The Declaration of the TV Whore
The Clip Show / The TV Whore
July 3, 2006
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That the Christ of Nazareth isn’t the only one who can come back to life. In 2003, the Emmy-award winning “Futurama” was yanked off the air after five seasons, due to low ratings pulled in by Fry and friends. Well if you haven’t heard, Comedy Central has picked the series back up and there will be at least 13 new episodes premiering in 2008, original voice-actors in tow. With the recent return of “Family Guy,” we are one step closer to being able to call the resurrection of cult-shows a legitimate trend, and it’s one that’s all too welcome. There are numerous shows that have been unceremoniously ripped off the air before their time, and while the chances of any show actually coming back remain slimmer than Kate Bosworth’s emaciated waistline, resurrections like this give the fans of each expired show a glimmer of hope. Of course, the realities of Hollywood mean that we’re less likely to see this trend carry over from animated sitcoms to live-action shows, but still, this is a sign that the entertainment biz can sometimes make a “Quantum Leap”-like correction of wrongly made decisions, so huzzah to Comedy Central.
That in 18 months YouTube is already having a serious impact on the networks. Speaking of resurrections, YouTube may have already garnered itself a spot at the table. Recently, a nixed WB pilot showed up, in full (albeit in 3 parts) on YouTube. The show, “Nobody’s Watching,” was a meta-comedy put together by “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence and focusing on two friends who are hired by the WB to appear in a reality show about their attempts to create a new sitcom whilst working and living on old sitcom sets and appearing before a live studio audience. It’s a clever idea and, while the pilot’s not without its faults, there were certainly some laughs and possibilities of potential to it. Despite the WB’s take on the pilot — that folks were too stupid to get it — it’s been remarkably well received online, to the point that Lawrence is actually in the early stages of discussing a possible resurrection. So maybe I was a little premature to suggest that this sort of thing can’t happen with live-action shows. Even if “Nobody’s Watching” doesn’t show up on a network some day, this is certainly yet another interesting development in the evolution of TV and, as Lawrence himself put it: “Why on earth wouldn’t a network, when they pick up 10 comedy pilots, just put ‘em all on YouTube and see what people respond to, and get real notes and real feedback from people, and get an idea of what they should pick up?”
Another sign of YouTube’s potential is NBC’s recent deal with the site. Currently, it’s just promotional in nature, with YouTube setting up a “channel” to show promos and clips of upcoming shows. But already NBC’s using the new deal to run a new kind of promotion for “The Office,” where fans create and post their own promos, with the winning ad getting an on-air showing towards the end of the summer. This isn’t just a clever way for NBC to get a free ad; a move like this gets tons of free word-of-mouth publicity (case in point — I’m talking about it right now, ain’t I?) and lets the fans feel involved.
It doesn’t take any real leap of imagination to see NBC taking the next step, as envisioned by Bill Lawrence, and posting pilots online during the pilot season to get a better read on how potential new shows screen, does it? In fact, the biggest hurdle here, to my thinking, is the potential risk to the networks. See, there’s the prospect that a pilot the network loves is posted online and is well received. The network is mollified that it got it right, and it can now use this surging public opinion during the upfronts when it’s setting the show’s ad rates, perhaps getting more than a rookie show might otherwise garner. But, what if a show isn’t well received, yet the network is stuck having to use it in the fall lineup anyway? It’s going to be hard getting the ad money for such a negatively received show, and even harder to get the series off the ground in the fall (even if the pilot’s problems were fixed), due to the bad taste it will have already created in folks’ mouths. And it’s this risk of failure that makes me think we’re not quite at a place where we’ll see pilots being screened en masse just yet. But I do think it’s only a matter of time and, personally, I can’t wait. Anything that shakes up the television industry is aces-up in my book.
That the bitches aren’t as welcome to the O.C. next year. Fox has announced that it’s lowering its episode order for “The O.C.,” signing on for just 16 episodes instead of the usual minimum-22 (and actually, Fox has taken at least 24 episodes in the show’s first three seasons). Fox claims this is due to scheduling needs, since the show won’t even premier until November 2, after baseball is done swinging the bat. But that smells like a steaming pile of horseshit if you ask me, because they could easily roll out 22+ new episodes between November 2 and the end of May sweeps. One suspects that Fox’s faith in the show is dwindling after a lackluster third season (Marissa’s fantastically hilarious death aside). And that faith probably isn’t helped any when you look at the schedule — not only does “The O.C.” remain up against ratings stalwart “C.S.I.”, but now it’s also facing “Deal or No Deal” and the newly timeslotted “Grey’s Anatomy” (which we already knows scares the bejesus out of NBC). So it looks like there may only be one more year before everyone but Peter Gallagher (and maybe Adam Brody) goes off into obscurity. But don’t worry guys, Mischa’s already there, keeping the couch warm for you.
