Too Much Of a Bad Thing

No, it's not. And you're ineffective posturing does not make it so. Guess what? We, in reality, do not think much of your juvenile discussion of subjects not of your realm. Trying to create/cause a celebrity entity of your opinion is like jacking off inthe shower. Feels good at first, but there iare no lasting effects. Mayby if you jacked off more, there would'nt be an overload.

Interesting article Speaking of the anti-hero, I'm sure you'll enjoy this moving elegy to David Chase's masterpiece."The Sopranos".

What is most impressive is that the writer has crafted a rather exhaustive critique of the conclusion of the final episode, while also providing a larger contextual view, of which the ending is a piece.

The writer also offers an analysis of the final scene and the sequence of shots that I haven't read elsewhere. The essay also contains a fascinating look at the Kevin Finnerty coma dreams, the connection between Phil and Tony in the final season and of course, the meaning of those ducks and how they relate to the final scene.

What it expresses more than anything else is that David Chase created one of the great works of art of the last century. Reading this I want to watch the whole series again.

http://masterofsopranos.wordpress.com/the-sopranos-definitive-explanation-of-the-end/

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In real life, people are not either completely good or evil. Typically, they lack in some area and are guided by that void unless they overcome it or fill it. No one is perfect. So, to be bombarded with unrealistic characters is annoying to me, whether they're bad boys/girls or holier-than-thou.

As far as Dexter and Leverage goes, I think the popularity comes with the thought that the general public is sick and tired of seeing violent criminals 'tried' in the justice system and then eventually released into the general public to continue their chosen life of causing pain and destruction. And they are sick and tired of watching the rich and elite walk away with millions while the middle class can't afford gas in their car or health insurance. Dexter doles out justice the courts don't have the nerve to impose, and Leverage strikes back at the corporate elite that are continuing with no penalty while the rest of us are suffering. Works for me.

In the world that we live in today, even as depicted on either tv or the big screen, America has enemies both domestic or abroad. As anyone who has studied combat successfully can attest, to fully understand the intricate circles of war and to eventually destroy an opponent, you must first understand, otherwise, become your opponent. Being the nice, noble thinking hero attired in all white riding a white stallion are gone replaced by a need for the duality required to succeed.

On the contrary, Americans don't need more black-and-white characters. There's enough tension among people already. What's the point of making their moral compasses strict and unforgiving? If you're going to talk morality, think Aristotle. Wasn't he the one who said the middle road is always the best path?

Granted, anti-heroes can be bad. But the thing that makes audiences love them is their potential for redemption DESPITE their badness. Doesn't it make for a feel-good experience when you see someone who's struggled like a REAL person does to redeem himself? Sure, all of us are serial killers or "shady" FBI agents. But the wavering between right and wrong universally applies. When we see a person turn good, we automatically sympathize with and root for that person. And that, I think, is the true purpose of the anti-hero. The anti-hero's story seems a lot more tempered and plausible than the self-righteous drivel of the always-good hero.

Very well-written article, I enjoyed it a lot. I guess that's why Man on Fire was such a popular movie.

Nice article! Very well written. I didn't notice all this was going on in the TV world right now since I reallly only watch sports. It does make me wonder what's goiing on in society right now and how this anti-hero archetype is alleviating the pain of the cause. I was thinking that it may simply just be a change in generation or a change in the consciousness of society. Maybe we're seeing morals as being something subjective and not necessarily carved in stone. I do agree. Sometimes....... the ends justify the means. I guess that;s why all women were so high on Denzel's Man on Fire. Very well-wriiten article.....

Well, as usual, Newsweek prints another story where the writer is going to blame the "last 8 years" on all that has happened on TV and certain posters can't wait to blame the Administration for what is going on with the television shows. I'm still trying to figure out how 1 man and his administration can be blamed for EVERYTHING BAD that has happened in the entire world over the last 8 years. But, if i were to continue to read Newsweek, i'm sure they have ALL the answers to that question that i will EVER need!

There are no more "anti-heroes" in episodic television shows than there are in professional wrestling. A good many of today's viewers would argue that pro wrestling (like TV shows) is fake and scripted. I say to them, "It may be scripted, it probably is NOT fake, but it is entertainment just as most of the TV shows of our time are." If you don't like what you're watching, DON'T watch it. Change the channel.

There are no more "anti-heroes" in episodic television shows than there are in professional wrestling. A good many of today's viewers wouldl argue that pro wrestling (like TV shows) is fake and scripted. I say to them, "It may be scripted, it probably is NOT fake, but it is entertainment just as most of the TV shows of our time are." If you don't like what you're watching, DON'T watch it. Change the channel.

Truly complex and reality-based characters crossing the non-existent lines in real combat are found by most to be acceptable. This is the formula for Jack Bauer. All of the others are truly cartoonist and believable only to hollywood scriptwriters and viewers who believe in the reality of Shrek.

Anyone who finds the noosense in The Office or even the prolonged and totally unrealistic scenarios found in The Shield are easily pleased and extremely gullible.

Unfortunately, the scriptwriters can only get away with the sotryline crap that the viewers enable them to.

I am very upset with ABC cancelling Eli Stone. The show is unique and cast fantastic. We need more uplifting and positive programming like Eli Stone. Perhaps ABC will reconsider cancelling this new program .Most of us are sick of crime shows or reality shows. Dexter is a very distrubing character that should stay on HBO and not be shown on CBS I also like Brothers and Sisters. Our children are learning enough about crimininal by watching the evening news

Because of all the bad guys on TV ABC should reconsider cancelling an uplifting show such as Eli Stone. Most of us are sick of cop and reality shows. Give the alternative new shows a chance

I agree completely. In these troubled times, when so many people are lonely or going through tough times, we don't need more hateful, immoral people. I'd like to see more of an emphasis on decency, caring, and responsible behavior. And what's wrong with the stars being smart and having leadership qualities. I'm sick of the Hollywood and TV drivel, and frankly, so are my kids. We talk about it a lot.

I POSTED MY COMMENT BEFORE I REISTERED, SO NO REPEAT THIS TIME.

ABSOLUTELY TOO MANY BAD GUYS, PLOTS, PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. HOW ABOUT A FEW MORE INSPIRING STORIES ABOUT THE GOOD CHARACTERISTCS ABOUT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE AND HOW WE CAN ALL HELP ONE ANOTHER? THIS IS NOT "SUNDAY SCHOOL" DRIVEL----JUST PLAIN OLD TRUTH!!!!

Nice - not the lack of morality on TV and in Hollywood - but that someone takesxnote of it. I mean: Haven't you noticed until now when you last saw a good and decent male on screeen? Just someone remotely decent - instead of either a Tarantino 'Gutter Rat' and a psychotic torturer-rapist-murderer somewhere else - or a dumble-fumble moron par excellence, in short: a man in the design of our superior feminist sisters? Such a decent male would just not be "politcally correct". What has always made me wonder is: Are all these producers, directors, actors, etc totally meschugge - or simply suicidal? I mean, first everyone of them wanted to be a childhood victim of abuse and sexual abuse (only by men!) - next they all will be, lf course homosexual, because everything bectween men and women is "perverted". That they, in that way, discard themselves from DNA pool and human repraduction seems to have escaped them. So, first they all turn violent and evil - as compared to wonderful, caring and nurturing feminists - then they get so frightened of their own sex (because it is only a "construct to oppress women") that they have to turn somewhere else, to avoid going to prison (viz. Prof. Cathering McKinnon, Michgan U., Laws School). One can only wonder: If that is the right way of human behaviour - why were those catholic priests so fervently prosecuted?
A Media - O Mores?
Dr. J. Boost