![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scribblinlenoreI am home sick today with the sinus headache from hell--that I've had since freakin' Sunday. In the spirit of keeping my priorities straight (or crooked, as the case may be), I did drag myself out of bed to sign up for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
estrella30's car porn challenge. Hopefully, I will get my porn writing mojo back between now and the end of April when the story's due.
In the meantime, I'm using the three brain cells I have that don't hurt to write about that all-important subject: Television!
It's been on my mind lately how accustomed I am to seeing nothing but young, skinny, pretty people on TV. I know some of you guys out there watch more critically, with those issues in mind. But me? I'm brainwashed most of the time, never really stopping to think about it or question it. And, hey, it's not like I don't enjoy the young hotass. Look at how I slobber all over the J's.
But…occasionally I'll watch something that makes me go: Hey, why don't I see more of this? And here are a few of those instances I've had lately. Be warned that there are some mild spoilers for recent episodes.
I only started watching Boston Legal this season, so I have no idea what went on previously. But this season is really pretty amazing for how much it concentrates on characters who are over 40. I mean, take a look at the ages of the actors who appear in the opening credits:
William Shatner (75)
Rene Auberjonois (66)
Candace Bergen (60)
James Spader (46)
Mark Valley (42)
Julie Bowen (36)
Television has the annoying tendency to neuter the sexuality out of older people, especially women, or else turn it into a joke. So I continue to be amazed by how Boston Legal frames Shirley Schmidt, the character played by Candace Bergen. On the one hand, she's a partner in the firm, a tough opponent in the courtroom, and a person of principle. But she's also a woman, an attractive woman in fact (Candace Bergen looks FABULOUS at 60), and the story manages to make room for that, at the same time it takes her seriously as an individual and a professional.
In an ongoing storyline, her ex-husband (played by 61-year-old Tom Selleck, who is also looking fabulous for his age) is trying to woo her back. Their interactions are very flirtatious and sensual. You feel the sex in the air when they're together, can actually believe they have a rather tempestuous history. It's not unusual for a mature male actor like Selleck to be framed as sexy, but to be paired with a woman who's actually his age? You don't see that every day. Or, really, any day. And the thing is, they're hot together precisely because they're equals, in life experience, in professional achievement, in everything that matters. Neither of them is going to back down from anything, the power in the relationship is pretty much up for grabs, and that sends the sparks flying.
There's also a very interesting relationship between Shirley and Alan Shore, the character played by James Spader, and it underscores one of the other things that Boston Legal does really well, making characters sexy for their minds and their principles. You feel a definite attraction between Shirley and Alan. They have some rather flirtatious banter together. In one episode, Alan is defending a woman who went topless at a political demonstration, and he opens the conversation when he asks Shirley to be co-counsel by saying something to the effect, "I need to borrow your breasts." And then, there's the episode where Shirley asks Alan to help her get back some nude photographs that were taken of her when she was young. Alan does manage to buy them back, but chooses to keep them, promising Shirley that no one will ever see them but him. And she says (paraphrasing), "You're one of the only people I'd trust to keep that promise." At the heart of this attraction between them is mutual respect, for each other's professional abilities and just plain decency. It really stands out in a TV world of hotass-on-hotass, and is satisfying in a more deep and complex way. (Not, as I've mentioned before, that I have anything against hotass.)
Usually, I have no faith in David E. Kelly to write female characters. Ally McBeal has to be one of the most annoying cardboard cutouts of a woman ever to darken the TV screen. That she was hailed as a feminist icon when all she ever did was wander the streets, half starved, moping over some guy or the other was just maddening. But Shirley is a fully realized female character, a woman who can act her age and still be sexy, who can be both womanly and professional without any apparent sense of conflict. I don't know where all those TV commentators are who were trying to make Ally McBeal into something she wasn't, but they should be paying a lot more attention to this show.
As I said before, I'm so inured to the TV equation of skinny = sexy that I only ever really stop to think about it when I see an exception. That doesn't happen too often, but this season, there are actually TWO examples. Neither of the characters is billed in the opening credits, of course. We can't have TOO much progress. But still. They exist, and that makes me happy.
