TV Archives - So About What I Said

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

My Essay on CNN Opinion: “Why Lilly Singh Is What Late Night Comedy Needs Right Now”

Ahhh, friends! I can’t believe that I forgot to share one of my CNN op-eds with you! This one is all the way back from the end of March about YouTuber Lilly Singh breaking the glass ceiling of late-night TV. Bye bye, boys’ club!!!

I’ve been forever frustrated by the landscape of late night, haven’t you?? Especially in our current political climate and the #MeToo era, we’re seeing men telling us the news of the day — from their perspective. We’re in an age right now where we need better inclusion and representation when it comes to who is telling these stories, and I’m hoping that Lilly Singh hosting a late night show will be the first in a very long line of glass-ceiling-breaking female hosts.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I even take the writers’ rooms of late night to task for not employing nearly enough female writers…

It’s easy for someone like Leno, an older white male, to say that late-night comics should stay out of politics, but the fact is it’s 2019 — and it would be tone deaf to ignore the political and social challenges facing Americans. In fact, I would argue that it’s even more critical that Singh have a show, so she can start national conversations around marginalized communities.
Late-night television often provides the fodder for the water cooler (or Slack thread) conversations the next morning. So, Singh will soon have a powerful platform to kickstart a conversation on a host of issues, especially as we near the 2020 presidential election.

You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo

Thursday, June 6, 2019

My Essay on The Independent: “Watching Elizabeth Warren Debate With Meghan McCain on The View…”

My third op-ed for The Independent is live!! Yes, I know that I haven’t posted the first two, but this one is particularly timely, so I wanted to get it up ASAP. I got to write about The View (fan!), the power of women’s voices (super fan!) and why the exchange between co-host Meghan McCain and Senator Elizabeth Warren was so powerful.

It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of The View for YEARS — I mean, I even wrote an entire blog post about how I’d make a great co-host. That, my friends, is how dedicated I am! So when I heard that The New York Times magazine recognized the show as “most important political TV show in America,” I about screamed for joy! But, of course, I wasn’t surprised! The View has been redefining the genre of daytime talk for more than 20 years. It’s put strong, powerful women at the forefront of smart, relevant and engaging television.

And when it comes to the looming 2020 elections, those smart women are going to be on the front lines! I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the show is more visible than ever right now. In a time when women are continually being silenced and made to feel like they don’t matter, a female-led show being recognized like this is groundbreaking — it says that, yes, women have a voice and we’re going to use it. It says that, yes, women are allowed to have strong opinions, and those strong opinions aren’t “being hysterical.” This says a lot about women, power and being vocal, especially in a time when so many aspects of our lives are being threatened. The hosts of The View are coming to the table, literally, and showing women that’s it’s OK to speak up and to have a voice. For a long time, I was insecure and afraid to voice my opinion, but that show has taught me the power in being vocal and not apologizing for it.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, which Meghan McCain herself retweeted and commented on, so basically, I’m living my best life this week…

In fact, this isn’t the first time The View has sat down with a 2020 Democratic candidate. Warren’s interview marks The View’s 13th Democratic candidate on the show, meaning the hosts have interviewed half the candidates who have announced their run. Candidates see the show as a must-stop on the campaign trail – a legitimate forum to talk about the issues that matter most. The show has become a key player in our national political conversation, and it says a lot that an all-female program is having such an influence on the 2020 election.
At a time when women’s rights are being threatened across America, such a show isn’t just refreshing: it’s nationally necessary, for all of us.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Must-Watch: Dead to Me on Netflix

PSA: We finished watching Dead to Me on Netflix this weekend…and, OMG, it’s soooooo good. Please consider this post my formal recommendation to watch this show RIGHT NOW.

The premise sounds simple enough — maybe even a bit ho-hum, been-there-done-that: Widow Jen meets free spirit, quirky Judy in a grief support group and the two quickly bond. Their friendship develops over the 10-episode series and you quickly become invested in these characters. You feel for them and their story, even the story that involves a huge secret that could destroy Jen and Judy’s relationship.

On the surface, Dead to Me gives off a psychological thriller vibe, but make no mistake: The heart of the show is about love, loss and how you pick up the pieces to come back from the unthinkable. Sure, the plot is a bit far-fetched (just watch it and you’ll see what I mean…), but there’s something very real about the show’s portrayal of grief. It’s raw and gritty. It’s not neat and tidy. It makes you sad and angry and confused, and sometimes, you feel all those emotions at the very same time.

And speaking of anger, can I just say how much I totally identified with Jen?!?! The anger that comes with grief is powerful, and I just kept nodding along as we were watching and thinking, “YES, she is saying exactly what I’m thinking so much of the time!”

Christina Applegate, who plays Jen, recently talked about why her character reminds us of ourselves, and I couldn’t agree more with her words…

Jen is unlike anyone, but she’s an Everywoman. The world is trying to get her to stop being who she is and stop feeling what she’s feeling and as a result she is incredibly rageful and reactive. She doesn’t know how to smile or laugh or let anyone comfort her. When she meets Judy, it’s life-changing.
I’ve gone through grief in my life. Some people didn’t understand. There’s nothing that holds you down in your grief more than people trying to get you to stop feeling what you’re feeling. Jen and Judy both allow each other to feel what they need to feel. That understanding and that sisterhood is a bond that cannot be broken.

AMEN, don’t you think, friends? Have you binge-watched Dead to Me yet? What did you think of that cliffhanger ending? I suggest that you watch it on the weekend because I’m pretty sure you’ll want to watch multiple episodes in one sitting like we did… xoxo

P.S. Remember Bloodline? Oooooh, that was another haunting Netflix original…

Thursday, May 23, 2019

My Essay on The Washington Post: “Why the New Peppa Pig Character Gives Me Hope”

MY PEPPA PIG ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED ON THE WASHINGTON POST!!!!!

