‘Friends’ (NBC) was the greatest show of all time and  I’m confident enough to say so.  It had the perfect formula for success with 3 guys and 3 girls who are all 30-something best friends living in the city, experience many adventures, hookups, breakups, and all to the sweet sound of a laugh track.  Introduce an episode of ‘Friends’ to anyone who has never really watched the show and they will instantly fall in love with Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Monica, and Chandler.

‘Friends’ aired for 10 wonderful years and there has not and will not be anything like it.  Today you will find 3 shows on major networks that are attempting to use the magical formula to recreate the perfect friend group.  However, we are not fooled and will not be swayed.

‘Happy Endings’ (ABC) premiered last night with one of the gals leaving one of the guys at the altar.  How original.  Rachel left her fiancé during the pilot episode of ‘Friends’ and on the ‘Perfect Couples’ (NBC) premiere two of the friends decide not to get married just before walking down the aisle.  ’Happy Endings’ also features 6 familiar characters that you will find uncanny resemblances to in ‘Friends’ and ‘Perfect Couples’ as well as a purple-walled apartment that will take you back to Monica’s trademark apartment.

‘Perfect Couples’ follows the ‘Friends’ path a bit less than ‘Happy Endings’ since the characters are all in relationships with each other, however ‘Perfect Couples’ seems to have taken a page out of the ‘Better With You’ (ABC) playbook, a show that I have enjoyed from the start.  ’Perfect Couples’ compares the lives at 3 couples who are all friends but are in different stages in their relationships.  ’Better With You’ also features 3 couples in different staged relationships, however the characters are related with the two girls being sisters and the oldest couple being their parents.  ’Better With You’ trumps ‘Perfect Couples’ because the characters are naturally funny and it is the only show out of the 3 that boasts a laugh track (a lost art).

There are so many similarities and comparisons between these 4 shows (as if the picture doesn’t say it all) that I could rant about the outrage all afternoon.  So I will leave you with the most important piece of information… Cammi’s official ranking:

4th- ‘Perfect Couples’ (Bad jokes and bad casting! Bleh!)

3rd- ‘Happy Endings’ (Funny moments… if you can get past the ‘Friends’ parallels)

2nd- ‘Better With You’ (Classic comedy that will make you want to hang with your sis)

1st- ‘Friends’ (Need I say more?)

After all of this confusion, I am sure that you are wanting to do something that involves a bit less creative overlap.  Well then check out Circle City Tickets for the best deals on tickets to shows to see your favorite creative music artists this summer!

Jimmy Buffett Saturday May 15
Nickelback Saturday May 22
Country Throwdown Tour with Montgomery Gentry Sunday May 23
Puddle of Mudd Saturday May 29

When you are looking for the best entertainment in the Midwest or nationwide make sure you visit CircleCityTickets.com. We are your source all summer long for great shows and sporting events as well.

-Grease 2
-Look Who’s Talking, Too and Look Who’s Talking Now
-Beverly Hills Cop II & II (and I for that matter)
-Speed 2: Cruise Control
-Transporter 2
-The Ling II, The Little Mermaid II, Cinderella 2, and any other sequels to the classic Disney cartoon movies
-Save the Last Dance 2
-Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home
-My Girl 2 (….the icing on the cake!)

If any of you enjoyed one or more of the movies listed, then I am open to hearing your opinions.  But my consensus remains that nothing beats the original.

Which brings me to my main point:   Colts Play Superbowl in Miami II was bound to disappoint.  The casting was similar, but missing a few key stars.  The wardrobe was mixed up a bit buy switching from white jerseys to blue.  The villain was a fresh opponent.  The set was changed from rainy Sunday to warm evening.  And of course the ending had to change in order to keep audiences in suspense.  Colts fans give this Miami re-do two giant foam thumbs down.

Now that Indianapolis has had nearly two weeks to get over their disgust, it is time to check the showtimes for this upcoming week of  some fresh originals or additions to a favorite series available through Circle City Tickets.

Supercross 2/20  7:00

Boilermakers vs. Fighting Illini 2/20  4:00

WWE 2/22  8:15

Jacks Mannequin 2/24  7:00

Pacers vs. Bucks 2/25  7:00

Hoosiers vs. Badgers 2/25  9:00

Harry Connick, Jr. 2/28  7:00

The Avett Brothers 2/28  7:30

The Conseco Fieldhouse is the number one venue in the NDA for three years running.  It is the home of the Indianapolis Pacers and the Indiana Fever.  The tickets for this venue include some of the best NBA tickets in the country as they are for the Indiana Pacers.  You don’t have to miss the experience of being inside this stunning venue even if you are not a basketball fan as it also has some of the biggest music and entertainment acts from around the world, other world profession and amateur sporting events and concerts.

