Pop Culture Yay

Two very important aspects of my life were recently introduced - my parents and the UPN-WB hybrid network now known as the CW. It started out beautifully, but some parties have started showing their true colors, and well, things are looking rocky.

As I mentioned in a previous post, my parents recently became addicted to DVDs of Veronica Mars. I felt the time was right. I think perhaps my sister and I had been dreaming of this moment since Joey first climbed through Dawson’s window or Felicity first walked into Dean & Deluca.

It’s like trying to get parents to understand the talent and art behind hip-hop music. They don’t have to like it. Hell, they don’t even have to get it. But, it’d be nice if they could appreciate the fact that you like it. Not everyone can do the 1-2 step.   

Mom and Dad have heard of their fair share of WB/CW television shows. Dawson’s Creek…Seventh Heaven…Felicity…Gilmore Girls…One Tree Hill.  Finally my parents saw a glimpse of the addictive nature of these shows. It’s not 24. It’s not Law and Order. But, for some mysterious reason, one can not help but watch the complicated storylines and subplots. Some, meaning myself, may refer to it as classic Lifetime Original Movie Syndrome. LOMS for short. You know what I’m talking about.

Now, the key is to get someone to watch from the beginning of a series, as my parents were able to do. Otherwise the catch-up on a CW show is painfully complicated.

For example, I recently tried to explain the “necessary” background for One Tree Hill and it sounded something like this:

“Ok, so Nathan and Lucas…Lucas is Chad Michael Murray..anyways, they are half brothers. Dan Scott is their father but he is also pretty much Satan. Nate and Luke used to hate eachother because Luke joined the basketball team too and Nate was really mean but then Nate fell in love with Lucas’ best friend Haley who was his tutor, but she she believed in abstinence so they got married at the age of 17. Then she went on tour with Tyler Hilton and they almost broke up. Lucas dated Brooke. Then Peyton. Then Brooke, but he really loves Peyton…that was always obvious but then there was the school shooting and you REALLY knew. That was the day Dan Scott killed his brother Keith who was engaged to Lucas’ mom, Karen who is also having her baby. Peyton’s adopted mom and birth mom both died. And there was Jake who was a teen father who played basketball but had to move away because his psycho baby mama came back, but Peyton went to visit him because she thought she loved him, even though she really loves Lucas. Then she had a scary stalker who tried to rape her but Lucas, did I mention his heart conditions? Well, he tracked down her real brother and he saved her and….wait, where was I?”

I thought, with my parents, I was going to avoid sticky CW situations like that. They would see the way the stories unfold just as I do. Not too tough: Veronica - cute, sassy, solves crimes.

Then, CW started to show its true colors.

They all started sleeping around. A lot. There are incessant sexual puns. Then came Kendall Casablancas sleeping with her stepsons’ high school friend, the already troubled Logan Echolls. 

That’s when we lost Dad.

I have to give him credit, he is trying to still tune in at times, but I don’t have the heart to tell him that it might not stop. I know my CW.  

The next step is teenage pregnancy…oh wait, comatose Meg had a baby with Duncan. hmm, what will the future hold?

I also have yet to find the right time to tell my mom about the BRUTAL CW season finale cliffhangers.

In regards to Veronica Mars, I would like to make a note that season one, which aired on UPN was quality. Then came the big network switch. (insert ominous music here). WB, I love you but just because you change one letter, well, that can’t change who you are.

Now, I consider you family, so I love you despite your flaws….i.e. Gilmore Girls Season 7 and Haley James Scott’s line, “I’m not a wife! I’m not even a senior!”….but my parents may not share my sentiments. Perhaps oh, I don’t know, maybe you could limit the times Kendall Casablancas turns away from the camera and removes her shirt?* I think we may still have a chance with the ‘rents. I don’t want to have to end things because you don’t get along with my family. We’ve been through too much together.

Here’s to VM Season 2 disc 4….cross your fingers…. 

 

*I recognize that I am several episodes and a whole season behind on VM so some of the mentioned issues may resolve themselves. Please don’t tell me if they do.     

Posted on January 14th, 2007 by Lindsay
Filed under: Uncategorized