That not everything from the land of King George III is terrible. Like many males of my generation, my first introduction to the world of British humour was “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” In the years since discovering wafer-thin mints, nipples exploding with delight, and expectations of the Spanish Inquisition, I’ve stumbled upon many other imported gems from across the pond — “Mr. Bean,” “The Office,” “The Young Ones,” “Coupling,” “Black Books,” and, of course, “Fawlty Towers.” However, my favorite of them all has always been “Blackadder,” Rowan Atkinson’s pre-Bean historically set series. Although I’m not a huge fan of the first series (the Richard III era), the other three series are bloody fantastic (my personal favorite being the Elizabethan “Blackadder II”).
So I was outrageously happy in 1999 when the one-shot “Blackadder Back & Forth” came out. After watching it, however, I was outrageously disappointed. But that disappointment doesn’t lessen my joy in hearing the early rumors of a potential “Blackadder” movie in our futures. Details are extremely light at this point, but the rumors include conversations between Stephen Fry and Atkinson about returning to the characters, and that writer Ben Elton is working on a screenplay set during the Russian Revolution. As Lord Flashheart would say, “woof!”
That in its death throes, the WB is actually doing something right. The network’s last day on the air is scheduled to be September 17th. To honor its demise, the network is planning to run four of its more significant pilots in its last gasp of on-air time. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. that night, the net will air the pilots of “Felicity,” “Angel,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” (two hours), and “Dawson’s Creek.” A variety of rights-related issued forced them to stick with dead shows, which is why they’re not including the pilots of any still-breathing shows such as “Gilmore Girls.” Still, it’s a rather classy way to go out and, while it still won’t get me to watch the WB, even on its last night, I commend the network for leaving with a touch of grace.
That casting news can be both good and bad. On the “good casting news” front, word has it that the impending return of “Weeds” (August!) will include a run by Zooey Deschanel as a love interest for Justin Kirk’s brother-in-law character, Andy. Deschanel’s ability to play dark and dry wit should mix well with the tenor of the show and has me very excited. A similarly good mix appears to be in the making with the addition of the post-“Invasion” William Fichtner to the sophomore season of “Prison Break,” where he’ll play an agent hunting down our recently escaped friends. Of course, this isn’t really a show that needs the kind of broad-ranged talent that Fichtner has, but he may to help lower (at least a little) the show’s unintentional comedy factor (and even if not, he should be able to equally mix in with its over-the-topness).
Of course, for every casting agent who does the right thing, there’s one who gets it as wrong as wrong can be. And this week, that award goes to the casting agent over at “Nip/Tuck.” After the debacle that was last season, I was naively hoping that they could right the ship and get it back to its former glory. Well, “hope in one hand, shit in the other, see which fills up first,” as they say. In this case, the shit in the other hand comes in the form of A.C. Slater. Yes, it’s with a deeply saddened heart that I learned that Mario Lopez will be showing up to have some sort of homoerotic tryst with Christian. Now the good news is, I think it’s only for one episode. But the bad news is, “Nip/Tuck” is done, folks. Just call it a day on this one, and move on.
That we just can’t get enough cocks. Speaking of guest stars, I just wanna throw out some mad props to “Deadwood” for bringing the always fantastic Brian Cox onboard as theater manager Jack Langrishe. He’s bringing an awesome extra verve to an increasingly amazing show that wasn’t even in need of such extra verve. Damn HBO for fucking up the fourth season (yes, I will bitch about this over the next year just as much as I bitched about the cancellation of “Arrested Development” — deal with it).
