The Art of Doing Nothing: Why 'Fishing with John' is a Masterpiece of Anti-Television
There’s something profoundly unsettling about a show where nothing happens. I mean, nothing. No plot twists, no dramatic arcs, no climactic moments. Just a bunch of famous people sitting around, failing to fish. That’s the essence of Fishing with John, a 1991 series that feels like a middle finger to conventional TV. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it defies every rule of entertainment. It’s not funny in the way sitcoms are, it’s not insightful like a talk show, and it’s certainly not thrilling. Yet, it’s utterly captivating.
The Genius of Boredom
John Lurie, the creator and host, is a man who seems to thrive in the awkward spaces between words. Personally, I think his genius lies in his ability to turn silence into art. Pairing him with equally laconic celebrities like Tom Waits and Willem Dafoe creates a dynamic that’s both cringe-worthy and mesmerizing. What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t just a fishing show gone wrong—it’s a deliberate experiment in anti-television. Lurie isn’t trying to entertain; he’s trying to provoke.
Take the episode where Lurie and Jim Jarmusch attempt to fish by holding food over the water while one of them points a gun at it. On paper, it sounds absurd. But watching it, you’re not laughing—you’re questioning why you’re still watching. This raises a deeper question: What do we expect from television? If you take a step back and think about it, most TV is designed to distract, to fill every second with noise. Fishing with John does the opposite. It forces you to sit with the discomfort of emptiness.
The Cult of the Unwatchable
What’s truly remarkable is how this show has endured. It’s not just a relic of the ’90s; it’s a cult classic. The Criterion Collection’s decision to release it on DVD in 1999 was a bold statement—this is art, not entertainment. And yet, it’s not pretentious. There’s a raw authenticity to Lurie’s interactions with his guests. They’re not performing; they’re just being. A detail that I find especially interesting is how the show’s failure to conform to any genre is precisely what makes it timeless.
The 2021 reboot, Painting with John, is a more polished version of the same idea. Lurie, now a painter, shares anecdotes and techniques, but the essence remains—it’s a show about doing nothing, about being present. What this really suggests is that Lurie’s entire body of work is a rebellion against the idea that art needs to be productive.
Why It Matters
In my opinion, Fishing with John is a mirror held up to our cultural obsession with productivity. We’re so conditioned to consume content that’s fast, loud, and stimulating that a show like this feels almost subversive. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most profound moments come from doing absolutely nothing. One thing that immediately stands out is how the show challenges our attention span. Can we sit with silence? Can we find meaning in the mundane?
From my perspective, this is where the show’s true brilliance lies. It’s not just anti-television; it’s anti-everything. It rejects the notion that art needs to have a purpose, that entertainment needs to be exciting. It’s a show that dares you to be bored—and in that boredom, you might just find something beautiful.
The Legacy of Lurie’s Experiment
What’s most intriguing about Fishing with John is its influence on modern media. In an era of reality TV and streaming overload, it feels like a relic from another planet. But it’s also a blueprint for shows that prioritize authenticity over spectacle. Personally, I think we’re seeing a resurgence of this kind of slow, contemplative content—think Slow TV or My Octopus Teacher. People are craving something real, something that doesn’t demand their constant attention.
If you’ve never seen Fishing with John, I urge you to give it a try. It’s not for everyone, and that’s the point. It’s a show that challenges you to rethink what television can be. In a world where every second of screen time is optimized for engagement, this is a show that dares to waste your time—and in doing so, it might just give you something invaluable: the space to think.
Final Thoughts
As I reflect on Fishing with John, I’m struck by how ahead of its time it was. It’s not just a show; it’s a statement. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to make sense, that entertainment doesn’t always need to entertain. What makes this series so enduring is its willingness to be uncomfortable, to be unwatchable, to be nothing. And in that nothingness, it finds its greatness.
So, the next time you’re scrolling through endless streams of content, take a moment to remember Fishing with John. It’s a show that proves sometimes, the best way to make a statement is to say nothing at all.
