Trying a new thing here. Just for fun, going to post videos from the
tube. That would be YouTube covering the Boob Tube. This is a TV blog.
Enjoy...
TV Show: Scandal
Status: ABC, Thursday, 9:00 PM Eastern Time
**I watch this show for two reasons. One is that the characters are compelling because they are so flawed. Two is because this is a "politics" show and showcases very clearly, if you are watching for it, how the government wants you to think on the issues. Which is a good reason to make a 360 degree turn and go in the other direction. I really wish the clip of David Rosen as Attorney General was on YouTube. His entire case (arguing for the need of gun control) centered on the fact that The Constitution is/was an outdated document and that we should throw out in favor of what "the people" want today. Since "the people" are fairly evenly split 50-50 on this issue (which is a damn shame, in my humble opinion), and he was representing the 50% who shared HIS ideals, I think we should stick with the document that protects the liberties of ALL the people, instead of choosing what is fashionable "right now." Here's the thing, though.... This show has a huge audience, and anyone in favor of gun control likely thought that argument was "on-target"... pardon my pun... and they will likely be using it sometime in the near future. I hope they do it on Stephen T. McCarthy's blog, because I would really like to see that. However, when they aren't prattling on about liberal agenda politics, this show is actually pretty darn good. (Smelly Melly is slowly becoming my favorite character on this one.... hehehehe.)
I've never watched it. The second clip reminds me of an soap I used to watch - such dramatics - this guy is the president?
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how old you are, so I don't if you recall the popularity of the nighttime soap in the 80s. Think Dallas, Dynasty, etc. They petered out and gave way to shows that were less soapish, but still followed the guidelines of a serial (meaning the content moved in a chronological line, so seeing every week was *somewhat* necessary to fully grasp the plot, which was ongoing). Think Friends, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alias, Lost, etc.
Point of fact, as we moved into the 2000s and the daytime soaps began to be cancelled (gone are Another World, Guiding Light, As The World Turns, All My Children, One Life To Live)... shows that were around A VERY LONG TIME WITH A LARGE FAN BASE. Their departure made way for the nighttime serial to really gain traction, so that almost every show (your criminal formulaic shows aside - mostly) are now serials. You really have to watch every week to follow the plot. Just about every show on the CW network is a serial.
Bottom line: people like their soap opera. It is just "far out" enough that it truly takes them out of their problems, their world, their life... and into a flight of fancy, where people say and do outrageous things. Ergo, Scandal has been a huge success. Not to mention the fact that Kerry Washington, who plays Olivia Pope, is the first truly successful black female lead to ever star in any night time show.
Now ABC has How To Get Away With Murder on right after it starring Viola Davis. That would make her the second truly successful black female to star in a night time show.
I know of all the shows you mentioned. I've always like the criminal formula shows. Soaps couldn't hold my attention.
ReplyDeleteI really love PBS documentaries, Nova, science shows, Ken Burns productions...
I guess West wing was a long time favorite for me but it's been ages since that was on. So to see this president in action is kinda funny.
Even The West Wing was a serial (by definition of the show moving chronologically and events in a previous show affecting/shaping the next one). I really liked it because it was a President (and an administration) that most people wished were true. As I recall, though it's been a long time since I've seen it, it didn't drive hard left policies down the throats of the viewers. Though the President was a Democrat (they always run these shows when the opposite party is in office, so this was on when the Bushes were in office), he was fairly conservative for a Democrat (but not unbelievable).
ReplyDeleteWith Scandal, a Democrat is in office, but the President is Republican (who promotes a very left, very liberal agenda). The only thing that I find annoying about that is this: if a Republican president really wanted to move forward a left wing liberal agenda, he would do it more like the Bushes. He'd talk the conservative talk, but actually DO the liberal thing. Much more realistic.
Instead, this show clobbers the viewer with a liberal agenda. If only politicians were this "transparent." hahahaha.