That nothings stirs up drama like a little rape. If you’re not up-to-speed on the ongoing online debate resulting from the controversial sex scene in the third episode of this season of “Rescue Me,” the Star Ledger’s Alan Sepinwall has a good write-up on it, including some responses from show creators Peter Tolan and Dennis Leary. I pretty much agree with Sepinwall’s take on the situation, and will just add these few comments:
I don’t consider myself a “sensitive” viewer, and few things I watch, read, or hear ever bother me. But I gotta admit, even I was a little shocked and disturbed by, in Tolan’s parlance, the “dangerous scene,” particularly Gavin’s smirk of enjoyment when all was said and done. I simply can’t buy that Tolan and Leary were shooting for something different with this scene, despite their protestations otherwise, because I find it very difficult to believe that anyone could sit down and watch this and see it as anything but a rape (even with Janet’s eventual acceptance and apparent enjoyment of it). I’ve been willing to accept, and usually laugh immensely at, the show’s obvious male-centric and sometimes misogynist point of view, but this one pushed it a little far even for me. And don’t get me wrong — it’s not the fact that they wanted to include this scene at all that bothers me; it’s how they handled it. As Sepinwall points out, shows like “The Sopranos” get away with having their characters do despicable things because the show itself doesn’t appear to condone the acts. Here, however, with that little sneer that Leary throws out as he leaves the house, and Janet’s pleasant demeanor after the fact, the show seemed to be condoning what just happened, writing it off as “Well, they’ve got a high-energy and dangerous relationship, and these things happen.” I’m not going to stop watching the show, mind you, but this left a bad taste in my mouth and I am extremely disappointed.
That July brings us new shows trying to tide us through the summer. There are several new things coming to us over the next couple of weeks. First, there’s the new season of “Rock Star” (Wednesdays, 8 p.m., CBS) starting July 5. I enjoyed the hell out of the first season so I’m hoping this one will be just as entertaining (and the concept of this mashed-up Supernova “mega-band” is no more ridiculous, when you get down to it, than the comeback of INXS was last season). July 9, meanwhile gives us a little old and a little new. At 9 p.m., Comedy Central is airing the quasi-season of “Chappelle’s Show,” presumably much to Dave’s chagrin (the last I heard from him on the issue, he didn’t want them airing it without his approval, and since he didn’t film the skit intros, I’m guessing they don’t have his approval). Then at 10 p.m., Showtime will be premiering “Brotherhood.” Early word on this Irish/crime drama is mixed but skewing towards the positive and, and as I’ve mentioned before, Showtime has joined the ranks of HBO and F/X insofar as I’ll try any new show that looks to have potential.
And then we’ve got two returning reality shows that sit on the opposite ends of the spectrum, with “Project Runway” (Wednesday, 9 p.m., Bravo) returning on July 12 and the newly-networked “The Contender” (Tuesday, 10 p.m., ESPN) returning on July 17. The first ain’t my cup of tea, and I don’t know if the latter will be any good (although the little-watched first season was incredibly engaging), but either is likely to be better than most of your other viewing options.
That y’all should enjoy your 4th of July. Seriously, take one day off from your television watching (there’s only going to be shit on, anyway) and enjoy a nice summer day with your friends and family, barbequing some tasty meat (and if you’re vegetarian, suck it up and eat some meat anyways — it’s good for you!) and watching some fireworks. And then you can get back to the glories and disreputes of all that is Television.
Seth Freilich is Pajiba’s television columnist. He lives in Washington, D.C., and couldn’t be happier that summer “intern season” is finally here.
People Say Crazy Shit During Sex. One Time I Called this Girl 'Pajiba.' | | Interview with Rawson Marshall Thurber - Mysteries of Pittsburgh |
Comments
I am pretty sure it is death throes, not death throws.
Any word on whether Hugh Laurie would be interested in the Blackadder reunion? I thought he was the best part.
Author's Note: Yes, "throes" not "throws." Noted and corrected - thanks. And no word on whether Laurie would be interested, but I would imagine they wouldn't go forward without at least Atkinson, Fry, Laurie and Tony Robinson (Baldrick).
Posted by: Maria at July 3, 2006 2:02 PM
I don't believe "Rescue Me" is condoning rape any more than it condones homophobia, stealing children, vigilante justice or beating the crap out of your brother. Tommy and his wife just have a relationship that really is that twisted. I think the scene fits them.
Posted by: pammeey at July 3, 2006 2:08 PM
There is a little thing called the World Cup semi-finals on tomorrow that bears watching... or do sports not count within the TV Whore's column?
