What's the Deal with Movie Popcorn?
It's tough enough already for a teenager to have to forgo his or her social life to get a part time job? Do these jobs have to provide added stress and humiliation? Why are movie theatre chains now making their employees take a microphone, stand in front of the entire audience and introduce the films? Isn't it bad enough that they have to be working on a Friday night and wearing those terrible uniforms? Now they have to dabble in public speaking?

Who's cruel idea of a joke was this? Lets get some 15 year old, pay him minimum wage for tearing a ticket, and make him get up in front of an entire audience of his peers and strangers and do a set of stand up comedy. So not only do these teenagers have to slave over greasy popcorn machines for six hours, now they have to write material during their break? Somewhere Famous Players Executives are having a good laugh.

…And this is the type of audience a nervous 17 year old wearing a butter stained pin stripe Cineplex Odeon shirt wants to make his showbiz debut in front of. An auditorium full of groups of obnoxious teenagers, guys trying to look funny in front of their dates, and gaggles of drunks and stoners. Oh yes...this is an ideal situation for heckling.

What purpose do these speeches have anyways? "The movie you are about to see is Rush Hour 2." Like it was a surprise or something? Like I didn't know this when I bought the ticket? Gee…thanks for the update. "You can purchase drinks and snacks at the concession stand." They sell popcorn here? Wow. What's next? Drinks we can bring with us back to our seats?

Is this really a necessary duty of these part time jobs? Do we really need to see another shy, 16 year old girl, blinded by the lights of the spotlight, and stumbling over her words? "So…anyone from out of town?"

I am determined that making these employees perform before the movie starts is an act of punishment from their Manager. "You have been late twice this week Lawrence…you go on before Pearl Harbor! And make with the funny!"


…but that's just my opinion.

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