Since 1909 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has seen some of the worlds best drivers and fastest automobiles.  It houses over 650,000 spectators making it the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in history.  Currently, races at the Speedway include the Indianapolis 500, Red Bull Indianapolis GP and the Allstate 400.  Inside the venue fans will also find the Hall of Fame Museum and campsites located in the infield and around the over 500 acres.

Indianapolis Raceway Park, recently renamed O’Reilly Raceway Park is another venue to see NASCAR events.  It is home to NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing, NASCAR Busch Series racing, some drag racing and sprint car racing.  Fans can enjoy year round events in this venue with seating for 30,000.

The new home of the Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium opened September 7, 2008.  It is one of the best stadiums in the NFL with a high tech retractable roof and the largest video board in the League.  The stadium will host NFL football games, NCAA basketball’s March Madness Tournament and will be the permanent backup for the Final Four Tournament.  The biggest event will be the XLVI Super Bowl held on February 5, 2012.  This is an event that is sure to sell out early so contact an Indianapolis ticket broker to find a seat.  Other events will include the DCI World Championships, Bands of America Grand National Championship, The Indiana Marching Band State Finals as well as some well known music acts.

The Murat Theater is the home of world class concerts and theater performances.  Tickets for events at the Murat have been in high demand since its opening in 1910.  The facility had to expand just twelve years after opening due to the overwhelming response for tickets by the community.  Events include concerts, family shows, Broadway shows and comedy shows.

Indianapolis ticket brokers can be the best resource in finding tickets for the sold out events fans want to attend.  With these venues and the events scheduled for the upcoming year some tickets are sure to be in high demand so buy early.

The venue first came to life in 1909 as a gravel track kept in place with tar. The first major race event occurred in August of that year, a series of motorcycle races followed shortly by an automobile race sanctioned by the American Automobile Association. Due to poor track conditions the surface was replaced in 1910 with over 3 million bricks and the first 500-mile race took place in 1911. The annual Memorial Day weekend race has been held every year since 1911 with the exception of two years during World War I and four years during World War II.

Perhaps the greatest turning point in the Indianapolis Motor Speedways history took place at the end of 1944. Largely abandoned during the war, IMS fell into a state of general disrepair. A former Indianapolis 500 winner, on site to test tires for Firestone on behalf of the US Government, found the conditions deplorable and working with other fans of the race found a new owner in Indiana businessman Tony Hulman. Under Hulman’s ownership the facility was restored to its former glory, the 500-mile race resumed in 1946, and the modern era of the track started.

Tony Hulman’s grandson, Tony George, continued in the footsteps of Hulman when he became president of the facility in 1989 and introduced the NASCAR race, FI race, and motorcycle events to the track. Widely questioned for altering what had become the home to just one race a year, the Indianapolis 500, George’s decisions have proven to be good to the facility and under George’s oversight the facilities have continued to expand and evolve.

Not just a venue for racing, The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also home to a world-class 18-hole golf course and the Speedway Hall of Fame Museum making it a tourist destination for race fans and others alike. The golf course has been home to many tournaments and the museum is a pantheon of racing legend and history. Visitors to the museum can also, at certain times of the year, take a trip around the famous 2.5 mile track via tour bus and walk the grounds.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a direct impact on the town in which it is located: Speedway, Indiana. Incorporated in 1926, Speedway is an enclave, or separate town, within Indianapolis and sees its population of less than 15,000 expand to more than 300,000 persons on race day events. Speedway was conceived as a city of the future and was intentionally designed for automobiles during its planning stages. As the Mecca of open-wheel racing, Speedway is proud to be associated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and serves as a wonderful guest to race fans throughout the year.

Whether you’re a race fan or not (I’m not), Indy 500 traditions seem to be a part of your DNA if you happen to call Indianapolis home. I grew up listening to the race every year with drivers like Johnny Rutherford and AJ Foyt and Rick Mears as the standout stars. Now you’ll find Danica Patrick and Dario Franchitti leading the sports report on the evening news. But long before Danica and Dario there was a little-known unsung hero named Jigger Sirois – a man who could’ve taken the poll but, ironically, never qualified for the race.

Amongst the true Indy fans Jigger’s story is probably well-known: In 1969, Jigger managed to achieve a speed of 161.535 mph on Pole Day before his qualifying attempt was waved in by his car owner, who thought the speed wouldn’t be fast enough to qualify. Soon after that it began to rain and qualifying was washed out. If Jigger had actually completed that qualification attempt he would have won the pole; two more attempts to qualify for that year’s race were unsuccessful. In fact, Sirois came out for qualifications every year through 1975 but never managed to make it into the race. Today his story is honored every year at the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association’s breakfast, where an annual “Jigger Award” is handed out to an individual who falls upon some hard luck during the month of May.