Posted by: Jere at July 3, 2006 2:11 PM
Am I the only person who watches It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia?
Posted by: Kitty X at July 3, 2006 2:17 PM
Ahh, "The Young Ones." I can generally determine whether I'll like someone based on their reaction to the episode entitled "Flood."
Posted by: A Girl Named Bob at July 3, 2006 2:28 PM
I love "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and am in hysterics at least two or three times an episode (case in point: "Viet-damn-nam is what happened! Now get me a beer bitch!")
I'm just waiting for episode 7 this season: "The Gang Rapes Janet Gavin".
Doo doo doo doo doo doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo doo...
Posted by: Jimmy V at July 3, 2006 2:33 PM
Regarding the Rescue Me rape:
Tommy Gavin is not a good guy. He is a true anti-hero, and the show's main protagonist, but ultimately he's just another TV jerk who is excused because he's good at his job, he's funny, and he makes compelling viewing. (This role is often written as a doctor, ie., House, Dr. Benton, Dr. Cox, etc.) He is still in love with Janet, always has been, and he could not figure out another way to get close to her at this point. Don't forget their child has died. Oh yeah, and did I mention Tommy is a total jerk?
The first things you should notice when you start watching Rescue Me is that the show is not realistic, not geared or sympathetic to women, and the writing is not quite up to the level of its production values or acting. (You have to admit, there are some great performances on the show.) It's a soap opera for men, a total male fantasy. And there were several ways for the writers to clean up the scene in question, but they chose not to or, more likely, didn't have the chops to figure it out.
But come on, how much do you really expect from a show where EVERY female character is inexplicably attracted to Denis Leary?
Denis Leary?!?
Posted by: Tracy at July 3, 2006 2:53 PM
Yeah, but imagine a show that was "geared" to white people, that treated black people and other minorities that way.
There'd be riots.
Why, then, is it understandable when it's women being portrayed that way? Just because something is geared to a specific crowd, doesn't mean it's any good. We're all down on the "chick-lit" fantasies of shoes and dieting, but male-fantasies of rape and misogyny are excusable? Hmm.
And before I get accused of having a "corncob up my ass", let me recommend a wonderful British show I've been watching. It's on BBC at midnight on Thursdays, it's called "Green Wing". It's a hilarious, surprising, visually engaging, hour-long comedy-drama about a handful of London doctors and hospital staff. Not like "ER", way more surreal and irreverent. I don't even like TV, and I can't recall ever watching anything this regularly except "The Daily Show" and Adult Swim. Highly recommended.
Happy Fourth, y'all. Peace!
Posted by: Vi at July 3, 2006 3:16 PM
"I was a little shocked and disturbed" ... I declare shenanigans on the TV whore ... there is NO WAY he was the tiniest bit shocked or disturbed.
My own view is that Janet is just as dysfunctional as Tommy and that's why she didn't feel raped. Rape is subjective to the female so if she didn't feel raped ... guess what boys ... she wasn't raped!!!
Posted by: Jenny C at July 3, 2006 3:33 PM
Kitty X: I freakin' love "Always Sunny". So dark, so funny. I hope beyond hope that we will see a dvd release soon, but I'll probably have to get everything on iTunes before all is said and done.
About the Rescue Me scene: I wasn't all that shocked. I mean, when it started going down, I thought, "Holy shit, he's raping Janet." But when her reaction was merely "Tommy!" with that "What the hell, dude?" tone, I remembered just how screwed up the two of them are. Not that that excuses it, but that's just how the show works. Btw, Rescue Me is my favorite show on TV right now, but when January rolls around, it'll be The Shield, hands down. Just in case anyone was wondering.
Another btw, Rescue Me Seasons 1 and 2 are on sale at Target right now for $20 a pop.
Posted by: Cody at July 3, 2006 4:43 PM
RE Rescue Me: the rape wasn't about Janet or their relationship, it was about the brothers. Guess the brother will get the last laugh when we find out the oldest daughter is really his kid, not Tommy's. Just a guess. I think it was rape, but it's a TV show, not real life. It would be nice if there was one admirable female character (Sheila's really the only one who comes close), but whatever. It's Leary's show, he can do it however he wants, and he's right, if we don't like it, we don't have to watch.
