We at da club!
You know what I hate about television shows? Everything from stupid sitcoms to intelligent dramas make bar hopping/clubbing/drinking/partying the only viable option for for adults in search of entertainment, fun, time with friends, and even recovery from trauma.
On "The L Word," which I am currently watching, one of the female characters has just found out she has breast cancer, had a mastectomy, and is currently going through vomit-inducing chemo.... and her best friend suggest they go to a bar. How. Fun. Yeah, let's go party somewhere where your nausea will be exacerbated by loud music, sweat, the close press of badly dancing bodies, and - lets not forget - ALCOHOL! Hurrah!
Oh look, uncomfortable cancer patient fresh out of surgery in a club. Will she have a good time?
Images such as this are not uncommon. I can remember many-a-drinkin' scene in "Grey's Anatomy", at least one of which was supposedly cathartic to the poor bleeding hearts that clog that show. And the dancing. Get drunk and dance. Yep, that's the only way to recover from failed relationships, mistakes on the job, and cancer. Absolutely. I remember at least one or two similar scenes in "Alias". Even "30 Rock", one of the smartest shows I've ever seen, has exhibited this shallow pool of activity for supposedly intelligent adults. But "30 Rock" at least gets it right, admitting wholeheartedly that their characters are just too immature and scared to face their issues. The writers of "30 Rock" purposefully poke fun at the lamed emotional states of Liz Lemon, Tracy Jordan, Jack Donaghy, and cast.
Sure, a little drinky and a little dancy is fun. And it can be good. But when it is used as the only outlet for all emotions? By dramas that otherwise assert they are intelligent, peopled by intelligent and thoughtful adults? What? When will these intelligent adults quit drinking their problems away and actually deal with their shit?
It looks like she just might enjoy herself...
Why does the media think that drinking is the only fun things adults want to do? Why do they glamourize it?Yes, I rant. It's probably all for some more shallow, money driven, corporate media interest reason. Like, alcohol is expensive and brands can be pushed, bar scenes are easy to shoot, clubs can feature up-and-coming artists who are affiliated with the network's sister companies, and browsing the internet is not an entertaining option for the freetime activities of television characters.
With the help of The B-52's, those geniuses who sang "Love Shack", who wouldn't be happy?!
But, can't we figure out something else interesting to make adults do in their free time???
But all is for naught, for the obnoxiousness of the club environment
cannot take her mind from reality. She leaves. More unhappy than before.
Maybe Alan Cumming can cheer her up!
P.S. "The L Word" is a fabulous, great, enthralling show worth checking out if you have the time. Yes, it is about lesbians, and, No, you shouldn't watch it unless you are open-minded.
1 comment:
I think one of the reasons that shows often feature drinking in reaction to bad news is that that a LOT of adult Americans drink, and drink too much, at that. It is pleasing to the viewer for their actions to be reinforced and glamorized (why did you spell that with a "u"?). But I also think that shows and movies show other outlets... there is the old classic where one friend receives bad news, or dies, or something, and then the set of friends take the road trip and discover themselves, blah blah. Then there is the "girl's night" when girls eat a lot of chocolate and ice cream and veg out, and Sex and the City had various characters taking up belly dancing, tap dancing, and a weird ribbon-spinning classes when they were dumped, and then there is the random play, where men and sometimes women use sex to get over their issues (which is often shown as a mistake). But all of this is unrealistic because I think when real bad news hits real people, the reaction is often seclusion, it is a lot of hours feeling alone and lonely and like no one understands, it is a lot of people-less scenes, and that is not very film-able. Or watch-able.
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