Every story you’ll find about Jigger never fails to mention that, despite the error that cost him an Indy run, Sirois was and has remained a class act about it. “I don’t believe in being bitter,” Sirois told Dick Mittman in a 2005 interview for indy500.com. “A lot of people have a lot worse things happen to them. I was upset, but life is too short to be bitter.”

But I didn’t know any of Jigger’s storied history until after I met him. Even so, I knew he was a hero.

Plowing through my voice mails one day at work, I came across a curious message from a gentleman calling from Virginia. As I work as a speech pathologist for a children’s hospital in Indianapolis, I’m not accustomed to getting callers from Virginia – certainly not callers who indicate an interest in supporting our department and its patients. I quickly returned to call, half expecting to hear that I was mistaken, or that he had reached the wrong department. But I soon discovered that he had indeed called me and did indeed want to help us by helping our patients.

Jigger shared his reasons for calling, and his personal interest in the work that speech pathologists do. He was thoughtful and kind-hearted, and genuinely appreciative of me, merely because of my dedication to this profession. “I’m not a wealthy man,” he said, “but I’d really like to be able to help some of the kids up there.” He mentioned that he’s in Indy every year for the race – not uncommon, as thousands of racing enthusiasts make annual treks to my hometown each year – and I commented that he must be quite a fan. “Well, I actually tried to qualify for the race a time or two.” And that was it. He continued to share his story and his admiration for speech pathologists, and never mentioned again his special place in 500 history.

And now, thanks to Jigger, I guess I’m finally a race fan too — or at least I’m a fan of Leon Jigger Sirois, the kind-hearted hero who never ran in the Indy 500.

If you don’t have Indianapolis 500 tickets yet, you’d better get them today.

The 52nd annual Indianapolis 500 Parade will get underway at noon on Saturday 23 May, just 24 hours before the big race.  The streets of downtown Indianapolis are already lined with bleachers and flags and banks of portable bathrooms are arriving this week in anticipation of more than 300,000 spectators.

All 33 starting drivers will serve as honorary grand marshalls while the legendary basketball hall of famer and college basketball analyst Dick Vitale will be the 2009 Grand Marshall.  This year’s pole position sitter, Helio Castroneves, will certainly be a favorite in the parade, as will SpongeBob Squarepants.

Finding a place to stand and watch the parade for free is difficult along the route, as the bleacher seats use up almost every inch of sidewalk space.  It is adviseable to purchase a ticket for the bleacher seats which are very reasonably priced.  Indianapolis 500 parade tickets can be purchased through CircleCityTickets.com until they are sold out.

My last check at CircleCityTickets.com showed ony 92 tickets left, so HURRY!!!! Those tickets will not last.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a number of great places to sit, all of which require some sort of ticket. So, where do you sit?

There is nowhere to sit at IMS to see the entire track. The closest you can get to that is by sitting in a corner and seeing about half the track. For instance, sitting in turn 4 you could see the cars coming in and out of turn 3, around the corner, and back up the main straightaway. Broadly speaking, though, the higher up you can get the better the view. The wall around the track may block your view if your seats are too low. Sitting up higher allows you to easily see over the fence, depending on what section your seat is in. This lets you get a broader view of the track. Stand E is very popular, but the high seats up there have many obstacles in your line of sight: support beams, camera cages, and a roof.

All of these obstructions are because of the upper decks in those stands (A, E, Paddock).

Despite the drawbacks I mentioned it is good to remember this rule of thumb for Indianapolis 500 tickets: There are no bad seats. Unfortunately, there are no best seats, either. It all depends on what it is you want to see. There are great seats for any possible view, whether the pits, the front straight, the front line, the first turn, the winner’s circle, or the crowds in the infield is your spectacle of choice. Maps of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are readily available. So, pick a place where you can get the view you most want. Once you’ve done that then think about comfort.

Most of the stands are typical bench-style seats like you’d find in most sports park seating, from little leagues to arena football. Stand B has folding chairs, if you’d prefer a more supportive seat. The Penthouse (those upper decks in A, E, and Paddock we mentioned earlier) have benches with backs. The Paddock sections have backs as well, but the box seats in that area do not. The Tower Terrace has aluminum benches with backs, too. Of course, you could grab some general admission tickets and sit on one of the grassy viewing hills in the infield.

Besides general seat comfort, another thing to consider is weather. Indiana weather is as fickle as can be. One year the weather might be 95 degrees and high humidity, the next rainy, in the 40s, and windy. The top row of most of the stands tend to be the most vulnerable to wind and rain.

An Indianapolis 500 ticket is a ticket to a great time. Good weather or bad, it’s a blast! And the only bad seat is the one not at the track.