Umm, can you tell just how excited I am, friends?!?!?!? The Washington Post is a BIG deal for me, ever since I saw All The President’s Men, so I’m beyond thrilled to share my second piece for their On Parenting section!! I got to write about Mandy Mouse, the new character in a wheelchair on British import Peppa Pig, and how ordinary her introduction was. Spoiler alert: That’s a GOOD thing! Disability representation is having a moment in 2019 and I’m here for it!

Peppa Pig is incredibly popular with the under-5 set, as I learned during my interviews with experts and parents. And for good reason! The show presents wonderful, relevant lessons for children, and the lessons are subtly woven into the plot instead of just stated outright. Surprisingly, it was Ms. Bear who gave me the idea to write about Mandy Mouse, and I’m so glad she did. Mandy was presented as just another new character, not a new character in a wheelchair. She talked about her wheelchair, but it never felt forced or out of step with the rest of the episode.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, and I’m extra happy because the editors chose the headline I suggested, which rarely happens in the freelance writing business…

It’s essential that children with disabilities see themselves represented on their favorite TV shows, and it’s just as important that able-bodied children see these disabilities as well. Mandy Mouse gives me hope for the future. She gives me hope that the next generation won’t have to wonder why there aren’t characters like them on TV. She gives me hope that children won’t be afraid when they meet someone with a disability — that meeting them is, like on “Peppa Pig,” no big deal. She gives me hope that when it comes to inclusion, real, lasting change is possible.
Yes, seeing the person (er, mouse) instead of the disability. This is what inclusion is all about. On TV and in real life.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

How The Big Bang Theory Finale Insulted Its Female Characters

Did you watch The Big Bang Theory series finale last week? After 12 years, it was time to say goodbye to Sheldon and company. I’ll admit, I was sad to see their stories come to an end, but there was one thing that made me even sadder (and madder and more frustrated): The send-off the show gave to its female characters!

You all know I’ve been a fan of the show from the very beginning. Back in the days when Penny worked as a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory and Raj couldn’t talk to women without, umm, a little liquid courage. Back in the days when Sheldon struggled to learn the finer nuances of sarcasm and Wolowitz lived with his mother — may she rest in peace.

I’ve been there for it all, so maybe that’s why I found myself pretty disappointed in the Grand Finale Shebang — pun intended (Bazinga!). I was expecting to see Sheldon’s mom, sister and Georgie — the three characters we’ve all come to know and love on back-in-time Young Sheldon. Speaking of Young Sheldon, I was also half hoping to meet his childhood neighbor Billy Sparks as an adult.

At the very least, I was expecting to be moved and to see a finale fitting of a show that had made such an indelible mark on pop culture. I mean, what other show in recent memory has made smart the new sexy?

You’re right! I can’t think of one either. But we didn’t get that finale. Instead, we got one that felt rushed, and, perhaps in an effort to wrap things up, we got a finale that, honestly, felt out of sync with the spirit of the show. For a show that’s heralded its strong female characters and female scientists, the episode did a huge disservice to its female characters!

The irony of this is certainly not lost on me. Two things (WARNING: Spoilers ahead)…

Amy goes from “plain” to “pretty“: No, Amy DID NOT need to get a makeover! She was a brilliant scientist who won a Nobel Prize. When are shows going to stop relying on that insulting makeover trope? So much of what I loved about Amy was that she never bowed to convention or bucked to tradition, and she was a really empowering role model for young girls, especially in an age where society is all about these unrealistic beauty ideals that are impossible to live up to.

Penny is pregnant: Penny always said she never wanted kids, but BOOM, what do you know, she ends up pregnant in the end. Plus, at a time when women are fighting for the right to have control and autonomy over their own bodies, this story line felt particularly tone deaf and insensitive. Because even in the fictional world of The Big Bang Theory, women’s autonomy is incredibly important. We can’t forget that just because this is a sitcom, you know?

I think there’s a wider cultural commentary to be made here. The commentary, I think, could even go beyond The Big Bang Theory and talk about how even in fictional world, women can’t escape these toxic tropes and unrealistic standards!

“You must want to have kids. You just don’t know it yet!”

“Here, why don’t you have a makeover!”

In fact, people seemed so much more outraged over Raj ending up alone than they did with this blatant sexism, and, truthfully, I just can’t.

Writer Kathryn VanArendonk summed up my feelings perfectly in her piece for Vulture…

“From what we see after Penny discovers she’s pregnant offscreen, we have to assume that she’s pleased, whether or not she made a choice about staying pregnant. But it’s hard to overstate how much this plot — which was surely intended as a sweet, hopeful end — instead comes off as thoughtless and tin-eared at best, dismissive and condescending at worst. In an otherwise heartwarming finale for these characters, after 12 years spent together on one of TV’s most popular shows, it’s infuriating and unfortunate that The Big Bang Theory would essentially erase a woman’s right to choose from her own narrative.”

Indeed, the finale was dismissive and condescending all around. In the end, it was just a real letdown after more than a decade of being so invested in these characters. After all, their lives and their stories, though obviously fiction, came to be a part of our lives and part of our stories. I only wish Amy and Penny had gotten the endings that they truly deserved. Why they didn’t is one mystery I’ll be unraveling for all of eternity.

Thank you for listening, err, reading, friends! I desperately neeeeeeded to rage-write these feelings! What did you think of the finale, friends? Were you a fan? How would you have liked to see the gang’s journey end? With a bang? Yes, that pun was definitely intended… xoxo