RE Blackadder: it rules! Not sure we need a movie, but whatever, if they can do TWO Scooby-Doo movies, what can't we have a movie of?
RE Sunny in Philadelphia: freakin' hilarious. That scene from last season, where the little dude answers the door in his underwear, wearing the Nazi officer's hat and eating a banana, still cracks my shit up.
Posted by: LL at July 3, 2006 4:56 PM
Jenny C is correct.
She didn't feel raped -- she wasn't raped. They have a twisted way of relating to each other. Period.
The seemingly irresistible urge to impose one's own morality onto others -- even so far as other who are FICTIONAL -- doesn't seem to know any ideological boundaries. Liberal or conservative, it still comes down to wanting to regulate private behaviour -- and in this case, in a fictional fucking character, no less!
A million different people will have a million different experiences of the same 15 second event. Tell me why, someone, plase, why we feel so compelled to draw such rigid lines around our lives? I can't believe I was inspired to write this about a FICTIONAL EVENT, but there you have it -- the characters didn't experience it as rape -- so why on EARTH would the viewers attempt to pigeonhole -- in DIRECT CONTRADICTION to the reality of the fictional world -- the event as a "rape?"
For christ's fucking sake, first and foremost -- IT'S FICTION. Second and ALMOST as important: where do we get off telling other people what their reaction to an experience SHOULD be, when their actual reaction doesn't suit our world view?
Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at July 3, 2006 6:35 PM
WOOF WOOF!
Posted by: Thaf at July 3, 2006 7:25 PM
...where do we get off telling other people what their reaction to an experience SHOULD be, when their actual reaction doesn't suit our world view?
But...but...that's what you just did! If shock was his honest reaction, he shouldn't say so? I don't understand that. He's not telling anyone else to share his reaction, and he's not boycotting the show. Sounds like he believes they made a wrong turn, and said so.
Posted by: sansho1 at July 3, 2006 7:38 PM
Completely agree about Blackadder. 1st is a write-off, he's far too wimpy a character, and the writing isn't as strong. The 2nd one is astoundingly funny and Curtis and Elton really hit their strides, along with the stellar cast. The 3rd is also great, the 4th less so, with more running gags, but is also good.
You also overlooked the Blackadder Christmas Carol in which he sees what his life is like if he was a prick instead of being nice (it's great, seriously).
I was delighted when they made a 5th and was also wholeheartedly disappointed. A movie would be delightful, and I hope Laurie signs on. Seriously, I can't watch House without thinking of him as the German dungeonmaster or the foppish Prince Regent. Gold.
Posted by: Noel at July 3, 2006 9:45 PM
The last scene of "Blackadder Goes Forth" gets me every time.
Posted by: Ashley at July 3, 2006 10:15 PM
Sansho -- I wasn't talking to the author of the piece -- I was responding to the entire issue. The "debate," if you will, since there seems to be some sort of "controvery" attached to the entire episode -- the {"should they have depicted it or not" bullshit.
It's art. For better or worse, the writing, direction and acting are all artistic choices in an artistic process. The endless sturm un drang over whether this is "appropriate" is irrelevant.
But then, here I am, contributing to it.
Ah, irony.
Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at July 3, 2006 10:44 PM
So WB is leaving us? Good riddance, nothing has been good on that channel since Gilmore Girls, and even that's left it to UPN (I think)...I can't keep track of all the TV channels nowadays, although I did enjoy Bravo's Top Chef, however, I'm an avid watcher of the Food Network anyway (except Rachael Ray, she is like nails on a chalkboard!)...Well, is there anything else that's good on TV anymore, anyway?
Posted by: Gina at July 4, 2006 1:16 AM
RE: The OC
It appears that Ben McKenzie (Ryan) is making a valiant effort to prevent himself from fading into obscurity by launching his big-screen career - he played Amy Adams' brother in Junebug (horribly).
Posted by: Karina at July 4, 2006 11:40 AM
to the above poster, Ben Mackenzie played her boyfriend, not her brother. and almost all critics agreed he was actually quite good in the role.
Posted by: lori at July 4, 2006 1:13 PM
Thank God for Futurama's coming return. That show was hilarious, and I'm excited that we have new episodes on the way with the orginal cast. Hopefully, they'll start showing the five season in 06 and 07.
Posted by: SBC at July 4, 2006 3:52 PM
Hopefully futurama wont become the dreck that Family guy has been as of late..
