The problem/s with American TV is that TPTB behind it, primarily, are men, men, men, men, men. Who completely underestimate and pigeonhole the people watching their programs, who are entirely out-of-touch with regular folk, who target a too narrow audience segment for their advertisers (young men, because they're deemed to be the most stupid free with spending their money, and who fail to realize that their diminishing audience shares are not just because viewers have more options elsewhere now, but because the Big 4 put out so much crap.
I've always contended that a large part of the reason Stargate: SG-1 went so far downhill after JG left was because of the middle-aged, white men who took over and insisted on using the show to live out their middle-aged, white men fantasies. (See: Super!Sam, their middled-aged, white men's crush and totally out there idea of what a "real woman" should be. Super smart but always overcome by her simpering love for "Sir.") But, that was Canadian TV, so... ::g::
Much as I like Nathan Fillion and crime shows, I've never been able to bring myself to watch Castle because the promos make it look like it's nothing but the smirky, smarmy will they, won't they formula that was tired decades ago.
Is it entirely impossible for a man to look at a woman and just see a co-worker or friend, and not a potential bedmate, wife, or mother? Oy.
TV will only grow up when TPTB are more diversified, when they realize they don't know better than their audience, and when they give us credit for being interested in other things besides sex.
It's not even the fact that women are depicted in such a way in tv that totally enrages me; it's the fact that either no one sees it or else no one comments on it in the mass media. Are there no feminists left?
I don't read a lot of media on pop culture, just Entertainment Weekly, really, oh, and TVGuide.com, but the subject comes up there occasionally. I especially love Mark Harris's column in EW, and he's addressed the issue before. Oh, and today one of the reporters at TVGuide.com made a pithy statement regarding the upcoming so-called "feminist" sitcom, Work It, which looks truly execrable. You're right, though. Not enough being said out there.
I've always contended that a large part of the reason Stargate: SG-1 went so far downhill after JG left was because of the middle-aged, white men who took over and insisted on using the show to live out their middle-aged, white men fantasies. (See: Super!Sam, their middled-aged, white men's crush and totally out there idea of what a "real woman" should be. Super smart but always overcome by her simpering love for "Sir.") But, that was Canadian TV, so... ::g::
Much as I like Nathan Fillion and crime shows, I've never been able to bring myself to watch Castle because the promos make it look like it's nothing but the smirky, smarmy will they, won't they formula that was tired decades ago.
Is it entirely impossible for a man to look at a woman and just see a co-worker or friend, and not a potential bedmate, wife, or mother? Oy.
TV will only grow up when TPTB are more diversified, when they realize they don't know better than their audience, and when they give us credit for being interested in other things besides sex.
It's not even the fact that women are depicted in such a way in tv that totally enrages me; it's the fact that either no one sees it or else no one comments on it in the mass media. Are there no feminists left?
I don't read a lot of media on pop culture, just Entertainment Weekly, really, oh, and TVGuide.com, but the subject comes up there occasionally. I especially love Mark Harris's column in EW, and he's addressed the issue before. Oh, and today one of the reporters at TVGuide.com made a pithy statement regarding the upcoming so-called "feminist" sitcom, Work It, which looks truly execrable. You're right, though. Not enough being said out there.
Reply
Leave a comment