Quality TV

I wonder what would come to your mind if I were to ask you to describe Hollywood's progression of the caricature of men on the comedy and sitcom screen over the last thirty years (providing you watch this TV genre). The images and caricatures that come to mind for me range from Homer Simpson, to the Big Bang Theory, and finally to Family Guy. I realize the examples which came to mind are not a very large sample and there may be other shows that come to your mind beyond the ones that came to mine. There may be some positive character qualities portrayed in the male characters from the above named shows but, for the most part, these shows cast a negative light on being a guy. It seems as if dads and men have become the humor punching bag for what ails families. If we do see positive characterizations of men it seems they are being set up for failure which then causes us to wonder when they're going to fall. If watching the above named shows was my only example of what it was to be a guy I'm sure I'd laugh at the humor poked at us, but deep down I'd be ashamed of being a guy. Is this then to say there isn't any truth in the messages conveyed about guys from these and other shows like them? No, but that is a topic for another time.

Enter in the show Blue Bloods still running on CBS in it's sixth season (five seasons available on Amazon Prime). Although Blue Bloods is not a comedy or sitcom, I've been refreshed by the positive portrayals of men. I found myself over and over marveling that Hollywood would produce such a show because it is so opposite to it's past offerings (granted in a different genre). This is not to say Blue Bloods is a perfect show because it isn't (language, alcoholic consumption, violent crime scenes, some immorality, and social justice offerings). 

The show is built around four generations of the Reagan family living and operating in New York City in different facets of the police and justice system in Manhattan. Grandpa is a widower and former police commissioner (referred to as Pop). Frank, himself a widower, is Pop's only son and the current NYPD police commissioner after spending decades himself on the job as an officer and detective. His oldest son Danny is an Iraq veteran, police detective in the NYPD, and husband to Linda. Linda is a nurse and she and Danny are parents to Jack and Shawn who are in grade-school. Frank's second child is Erin who is a divorced-single mom who works as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan by day and is a frazzled mother to teenager Nikki by night. Third in line is Jamie who is a beat-officer working his way up the ranks.   

  

The interplay of family dynamics mixed with the jobs of each character is what brings the show to life, and why I'd recommend it as a refreshing display of both genuine and flawed characters. Family, led by strong, positive, balanced male leadership in Pop and Frank is what allows this family to operate with smooth efficiency. They're not perfect but I believe the bedrock of each family should be the father. Their Catholic faith lends a strong moral fiber to their decisions and family cohesion (every episode has at least one family dinner scene in it). Their ethics are strong even if it means making tough decisions which negatively impact friends or colleagues. Yet they are expressive, independent, opinionated and volatile (Irish heritage).  

The men are not perfect, and neither is the show, but its a wonderful break from the father/dad/guy bashing of other shows. Watching this show I find myself uplifted and given a positive example of what it means to be a husband and father. Thank you Hollywood for finally producing a show which positively portrays men!

#hollywood #tv #family