Many shows have had their moments and have briefly brought awareness to social issues, but there are some that have just gone above and beyond a “special episodes” and will weave important topics and themes into an ongoing storylines proving that not all television is mindless. There are arguably many shows like, but here are some of my personal favorites:
M*A*S*H:
Okay, I wasn’t alive when M*A*S*H originally aired and there are many episodes I haven’t seen. But M*A*S*H is one of my dad’s favorite shows and I have spent many hours watching reruns with (and sometimes without) him. It has occurred to me as I have watched M*A*S*H just how ground breaking it was. Besides the obvious topic of a war, there was often something Hawkeye needed to fix (with the help of Trapper or Hunnicut) because other people were being stupid (usually Frank). Granted war is a lot less funny than this show made it out to be, but in face of such tragic things sometimes people just need to laugh.
Buffy:
Maybe vampires and demons aren’t everyday occurrences for everyone, but much of Buffy’s (and the Scooby Gang’s) fighting was clearly a representation of things people fight daily in reality, particularly in high school. Teen suicide, feeling socially invisible, parents trying to live their children’s life, school shootings, being careful what you drink at frat parties, teen runaways…Yes, many of these were one episode only, but it was ongoing. Joss Whedon created a show that tackled valid life things by creating actual demons and monsters to fight. Plus it created one of the most awesome, strong, bad-ass chick characters ever. The creation of a female character that all girls could see as a role model- in itself made this show worth a mention.
My-So-Called Life:
Oh the angst of Angela Chase! However, despite her middle class, nuclear family upbringing this show did bring up some issues that many “typical” high schoolers faced in the mid 90s when they left the house. One was having a best friend who seemed sort of wonderful and had far less boundaries than you, but facing the reality that this friend’s life was spinning out of control and she had way more problems than known. However, the best ongoing story was Ricky. Ricky admits in one episode he is gay, which is news to no one (but in the mid 90s somewhat controversial), but as it turns out Ricky is hiding a lot more than that. As seen in by-far the best episode of this short-lived series, “So-Called Angels,” Ricky’s home life is not good and hardly exist. Angela has her eyes opened to reality of teens without homes or home lives that are so much different than her own. It would have been a beautiful thing to see this show continue, but perhaps it’s better that we only saw a glimpse of the lives of these great characters.
Jamie kept mentioning 90210 when I told her what I was writing about. Of course she means early 90210. I have a hard time buying into the fact that 90219, one of the most popular television dramas/soap operas ever, was trying to get a message out, especially since it was about a bunch of rich, spoiled kids. But I think she makes a valid point about all the “issues” they brought up on that show (abuse, gambling, drugs) and it is valid to mention the attention it may have brought light to some of these issues. And I honestly just don’t remember very much of it (nor have I watched it much in reruns).
GLEE:
As mentioned my inspiration for this blog was the latest episode of GLEE. Despite the wackiness of GLEE, it has continually taken on the topic of gay teens and what sort of reality high school can be for them (both good and bad). With the huge popularity of this show I can’t help but applaud that it has not deserted this issue, but instead tried to bring about more awareness. I feel like its creator Ryan Murphy is to thank and for him I give standing ovation. *stands and applauds*
As mentioned my inspiration for this blog was the latest episode of GLEE. Despite the wackiness of GLEE, it has continually taken on the topic of gay teens and what sort of reality high school can be for them (both good and bad). With the huge popularity of this show I can’t help but applaud that it has not deserted this issue, but instead tried to bring about more awareness. I feel like its creator Ryan Murphy is to thank and for him I give standing ovation. *stands and applauds*
And in case you don’t believe television can actual make an impact, Jamie sent me this:
Sitcoms are silly, dramas are filled with one unrealistic happening after another, and reality TV will ultimately the down fall of our society. And maybe it is all just a ratings and money game and I am naïve… but I like to think that some writers/creators/actors really are using their powers for good.
Coming Soon: Sarah analyzes whale migration patterns and likens it to the multiple reappearances of the Daleks.
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