I was always a huge fan of the Cosby Show when I was a kid. It was a wholesome enough show that I was allowed to watch it, but it was actually really funny. It's sort of sad that reruns can't be shown because of… Well, you know.
I don't know how to feel about television shows being pulled off the air because we find out that the guy involved in it was actually a bad guy. I mean, if it's a good show, why shouldn't people be allowed to watch it? I suppose it also depends how bad a guy we're talking about.
My husband and I were recently talking about what happened to the actor who played Pee-wee Herman. For those of you who are painfully young and don't remember it, he was caught in a porn theater doing the kind of private thing that people sometimes do when watching porn movies. And because of that, his very clever TV show Pee-wee's Playhouse was pulled off the air.
I always thought that was sort of unfair. Yet at the same time, the actor did a pretty dumb thing. He took a chance, he got caught, and he paid the price.
My husband argues that he was probably desperate, because what woman would want to sleep with Pee-wee Herman? Frankly, I think there are probably plenty of women out there who would've happily slept with a rich celebrity, even if that celebrity was the guy who played Pee-wee Herman.
I recall that after the movie theater scandal, Paul Reubens was later supposedly caught up in a child porn situation with the guy who played the principal in the Ferris Bueller movie. No one accused them of sex with kids, but I think they were accused of having child porn photos in their possession. I also don't think he was convicted of any child porn charges, though, but he pled out to some lesser charge that didn't necessarily relate to child porn. He has a very strange personal life, to be sure.
ReplyDeleteAs for Cosby, I don't care if they continue to run his show or not, but like you I used to watch it as a kid and loved it. I now personally have a hard time separating his tv character from the actor himself, because holy shit, what a contradiction. And also, he chose to be an OB/GYN on that show (!!!!!!) and now that it appears that he is a serial cheater at minimum, and *perhaps* a rapist, I just find that very disturbing. I can't say that I would have the appetite to watch the Cosby Show if I happen to see the reruns on tv again.
I am also probably one of the few people out there who found 30 Rock hard to watch because of Alec Baldwin. He is such an asshole in real life that every time I saw him on the show, I had a compulsion to change the channel.
I agree with the above comment, and unfortunately, I have a hard time suspending
ReplyDeletereality when I know the actor/actress is an asshole in real life.
Ditto. I really have a hard time accepting a character if the actor is a jerk.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your tweet, "What's wrong with me?' I think you're more at home serving others (at work) than being served yourself (on vacation). That's just
ReplyDeletemy 2 cents. - Paul
Do actors ever get paid when their shows run on syndicate? Is it like royalties for musicians? If so, I am 100% behind not giving financial support to an alleged criminal. In either case, I also have a hard time forgetting about really sleazy behavior from actors & don't think I can enjoy the Cosby Show as the wholesome entertainment it was meant to be---and I LOVED that show as a kid & loved watching the reruns on nick at nite as a young adult.
ReplyDeletethe smart actors get a royalty-type payment. Cosby was deeply involved in that show (both in front of and behind the camera) so he is still getting $$ each time an episode is on tv.
Deletere: your tweet about vacation. I feel you on that. I assume its because "vacation" is not REALLY vacation when you've got kids. Its just MORE time with whining, off-their-routine little ones demanding something from you every minute, either at home or, worse, someone else. And maybe other annoying relatives are there too. If "vacation" meant me not having to wipe anyone's nose or bottom or deal with "family time" I'd hate it less. (Disclaimer: I love my kids dearly & enjoy their company immensely. Parenting is extremely rewarding to me. It is just not "vacation")
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that when I have a day off and I take the kids to daycare, I still don't enjoy it. I sit around feeling sad unless I have a ton of errands to do, in which case I feel overwhelmed. And if I keep the kids home, I am waiting on them all day.
DeleteFizzy, you strike me as someone who likes to be relatively busy, so maybe it just takes your brain a while to chill when you have absolutely nothing to do. I'm a lot like that myself so if it is determined that there is something wrong with you, be sure to let me know :)
DeleteI'm going to disagree with you, Dr. Fizzy and say you do loving going to work. Yes, getting up early in the morning can be a drain at times, and
DeleteI'm certain there are aspects of your job that are less rewarding.
However, I'll bet you dollars to donuts that you enjoy interacting with
your patients and serving them as their physician. Since you're a very
perceptive person, I'll bet you're a good diagnostician too which is a
critical tool in helping your patients. Without sounding too pedantic
(too late!), you've unknowingly unlocked the secret of happiness and
the paradox of life: The more you give away, you more you have for
yourself. So, you can rant about McDonalds shaming and other things,
you don't have me fooled. I know your heart. - Paul
Yeah, ONE day off is not a vacation. Its a whirwind errand-fest. I guess when I think of "vacation" I think of being away from home (and the attached chores/errands) and doing something new or relaxing. I used to enjoy those types of vacations (but there is a limit to how long I can be away before I feel the need to be useful again). These days we are always visiting family---i.e. sitting around the house for days on end and it gets old after about 1 day.
DeleteI suffer from melancholy unless I have errands to do and then I'm anxious about getting
ReplyDeletethem done. I call it OCD: Overly Concerned Disorder.
"Everboby Hates Chris" is tons better anyway.
ReplyDeleteI guess no matter how much I enjoyed the Cosby show (and I did very much enjoy it) I could never watch it without being horrified and thinking rapist rapist the whole time I'm watching it now. I'm so glad they pulled the show. I'm perfectly happy to show solidarity with those who have been sexually assaulted and show disdain for those who have been accused of such behavior by not being able to watch a sitcom
ReplyDelete