rome.
 
Walking dead is becoming tiresome. How many ways can you kill a dead person. It needs an injection of new characters or a major plot list.
 
As for the rest of Rain's list, well, he's Rain. I would expect him to run contrary to most cultural icons propped up by 20 somethings. As for his bacon hatred..... Hmmm. Hopefully he still likes pancakes and maple syrup.

SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN "ROME"!!!
 
You'll probably be disappointed because Rome (the series) revolves around the two main characters (both of which are fictional). It merely eludes to the transitional period between Julius and Octavian. They kind of screw with things a bit too where Cleo gets knocked up by one of the fictional characters (forget what they called him) and passes it off as Julius' child... if I'm remembering the series correctly.
 
Same character is the unnamed (in history) Roman soldier who executes Cicero.
 
Been thinking of rewatching it. I've seen it three times already but it's been a while.
 
Currently on Boardwalk Empire which is turning out to be pretty good.

Beepster
 
Currently on Boardwalk Empire which is turning out to be pretty good.

I love Boardwalk Empire - and luckily, it doesn't seem to enjoy the same level of hype. So far. 
 
Breaking Bad ended just in time too. It was getting a bit too much hype for my taste in the last season.

As an aside, this is my favorite Christopher Lloyd moment of all time. Silly as hell of course but classic comedy. 
 

 
 

Rain
I love Boardwalk Empire - and luckily, it doesn't seem to enjoy the same level of hype. So far. 
 
Breaking Bad ended just in time too. It was getting a bit too much hype for my taste in the last season.

It had actually totally slipped under my radar. Surprising since Scorcese was involved. I'm only in Season 1 and having a bit of fun matching up some of the fictional characters to the real life gangsters (and other folks) they're based on via the various Wikis and nerdo sites. It kind of nicely compliments the fact I just rewatched The Sopranos recently (but rewatched The Wire in between).
 
Breaking Bad of course is awesome but was definitely threatening to get stupid (and kind of did a little but not enough to ruin it).
 
Walking Dead was always kind of dumb and hokey but still enjoyable just like all zombie crap. I guess there is a new season out now but the season finale ending (which was the last one I watched) was one of those "this is gettin' cheesy" moments.
 
As far as Hobbit/LotR I read them all at the behest of a friend many MANY years ago and enjoyed them. Watched the movies many years later which I also enjoyed and from memory seemed to be very well done/accurate.
 
Total nerd culture though of course. I think the thing is a) those "nerds" are the ones who grew up and are controlling things now (thus have the money) and b) the film/video tech is now available to reasonably produce what the nerds were able to conjure up in their minds eye from the written page... and it's impressive to those who need things in TV/film format to truly appreciate.
 
Look at the previous attempts at turning Tolkein and the like into film versions. Soooo cheesy and lame.
 
I'm just p*ssed that they mangled Hitchikers Guide so badly. Someone needs to do that entire series up nice and proper like Jackson did with LotR (and what is now being done with GoT... which I've admittedly never read but is apparently pretty close to the books).

I loved Dexter, in spite of the craze. 
 
Six Feet Under would probably be at or very near the top of my list. Along with a French comedic series called Kaamelott.
 
As for the rest, I seem to like older series. I've managed to make my lovely lady a Trekkie - we just finished watching Voyager and I got her started on DS9.
 
The old late 70's Incredible Hulk is awesome if I feel the need to regress, as is the 60's Batman series.
 
 

Rain
I loved Dexter, in spite of the craze. 
 
Six Feet Under would probably be at or very near the top of my list. Along with a French comedic series called Kaamelott.
 
As for the rest, I seem to like older series. I've managed to make my lovely lady a Trekkie - we just finished watching Voyager and I got her started on DS9.
 
The old late 70's Incredible Hulk is awesome if I feel the need to regress, as is the 60's Batman series.
 
 

You know, the second run of Battlestar was enjoyable for me too.  Another NF binge

bitflipper
Wait a minute...are you telling me there's a NEW Star Wars movie? Holy crap. No way.
 
After Jar Jar I thought they'd have given up. Next you're gonna tell me it's a Disney production!

And by the same guy who's disfigured Star Trek, yes. :P 
At least, Star Wars is more likely to benefit from his special sort of "talent".

craigb
 
the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant

 
That's a brilliant set of books, I somehow lost most of them when we moved to Scotland, must get them again.