So first, Garcia on Criminal Minds. I always wonder if Garcia was originally intended to get as much air time as she does as a peripheral character, or if the people who make the show became enchanted (as I am) with the actress's spunky sparkle and just decided to run with it. Whatever the case, she's the only one of the three female characters on the show to give any sense of sensuality. Elle is the tough, thoughtful member of the team, and JJ is, I think, supposed to be kind of a tomboy, but just manages to seem like a coat of beige paint.
Garcia, on the other hand, gives great banter. She and Morgan have a wonderfully flirtatious rapport. Garcia dresses the sexiest of the three, emphasizing her curves, not trying to hide them. I HATE when shows deign to cast an actress who's not a size two and then feel compelled to make her the Chubby Girl. Credit to the people at Criminal Minds for not doing that with Garcia, for letting her be vivid, funny, smart, and sultry. In Garcia, we get to see a truth that television almost universally refuses to acknowledge, that being sexy is more complex than just how you look. It's this undefinable spark, a force of personality, a certain kind of confidence, sheer vital energy, and that's why Garcia is such a cool character.
I have this fear that somebody at the network is going to decide that the actress who plays Garcia either needs to go on a diet or has to be booted from the show. But in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy watching her bad self just as much as I can.
The other example is Dr. Torres on Grey's Anatomy, who is just, dude, smokin' hot. I don't have quite as much to say about this, because I've only seen the last three episodes. But I was struck by the scene in the most recent episode where Dr. Torres is examining the stalker woman and George is trying to get her to give him another chance, and Dr. Torres says, "When a hot chick gives you her number, you call." And then Meredith comes in, and it sets up an obvious comparison. In the usual TV logic, skinnier = better, but not here. Dr. Torres has this sexy confidence, while Meredith is dithering and kind of whey-faced, and you really go away thinking, "Yeah, George, call the hot chick." And when he finally does, you cheer.
So that's it, all I got. My three functioning brain cells are tired now, and I'm thinking it's time for a nap.
estrella30's car porn challenge. Hopefully, I will get my porn writing mojo back between now and the end of April when the story's due. In the meantime, I'm using the three brain cells I have that don't hurt to write about that all-important subject: Television!
It's been on my mind lately how accustomed I am to seeing nothing but young, skinny, pretty people on TV. I know some of you guys out there watch more critically, with those issues in mind. But me? I'm brainwashed most of the time, never really stopping to think about it or question it. And, hey, it's not like I don't enjoy the young hotass. Look at how I slobber all over the J's.
But…occasionally I'll watch something that makes me go: Hey, why don't I see more of this? And here are a few of those instances I've had lately. Be warned that there are some mild spoilers for recent episodes.
I only started watching Boston Legal this season, so I have no idea what went on previously. But this season is really pretty amazing for how much it concentrates on characters who are over 40. I mean, take a look at the ages of the actors who appear in the opening credits:
William Shatner (75)
Rene Auberjonois (66)
Candace Bergen (60)
James Spader (46)
Mark Valley (42)
Julie Bowen (36)
Television has the annoying tendency to neuter the sexuality out of older people, especially women, or else turn it into a joke. So I continue to be amazed by how Boston Legal frames Shirley Schmidt, the character played by Candace Bergen. On the one hand, she's a partner in the firm, a tough opponent in the courtroom, and a person of principle. But she's also a woman, an attractive woman in fact (Candace Bergen looks FABULOUS at 60), and the story manages to make room for that, at the same time it takes her seriously as an individual and a professional.
In an ongoing storyline, her ex-husband (played by 61-year-old Tom Selleck, who is also looking fabulous for his age) is trying to woo her back. Their interactions are very flirtatious and sensual. You feel the sex in the air when they're together, can actually believe they have a rather tempestuous history. It's not unusual for a mature male actor like Selleck to be framed as sexy, but to be paired with a woman who's actually his age? You don't see that every day. Or, really, any day. And the thing is, they're hot together precisely because they're equals, in life experience, in professional achievement, in everything that matters. Neither of them is going to back down from anything, the power in the relationship is pretty much up for grabs, and that sends the sparks flying.
