The Role of the…Audience?

It’s not just another show about teenagers….and it’s not MTV. High school confidential marks one mother’s attempt to delve into the lives of teenage girls armed with a camera. And as a whole, the attempt is astounding. Taping 12 girls for 4 years and then putting all that footage into an 8-hour event? That is quite an ambitious undertaking, especially for a first time filmmaker. Really, for any filmmaker. To be able to put this together, along with the exceptional musical choices, is really mind-boggling.

After seeing the trailer some time ago and now the final product, it is clear that the trailer is better than the show. For a while I couldn’t understand it. But thinking about it more, I finally understood why. (For the trailer I am referring to…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBG-pul6gOw)

And as a whole, the trailers and openings are fast moving. We are introduced to all the subjects in a quick manner. Each girl has a very different story. But once you try to delve deeper into those stories, one at a time, the shock factor, speed, and sincerity seem to fall apart. As a crowd, it’s shocking: suicide, marriage, pregnancy, drinking, eating disorders - all coexistent in a group of twelve. But pick them apart and focus on two stories at a time, and something happens...

Despite the attempt to showcase what happens in high school, the show simultaneously makes the problems seem common day. Instead of truly delving into the issues, I feel that girls were simply listing their problems. Perhaps it is because 4 years are being told in an hour, or because of the pairing, which is additionally and exceptionally problematic…

Take the episode about Caitlin, Beth, and Lauren. Caitlin and Beth’s fractured family life is a complete 180 from Lauren’s family. And the voice over will stop at nothing to remind us of that: “While Caitlin’s family struggles to stay together…Lauren’s support from her family helps her excel at school.” Suddenly, the show insults an entire family and pushes the fault onto parents. Almost all pairs have this comparison. The show suddenly turns into family vs. family, not the sharing of a high school diary.

The show’s entire success rests on who the audience is. A girl similar in age to those portrayed may not find these testimonies shocking. I don’t feel that moved about this show but perhaps that’s because I’m 21 and was in high school 4 years ago…Older audience members may not recall high school experiences as being quite like this. This issue boils down to a very different question – should the validity of a show depend on the audience? Is something effective when it only works with certain audiences?

This may be a greater question that I don’t know the answer to.

Personally, I feel that if a show’s strength is dependent on who watches it, it is not a successful one. But I guess that’s true for all shows… right?

How do you feel?

- Michelle

mdelateur@eiconline.org

The Role of the Guest Star

With the repeat of the season 9 opener of Law and Order: SVU, complete with Cynthia Nixon in her post-Sex and The City career, I am reminded of how much weight guest stars bring to a show. With a recognizable name and a number of fans following, a visitor can spark a show and liven the storyline.

But oftentimes, the highlighted guest star brings with them a unique story related to a health or social issue that is simultaneously highlighted in the show. Bringing on famous guest stars along with an important issue drives home the importance of the issue at hand along with a memorable face. It’s an important and successful method used by all networks…and one that should be continued.

As for Ms. Nixon and her presentation of multiple personality disorder (kind of…the character turned out to be faking but was able to persuade a psychiatrist that she had the disorder) once again alerted the public to the very real cases of borderline personality disorder.

And SVU is not the latest to have a guest star with personality issues. Grey’s Anatomy’s recurring character Ava / Rebecca / Girl from the Ferry/ Jane Doe / Enter name here is the latest character to suffer from a personality disorder. Being as Elizabeth Reaser is a recurring actress and not a one-episode guest star, the audience had multiple opportunities to view both the presentation of the illness and how it affected those around her, especially Dr. Alex Kurev (for more “Shades of Grey” see the Finale Review below!).

The bottom line of guest stars comes down to support – Bringing on supporting actors with health and social issues simultaneously shares and supports the cause.

So how long has this trend occurred? Let’s take a look back to more examples:

--Sally Fields (right) as Abby Lockheart's mother on ER – recurring character- (In fact, EIC uses this characters as an example of bipolar disorder in the media and how an actor can prepare for such a role.)

--Kathleen Wilhoite as Chloe Lewis, Dr. Lewis' sister, on ER

--David Duchovney on Sex and The City, as Carrie's high school boyfriend who checks himself into a mental facility for treatment.

--Michael J. Fox as a doctor with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder on "Scrubs"

I know there are plenty more-but these are just a few to get us started! - so fill us in with your faves! Do you know more? Feel free to add your own!

--Michelle mdelateur@eiconline.org

Grey’s Anatomy – Going somewhere?

Amongst the cheesy yet much needed final kissing between 5 (count em!) couples on the season 4 finale of Grey’s (Mer-Der, Izzie-Alex, George – Lexie, Chief-Adele, and Callie-Hahn, yes you read that right), it was hard to see anything that truly changed from a year ago in Seattle Grace. True, in Grey’s time a year ends up being about 3 months, but in some regards we are in the same place. Meredith and Derek are (kind of?) together, but no one knows (again). The Chief and Adele are still married. George is still an intern but gets to retake his test. Christina is still alone. Izzie is still awkward. The biggest change award goes to Callie and Dr. Hahn, whose public make-out session prompted by McSteamy may or may not indicate a relationship...

While the show’s storylines may not have moved us significantly from Point A to Point B, nor have they indicated what those points are, the show has made some leaps and bounds in addressing the mental health of its characters. Perhaps the storyline movement has been translated to a mental health journey. With the revelation of Meredith’s mother’s suicide attempt to Ava’s cutting in the very same kitchen to Meredith’s psychiatric consults to Ava’s personality disorder to Alex’s revelation of his mother’s mental disorder, we were taken on a significant journey in this season finale through the difficulties and struggles to achieve mental health.

Let’s start with Meredith. Her steps towards visiting a psychiatrist indicate positive direction clearly needed after last year’s events – she almost drowned, her mother passed away, and her stepmother passed away after coming in for hiccups. Meredith’s direction forward required her to achieve mental clarity. Bravo for Grey’s to make that storyline decision and show that Meredith, is in fact, human.

Secondly, let’s go with Ava. After the knife event in the kitchen, along with the wetting herself incident, it seemed obvious to both Izzie and Grey’s viewers that Ava needed help. And, surprisingly, Alex gave in to agreeing that Ava needed professional help. Ava has borderline personality disorder that sparked after the ferry incident. Along with this storyline, it was revealed that Alex has been through something very similar while caring for his mother. Thus, a second bravo to Grey’s for allowing a very strong character to admit that he could not go through this alone.

So, while the show may still struggle to travel somewhere in plot during the season, we at least get a glimpse of mental journeys. Let’s see if these mental health journeys can continue along with the show’s plot next season!

--Michelle
mdelateur@eiconline.org