Cheers for the "the young ones" mention!
Posted by: Sandy at July 4, 2006 4:11 PM
Do you think maybe Tommy Gavin's smirk was due to the thought that he just passed chlamydia to his brother, through his Ex, knowing the damage an STD can do to a relationship?
Posted by: gomez917 at July 4, 2006 5:02 PM
While I was glad to see that William Fichtner was getting some work--he's been in some real shit over the years but he never fails to be exellent--it was the final nail in the Invasion coffin. No last minute reprise from the SciSif channel and that's a pity. I really wish ABC had given it more of a chance.
Posted by: telesilla at July 4, 2006 10:00 PM
Re: the rape, the same controversy went on in Gone With the Wind, when in the famous scene, Rhett Butler sweeps Scarlett up into his arms and up the great big red staircase...fade to black, cut to Scarlett singing like a bluebird the next morning. That was another intense and dangerous relationship that, hackneyed as it is, is viewed by many to be one of the most romantic onscreen relationships of all time...Granted, that was 70 years ago and gender roles were not exactly the same as they are today, but its still just as hard to prosecute spousal rape. Maybe Leary is painting his Tommy character as the Rhett Butler of the new millenium..."rogue" just has a different ring to it these days.
Also, Always Sunny in PA, is one of the truly funniest things I've seen in a long time. It's the possible second coming of Arrested Development. I sincerely hope it keeps getting picked up.
Posted by: MG at July 5, 2006 10:02 AM
But come on, how much do you really expect from a show where EVERY female character is inexplicably attracted to Denis Leary?
Denis Leary?!?
Hey, I'm female and Denis Leary can rock my little world any day. That being said, what do you expect from a show that Denis Leary produces and is the star of? :)
I am ecstatic at the thought of a Blackadder movie. Simply ecstatic.
Posted by: Noelegy at July 5, 2006 12:59 PM
Hey um, I understand wanting to express one's self but YOU ARE ALL RIGHTING ABOUT FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, FICTIONAL EVENTS, FICTIONAL SITUATIONS , AND FICTIONAL EMOTIONS. I under stand that this was meant to inspire and perhaps some of you get to view another way of life but read a book or something. Do your brain a favor and read something, fictional or non. Even better, volunteer for a good cause. Then you really could see some tough situations and events. Might I suggest soup kitchens or homeless shelters, they are more than willing to share their stories. It's more useful than sitting on your backside and watching a prearranged life with an ending you can't change. Oh, and on a personal note, I would appreciate if people would please not curse or use Christ's name in vain. As a young Christian, looking for art that inspires, I was directed here and am disgusted that this is considered art.
Posted by: Observer at July 5, 2006 1:52 PM
To Jenny C and Mary Scott O'Connor: Rape is when one person has sex with another person without their consent. There's little that's subjective about that. What was shown in the show was clearly a rape, even if the victim eventually began to enjoy it (which, as the TV whore points out, is a disturbing and offensive male fantasy). As for the point that this is fiction, that's exactly the point (if I'm reading it right) that the author makes here. This is a fiction which condones abuse of women on the grounds that they enjoy it really. It's exactly this attitude that continues to make date and spousal rape almost impossible to prosecute. Of course fiction does not show us real people, but neither does it float free of moral or political culpability. Fiction is the forcing ground in which ideologies and particular discourses find root, and are shaped and tested. They are a way of interpreting lived experience, and in this case that interpretation condoned sexual violence within a twisted and aggressive relationship - an attitude which any amount of moral relativism doesn't make acceptable.
Superb piece this week, by the way.
Posted by: Smith at July 5, 2006 2:25 PM
Was I the only one that read the news about Lopez appearing on Nip/Tuck and thought of George Lopez?
After thinking that for about 2 minutes, Mario doesn't seem that bad.
Posted by: dodgeperry at July 5, 2006 3:42 PM
Something is telling me not to step in this turd, especially since it's one that Dennis Leary (who clearly created an independent universe for his character to inhabit) laid, but I simply must. On the one hand, I am loathe to hobble art with too many moral judgements. After all, A History of Violence has a similarly-themed sex scene in which there is some hitting (her) and choking (him), which winds up turning her on. However, their relationship is clearly quite healthy, they are both under a great deal of stress, the terms of both of their lives have changed completely, and the movie's big point is examining violence in many contexts. Some might be uncomfortable with the scene, and that's fine, but I thought it was perfectly appropriate and enlightening within its context. And she clearly wants it from the get go. She reaches for HIM.