There's also a very interesting relationship between Shirley and Alan Shore, the character played by James Spader, and it underscores one of the other things that Boston Legal does really well, making characters sexy for their minds and their principles. You feel a definite attraction between Shirley and Alan. They have some rather flirtatious banter together. In one episode, Alan is defending a woman who went topless at a political demonstration, and he opens the conversation when he asks Shirley to be co-counsel by saying something to the effect, "I need to borrow your breasts." And then, there's the episode where Shirley asks Alan to help her get back some nude photographs that were taken of her when she was young. Alan does manage to buy them back, but chooses to keep them, promising Shirley that no one will ever see them but him. And she says (paraphrasing), "You're one of the only people I'd trust to keep that promise." At the heart of this attraction between them is mutual respect, for each other's professional abilities and just plain decency. It really stands out in a TV world of hotass-on-hotass, and is satisfying in a more deep and complex way. (Not, as I've mentioned before, that I have anything against hotass.)
Usually, I have no faith in David E. Kelly to write female characters. Ally McBeal has to be one of the most annoying cardboard cutouts of a woman ever to darken the TV screen. That she was hailed as a feminist icon when all she ever did was wander the streets, half starved, moping over some guy or the other was just maddening. But Shirley is a fully realized female character, a woman who can act her age and still be sexy, who can be both womanly and professional without any apparent sense of conflict. I don't know where all those TV commentators are who were trying to make Ally McBeal into something she wasn't, but they should be paying a lot more attention to this show.
As I said before, I'm so inured to the TV equation of skinny = sexy that I only ever really stop to think about it when I see an exception. That doesn't happen too often, but this season, there are actually TWO examples. Neither of the characters is billed in the opening credits, of course. We can't have TOO much progress. But still. They exist, and that makes me happy.
So first, Garcia on Criminal Minds. I always wonder if Garcia was originally intended to get as much air time as she does as a peripheral character, or if the people who make the show became enchanted (as I am) with the actress's spunky sparkle and just decided to run with it. Whatever the case, she's the only one of the three female characters on the show to give any sense of sensuality. Elle is the tough, thoughtful member of the team, and JJ is, I think, supposed to be kind of a tomboy, but just manages to seem like a coat of beige paint.
Garcia, on the other hand, gives great banter. She and Morgan have a wonderfully flirtatious rapport. Garcia dresses the sexiest of the three, emphasizing her curves, not trying to hide them. I HATE when shows deign to cast an actress who's not a size two and then feel compelled to make her the Chubby Girl. Credit to the people at Criminal Minds for not doing that with Garcia, for letting her be vivid, funny, smart, and sultry. In Garcia, we get to see a truth that television almost universally refuses to acknowledge, that being sexy is more complex than just how you look. It's this undefinable spark, a force of personality, a certain kind of confidence, sheer vital energy, and that's why Garcia is such a cool character.
I have this fear that somebody at the network is going to decide that the actress who plays Garcia either needs to go on a diet or has to be booted from the show. But in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy watching her bad self just as much as I can.
The other example is Dr. Torres on Grey's Anatomy, who is just, dude, smokin' hot. I don't have quite as much to say about this, because I've only seen the last three episodes. But I was struck by the scene in the most recent episode where Dr. Torres is examining the stalker woman and George is trying to get her to give him another chance, and Dr. Torres says, "When a hot chick gives you her number, you call." And then Meredith comes in, and it sets up an obvious comparison. In the usual TV logic, skinnier = better, but not here. Dr. Torres has this sexy confidence, while Meredith is dithering and kind of whey-faced, and you really go away thinking, "Yeah, George, call the hot chick." And when he finally does, you cheer.
So that's it, all I got. My three functioning brain cells are tired now, and I'm thinking it's time for a nap.