My wife and I went out to Cody's and to the movies the other night for my birthday. I turned 36 this year.

We saw the movie "Mall Cop" with Kevin James. I liked that movie, but you can't really take my advice on these things anymore because I'm just happy to be able to get out of the house and eat a steak and see a movie these days. It's the simple things in life that sustain me.

James plays a kind of "nice guy finishes last" security guard, who is prompted to evolve into a real hero when a group of X-game champions/ninja thieves take over his mall and hold the gal he's been pining for hostage.

The movie is a pretty close parody of "Die Hard" in my opinion, but James sells it with his excellent physical humor and his ability to convey a great deal with a change of facial expression.

For my birthday, Christine bought me "Extras" on DVD. The TV show features Ricky Gervais of the original UK version of "The Office" and a number of guest stars including a potty-mouthed Kate Winslet and Samuel L. Jackson.

This show is laugh-out-loud comedy. I literally lose it every episode. Gervais is the king of uncomfortable, awkward social moments comedy.

I know it's heresy, but I prefer "Extras" to either version of "The Office."

Speaking of which, I thought the after Super Bowl episode of The Office was excellent. The best all season. Hopefully, they will keep up the momentum because before that, the show was getting a little underwhelming (my goto criticism word this TV season).

The game was good, and yes, even though I'm usually a sports phobe I watched it. I've figured out that I need to have something on the line, an olympic medal, the world series, the super bowl. It's not good enough for me that it's Sunday and someone's playing something somewhere.

I also enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's performance at halftime. His voice wasn't as strong as it could have been, but his stage presence and his band were electrifying. I remember getting my copy of Born in the U.S.A. when I was in the seventh grade. That and the Miami Vice Soundtrack were my introduction to the music side of pop culture.