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September 9, 2005
Tuned in and bummed out
I'm all for television that's intricately plotted, complex and challenging. God knows I long ago outgrew the need for chipper, resolve-all-your-problems-in-a-half-hour sitcoms, such as "Full House" or anything else that was part of the T.G.I.F. lineup.
I liked the comic crankiness of "Everybody Loves Raymond." I like the complicated, occassionally unsympathetic characters on shows like "Rescue Me," "Veronica Mars," and "The Shield." And, like everyone else, I love it when someone gets whacked on "The Sopranos."
But lately, I've noticed something a little disconcerting about a lot shows on TV. They're, well, frankly, they're kind of a bummer.
This became especially clear to me this past week, as I watched an episode of my beloved "Rescue Me," a witty, smart, occassionally raw drama on the cable network FX.
Now, it's a show about firefighters, so, of course, it's often sad, violent -- even disturbing. But the show's main character, Tommy, has faced so many major life crises that the show is getting hard to watch. In the first season, his best friend died, his wife left him, his drinking problem worsened and he got thrown out of his firehouse.
This season was a little better for a while, as he returned to the firehouse and his wife returned (although his former girlfriend did lose their unborn child). However, this past week, he faced his worst trauma yet -- the death of young son in a senseless drunk driving accident.
Now, I wouldn't want to see the show go all cuddly and sugar-coated, but hasn't this poor man been through enough? Plus, it's only the second season. What will they do for a series finale -- ritualistic suicide?
It's not that I want my TV mindless, but there's enough trouble in the world. Let's have a little mercy on our fictional characters, please. Here's hoping that, in the "Rescue Me" season finale next week Tommy joins some sort of support group for traumatized television characters, along with "NYPD Blue"'s Andy Sipowicz, "24"'s Jack Bauer and Veronica Mars.
Then maybe we can all be happy.
Posted by amanda on September 9, 2005 2:41 PM
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