Word!

[valis2]

scatteredlogic was just talking about the state of the American sitcom, and how it seems like really attractive, thin women are paired off with average guys.

I would take this a step further. For the last few years I've been really noticing that this even extends to commercials. You almost always see a geeky, slightly overweight guy with a fairly attractive, thin woman. In nearly every commercial. Not so attractive that they're scary, just pretty in a generic way.

I can't remember the last time I saw a commercial featuring a married couple who were both on the plus side, or with an attractive man and a not-quite-as-attractive woman. Yeah, I'm sure y'all will pull exceptions out of your hats, but still, they're the exceptions, not the rules. In most commercials with goofy-looking guys, the wife is nearly a knockout.

I do remember that I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw a KIA commercial with actors/actresses who appeared to represent the populace more realistically. That was a campaign from about two or three years ago. Even better, it had some sort of punchline involving one of the heavier woman actually (gasp!) having relations with a guy. (Even though you'd never know it from watching TV, plus-size people actually do fall in love, have sex, and do all of the things thin people do.)

Comments

[whitemunin.livejournal.com]

SLogic and I were talking about this on the phone yesterday. I ranted about the same aspect that she and Gina did. It's no so much that the guys are these really sloppy, not-so-attractive spouses of pretty, slender wives. It's that they're also stoooopid, obnoxious, whining, lazy loser spouses of pretty, slender, patient, highly intelligent wives with great jobs. It's a male pipe dream. A gorgeous woman who'll put up with all his bitching, moaning and beer-swilling while supporting him with her awesome paycheck.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It just totally makes me wonder about the human race, y'know?

I was reading a book called Scriptwriting for Dummies once, and it said, basically, that if you were over 30 you could not write for television shows. (Unless you're legendary somehow, I guess.) And that makes me wonder how TV is impacted. There has to be some effect, after all; having all of those people with lower levels of life experience and perspective must do something, I'd say.

And it definitely seems like we see one adolescent fantasy after another. I miss Roseanne. At least the characters on her show had real problems, and looked real.