tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177594432441478543.post9180242978533549078..comments2023-10-18T10:08:59.571-05:00Comments on Addicted to Television: Who Shot Paul Young?Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13123047664442347126noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177594432441478543.post-45686794482054601362010-12-19T13:22:18.693-06:002010-12-19T13:22:18.693-06:00It was "actually...realistic"? What real...It was "actually...realistic"? What reality did you have in mind where what would be a neighboring street or 10 (Hydrangea Circle, et al) essentially comprise a collective of overeager thugs who thrive on turning an HOA-concern-slash-minor-civic-event into an ultraviolent version of an out-of-control frat party? If not for the "filler" of these uncounted dozens of walk-on "next-street-over" extras looking for an excuse for some anonymous mayhem, there would be no critical mass for this "realistic" riot. <br /><br />Desperate Housewives might be a watchable soap, but it bears no hint of realism in any aspect--realism would undermine its own premise. As for jumping the shark, you may be right that these antics may not qualify yet. They are intentionally over-the-top and fit with the general fantasy tone of the show, as you point out in your list of other season devices. <br /><br />The one thing that should be obvious to everyone is this: despite the greatly compressed backing timeline, this plot device is unmistakable. Anyone care to buy an I Shot J.R.--err, Paul Young-- t-shirt? <br />If you didn't recognize it, that's too bad. Even if you did, you may be tempted to think of this as a clever send-up. It's really just evidence that Hollywood is regurgitating all the B-grade stunts from 70s/80s movies and TV for a new mass-media audience, and thanking us all the way to the bank for our viewership.<br /><br />Hmmm....who shot J.R.... Maybe they HAVE jumped the shark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com