Encores

Last week I saw Aziz Ansari at the Tower Theater in Philly. In case you don't know who he is, he's a comedian who is on one of my favorite shows, Parks and Recreation, he also hosted the MTV Movie Awards, and is pictured to the left (though I assume you figured that part out, and did not think I was just randomly posting a picture of a bearded twenty-something).

So, after Aziz finishes his set, he says goodbye and leaves the stage. Nobody gets up, the lights stay down, and 2-3 minutes later he comes back out for his encore. This is when it dawned on me: Do we really need the encore any more?

I mean, the first encore must have been awesome: Some caveman singer finishes his performance, walks off his little rock pedestal everyone gets up to head back to their respective cave, but the lights don't go back on -primarily because they don't have electricity - and all of a sudden he comes back out and sings some more. Mind blowing!

Well, today the encore is so . . . expected. You sit there,the musician or comedian leaves the stage, you clap wildly, and then, they come back out. It's all just so pointless. The problem now is, whoever the first artist is who doesn't do an encore, will be a jerk. "He, didn't do an encore?! That fame went to his head; he's all about the money now. I hope he is robbed in the parking lot." Even, if they tacked on the encore performance on to their full set and eliminated the stupid, "Okay, I'm going to walk away now, but then come back shortly," part.

Basically, we need a fall act. Someone needs to get really big; perform to rave reviews around the world; top all the music charts, and then at their biggest show ever, finish their set, walk off stage and never come back. A huge act that can change the paradigm. I nominate Miley Cyrus.