I agree with Smith in the larger context however. If we make an amorphous statement like a woman is raped only if she feels raped, and otherwise, not so much, we open up so many cans of fucked-up worms. Is it then okay for a man, even a fictional man, to give it the old college try as a woman struggles and protests, in case she happens not to feel raped during or afterwards? Gee, think that could get to be a bit uncomfortable and problematic? I happen to like Rescue Me for what it is, but I have never felt as uncomfortable with the show as I did after that scene, and I may just take Dennis's advice and stop watching. I felt rather ill, mostly because she began to enjoy it and was seemingly unfazed, and that's the most dangerous component of male rape fantatsies. Yes, their relationship is seriously fucked, and there are so very many ways that they could have chosen to illustrate that fact other than such a loaded and purposefully contraversial situation.
Posted by: MaiGirl at July 5, 2006 3:46 PM
Hahahahahahahaha.......
Sorry, that's my natural response when people think that identifying consent is a objective task. Also, step outside of your bland, vanilla, McKinnon-inspired conceptions of sex, life will get a lot more fun.
Posted by: WestCoastPat at July 5, 2006 4:20 PM
Why do commenters keep assuming that the scene in Rescue Me is a male fantasy only. There are plenty of women who have rape fantasy, as well. Also, who hasn't had angry make up sex or break up sex. Hell, if it wasn't for break up sex I would have never ended up with my now husband.
WestCoastPat is right ... there are other ways to do it besides missionary position.
Oh, and one clarification. I wasn't saying that one could not be "a little shocked and disturbed" by the scene in Rescue Me. I was simply saying that there is no way the TV Whore himself was "a little shocked and disturbed."
Posted by: Jenny C at July 5, 2006 6:16 PM
It's Dennis Leary people - and it's television.
With these two earth shattering epiphanies in mind, let's take a dose of reality and sum up the realization that Dennis Leary is just far to fucking ugly to get Janet in the first place.
- My Daily Zen.com
Posted by: Master Zen at July 5, 2006 6:56 PM
Should we write something off simply because it's "Dennis Leary" or "television?" I think the issue we're raising is two-fold and that some people are confusing "fictional" with "free license." What is portrayed on a TV show or movie, be it fictional, depends so much on its context - if, for instance, the "rape scene" had, in the context of the show, been treated with the seriousness it has received from the press, that would have been one thing. It was, however, treated with a smug sort of flippancy - the kind of flippancy that should enrage women and men who understand that violence of this kind is no laughing matter.
I'm not without a sense of humor, and I can say, "well, that's offensive, but I don't have to watch it." But the reaction of some of the women on this sight is disheartening. Smith and MadGirl have it right in asserting that consent CAN be objective and that failing to realize this leads to the inequality and injustice women have received from society and the courtroom.
But a return of Black Adder? Now that's something to make you happy...
Posted by: pseudoliterati at July 5, 2006 7:54 PM
Mother of God, i love The Young Ones.
When they find oil in the basement and Neil hits Vyvyan in the head with the pickaxe, after which he ostensibly dies. And then, after the credits roll they cut back to Vyvyan standing back up and just puking! Classic.
Posted by: Never Watched Rescue Me at July 5, 2006 8:41 PM
WestCoastPat: "Also, step outside of your bland, vanilla, McKinnon-inspired conceptions of sex, life will get a lot more fun".
Weirdly, objecting to a television programme which condones violent, non-consensual sex doesn't mean I only do it with the lights off, my shirt still on, and the bedclothes pulled up to my neck. It looks like you, not me, are the one subscribing to a very limited, highly stereotyped, and pretty disturbing, view of sex and sensuality.
On a very different note -- aren't the Blackadder guys getting a bit old now?
Posted by: Smith at July 6, 2006 6:13 AM
I meant bland and vanilla as referring to the conception that "good sex", meaning favorable, legitimate sex, can only exist absent any type of violence. I could honestly care less how you leave the lights.
Posted by: WestCoastPat at July 6, 2006 9:53 AM
Speaking of British comedy, tell me "Green Wing" has blipped on your radar. By far the funniest damn nonsense I have seen in years.
