(no subject)

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

Did anyone else catch that "holiday special" on ABC Family, the one with Melissa Joan Hart ("Clarissa Explains It All") and Mario Lopez (does he need an introduction?)? 

Well, I'm watching it now and its lulzy for its bizarreness. I mean, its a Disney-affiliated production that is making fun of traditional family values--values which makes Disney the majority of its money, I might add--by making the father-figurehead into an out-of-touch lout because he doesn't embrace the New Age/alternative lifestyles of his children. MJH wants to be a painter; her sister pretended to go to law school so she could use the tuition Dad gave her to open a pilates studio; her mother has a nervous breakdown and rants about how she can't stand her husband;  her brother comes out of the closet. Did I mention this is Disney? Oh, and there is a scene where MJH (I can't remember her character's name for the life of me) sees Lopez (can't remember his character's name, either) shirtless for the first time and his response is "do you need to take a shower?" HA!

Anyway, I just had to share because this "family special" is turning out to be really special. I wonder how many parents planned on having "the talk" with their kids tonight about what being "gay" means. Of course, this is the same network that aired "Mean Girls," so I guess I shouldn't be surprised?

Comments

[blondebaroness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and ever notice that all the Disney princesses have only one parent? Where are all the Disney moms?

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

Well, that's because that's how the fairy tales they were based on run. Sleeping Beauty is the exception.

[rivetspoon.livejournal.com]

Snow White technically had both parents but it was too harsh to have her own mother be so spiteful so they made her the step mom after the real mom died at birth.
Cinderella's parents both died.
Ariel's mom died.
Simba had both parents for a while. Thanks, Uncle Scar.
Thumper's dad was in the picture for some time (so the lectures tell us), but Bambi's dad was a dead-beat for the most part.

[blondebaroness.livejournal.com]

Remy the Ratatouille rat had no mom. Elizabeth Swan had no mom. What fairy tales were they based on?

[rightsaidred.livejournal.com]

You specified "Disney Princesses".

[blondebaroness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess I did. I guess I was thinking of Disney characters.
Just lots of dysfunctional families in Disneyland....

[whak-hat.livejournal.com]

Response to this: stop watching television because it is FULL of dumb. By series that catch your interests (or rent them) and otherwise ignore Hollywood as there hasn't been and won't be anything remotely good coming from there for the next 1000 years

[cougarcat.livejournal.com]

This. We've been doing it since the end of 2008 and it's worked just fine. The only thing I may miss is some of the live news but the kids perferred C-SPAN for the official stuff anyways. The whole 'tingly leg' thing during the 2008 election just made my teens say enough already.

[whak-hat.livejournal.com]

well the elections are all propaganda. You vote who you feel is the best candidate based on numerous sources of information.

I've been doing this since 2008 too, what a coincidence

[alibi-factory.livejournal.com]

Agree agree. Well, Hollywood is still capable of making movies, it's just there are so many and we don't have the benefit of distance to let us forget about the crap ones and remember the good. But I haven't had an operating tv in my home for a few years, and the only thing I miss is late night talk shows, but it's not like I was ever around to watch them anyway.

And now I'll watch tv at someone's place and be astounded at the quantity and quality of the commercials, and the bizarre shows that keep getting made. :/

[whak-hat.livejournal.com]

they're running out of ideas

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

ABC Family is one of the most misleadingly named networks on TV. Most of the stuff on there is not stuff I'd watch with my kids.

[agentbristow86.livejournal.com]

It's also not stuff I'd let my kids watch alone.

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I could've phrased that better. My kids don't need to be watching it at all, and I don't feel much desire to, either.

[mprice.livejournal.com]

Mario Who?

I canceled cable and only watch Fox News streaming online. When I watch at all.

Assuming you're being serious

[rivetspoon.livejournal.com]

Mario Lopez is from Saved By The Bell, a late 80's/early 90's high school show, as far as I know him. I think he hosts a contest show these days, but they're all so stupid that I don't keep them straight.

[shellebelle84.livejournal.com]

We never watch ABC Family in this house anymore.

Even when they DO air family-friendly shows, such as The Incredibles or Ratatouille, they still have commercials for their decidedly non-family friendly shows during it, commercials talking about who is sleeping with who and such. I'm not a prude, but don't air those commercials during shows meant to be watched by the whole family, including kids that are 4-5-6-7!

[longlostblue.livejournal.com]

I always wonder a little bit who ABC Family is geared to, because it certainly doesn't seem to be families!

[agentbristow86.livejournal.com]

It's "a new kind of family"!

Honestly, I can't tell you how much I despise ABC Family.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

ABC Family isn't.

That "special" sounds like a bag of the usual Hollywood tropes. Dads haven't been depicted in a positive way since The Cosby Show went off the air. They are protrayed as hypocrites, man boys, fuddy duddys, morons, emasculated/whipped wimps, tyrants, drunks or druggies, absentees, or even flat out evil. Marriages, especially long-term ones, are never happy or fulfilling. Creative fields are the only ones worth pursuing. Lying and stealing (which is what that pilates studio sis was doing) are acceptable if it means reaching your dreams. And is there any family left in Hollywood that doesn't have a gay son dying to get out of the closet? Just for once I want to see a family "struggle" with a son who wants to join the military or skip college to learn how to fix cars.

[kimana83.livejournal.com]

Although it's soon to be off the air, you should watch the seven seasons of Medium. It has, by far, the best and most realistic family on TV. The husband rocks although he's not perfect (hence realistic), the 3 daughters are so believable and great, and the marriage is so realistically happy. I wish it wasn't canceled. It's one of my favorite shows - and I don't even like the main actress (Patricia Arquette)! So that says a lot for the show.

Gay Shmay

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

I can't forgive ABC Family for cancelling the Middle Man.