When you are a fan of something (or someone), you will always have that natural proclivity to follow it and get up-to-the-minute update on the next development. You're like this incessant explorer hitch hiking a random ride to God-knows-where-it-takes-you. That adrenaline of discovery and the unknown is what fuels your curiosity.

Okay, you might wonder where my point is. The truth? Well, the truth is I've always been a loyal fan of Cameron Crowe. He may not be one of those top marquee names of Hollywood directors. But this guy is well-loved by critics with his penchant for underrated storytelling in the big screen. He makes compelling films about characters finding their passion and going through uncontrollable changes in life, situations where comfort is a matter of getting there as opposed to the destination (sometimes!) and places that hold answers when faced with like a wall of questions. He makes a seamless approach of connecting stories of people with music that doesn't disappear into the background but rather complements it.

I first came about one of his landmark quintessential film, Singles, and it singlehandedly (pun intended!) is my constant gloomy weather movie favourite. Why wouldn't it be? Hello, it's Seattle! The story encapsulates the emotional turmoil of love, relationship and friendship in the grunge era. It's a classic. Not to mention, that Steve Dunn guy makes for a lovelorn sensitive neighbour someone I'd like to live next-door with. I'd be his Bridget anytime. Sorry Cliff, maybe in another life. Not even your Eddie Haskell comment could save you.

As the grunge years inched its way close to the millennium, another Crowe hit came my way. Almost Famous. If you haven't watched this, you have missed half of your life getting to know William Miller. Or better yet, Crowe for all that matter. Miller, a precocious teener going undercover as he aspired legitimacy in the world of rock journalism, goes on assignment and travelled with the band Stillwater. As what anyone encounters on the road, there's always these unexpected hiccups, inner conflicts due to confined space and mindless hours of travelling, and questioning that sense of self. It's this unmistakeable Crowe signature, that bodes well for me when it comes to stories like these. 

Eventually, the story of Claire and Drew became the story of Elizabethtown. Now this is the definitive road trip film that's part of Crowe's cache of storytelling genius. This film never misses a beat for me. And that hour-long phone conversation between the two characters talking about almost anything was everything I want to have IRL. And yes, it has happened to me and it's that kind of spoken journey that make us examine the characters closely and intimately. 

And so with the premiere of his newest project in his already impeccable resume, Cameron Crowe puts together another ensemble piece in television format. Ladies and gentlemen, ROADiES. (Applause, applause, applause.) With the pilot episode already released ahead of time for free, I am already hooked. But I am stopping myself short of what this is all about. What can I say, I hate spoilers!

My TV has never been this happy with a weekly dose of Crowe. Thanks Cameron!

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Photo: Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Crowe, and Orlando Bloom in Elizabethtown (2005) by Paramount Pictures.