Don't touch my squirrel!
Posted by: LA at July 6, 2006 11:35 AM
WestCoastPat: How narrow-minded I've been! When he gets home I must suggest my boyfriend beats me up and calls it foreplay. You're right, things have been awfully unexciting until now.
Posted by: Smith at July 6, 2006 12:44 PM
Okay, WestCoastPat, gotta get in on this one, too. If you mean consensual S&M, B&D, or whatever, fine. It's not my cup of tea, but I certainly have my little kinks that I display on the regular. But again, BOTH parties need to be in on the decision making for whatever whippy-spanky-beaty takes place.
Posted by: MaiGirl at July 6, 2006 12:49 PM
"Why do commenters keep assuming that the scene in Rescue Me is a male fantasy only. There are plenty of women who have rape fantasy, as well. "
Jenny C: The phrase "rape fantasy" is a semantic impossibility. One cannot desire an act that is, by definition, undesired. The moment an individual fantasizes about a sexual encounter he or she imagines as "rape", the imagined encounter immediately fails to meet the definition of rape.
Posted by: merral at July 6, 2006 3:10 PM
I've always preferred the term "ravishment fantasy" to "rape fantasy." It's more accurate.
That said, it is true that many women fantasize about being "overwhelmed" by a man. I've always assumed that this was a way to avoid responsibility for the (fantasy) sex: a good girl can never say yes to sex, but if a man forces her, she doesn't have to say yes to get the sex she wants.
I find it sad that even nowadays, many women are so deeply conditioned against their own sexuality that even in their most private fantasies, they need to find a way to opt out of responsibility for sex.
This situation has also had some pretty rotten consequences for geniune victims of real-life rape, which I needn't go into.
As for Rescue Me, I'm still watching...but I think a lot less of Janet than I did before.
Posted by: Jerce at July 6, 2006 4:56 PM
Green Wing is the funniest thing I have seen in years. Here in Britain its not really that popular but I'm pleased that some people in America seem to be enjoying it. Black Books is fab too but that has been mentioned already. I'm so proud of our comedy :)
Posted by: kat at July 7, 2006 11:30 AM
I thought Futurama was awesome, so glad it's coming back, yipee!!!
Posted by: Gina at July 9, 2006 7:58 PM
"Gone with the Wind"--read the book, y'all, it wasn't a rape scene at all.
"Green Wing"--I never watched it when I was in the UK (no TV), saw the billboards and recognized it on listings when I got home. So glad I tried it. It's so freaking original/sexy/funny. So different from the crap that we apparently like here enough to nominate for increasingly-meaningless awards...
Posted by: Vi at July 9, 2006 9:44 PM
"whippy-beaty-spanky".... Maigirl, I'm stealing that. It's now a part of my lexicon. It's my new euphemism for sex. (Which is neither whippy, beaty, nor spanky...... at least, NOT YET.)
And I was a little eeked out about the rape scene-but not nearly as much as my husband was! He didn't want me to watch him watching that scene, but he didn't want to NOT look. And he didn't want to look over at me, either. Like he thought if I looked at him looking at me while the scene was still going, I would clutch at my nightie and scream "PERV" at him. He had a whole internal struggle. So while the scene itself wasn't terribly appetizing, the scene it led to in my house was great entertainment. And I found out that my beloved redneck hubby isn't nearly as insensitive as I thought. Thanks, Denis Leary!
Posted by: 'Leen at July 11, 2006 12:57 PM
As for the quote "She didn't feel raped -- she wasn't raped.". Lets try that the other way around. "She felt raped. She was raped." So everyone that has any regret, any revenge, any guilt can simply disolve it by saying they (felt they) were raped by that person. Oops, I slept with your boyfriend and I feel guilty, I'll say I was raped so I don't get blamed for it. All I have to do is "feel" that way. And who hasn't felt hurt when they are just being selfish, important when they are being egotistic. It's easy to switch around feelings and have an entirely inaapropriate one in place of a normal one. I'm sure on some level the dancer at the Duke lacrosse party "feels" raped. Does that mean it happened? Rape is when you have sexual relations with someone that says no, can't say no, is mentally unable to give consent or is physically forced to submit. Period.
Posted by: Helen at July 17, 2006 11:21 PM
