Whatever Happened to...?

Do you ask yourself that? Whatever happened to...I know I catch myself saying that more and more each day. Whatever happened to plain candy? Whatever happened to regular gas? Whatever happened to the picture show? Whatever happened to not having so many choices at the grocery store? My list could go on but I will stop with that. However there is one whatever happened that is on the top of my list.

Whatever happened to good movies and television? I'm not the only one asking this, so are most of American people. Whatever happened to shows like, Magnum PI, Fame, Hill Street Blues, A-Team, Simon and Simon, Dallas, Cosby Show, Falcon Crest, Battle Star Galactica and many more I can't name right off the top of my head because the list is too long. Whatever happened to movies like, Body Heat, Stripes, Out of Africa, Rambo, the list again could go on forever. Whatever happened has hit America, but nobody wants to speak up and tell what they really feel about; whatever happened to film making?

These shows faded when shows like twenty CSI's took over or ten Law and Orders bombarded the television or all the million reality shows that have invaded the television or all the computer generated movies that seem to be the rage. When they first came out they were great, but now I can't stand watching much television unless it's old re-runs of show from the past. Then I questioned myself why? Why is it I have to see re-runs of A-Team and Magnum PI?

Easy, the shows of by gone era were simple with easy to follow plot lines. They entertained us, didn't upset us or cause my local doctor to make his fortune off of me because of blood pressure problems due to the latest Housewives drama. The shows had symbolism, style, art, seduction, intimacy, mystery, laughter, and tears. Now I know what you are thinking, all shows have that now days. Yes, they do, but not on the same level as the older shows.

Sit down and think; why did you like the show Archie Bunker? Was it because the main character was a complete narrow minded bigoted jerk, where comedy was used to relieve the tension this character bestowed upon on television sets every week? Archie Bunker became a household name and to this day is talked about even though it's not on the air. Archie would be changing by the end of the show just a little not a whole lot but just a little. What about the Cosby Show? Why did you like it? Was it because it portrayed a middle class black family and we got a glimpse in how they have to cope with the world around them as parents of five children? Of course, these shows always had us thinking not handing the answer to us immediately. They gave us laughter and tears, all the while giving us food for thought while they entertained us. Today that isn't so much happening.

Political correctness; take hike! You know that television and movies are saturated with it. It's almost to the brink of censorship and you as American people don't even realize it. Here are examples of what I mean; I love watching Don Johnson's character sitting in his fancy car smoking and drinking as he plays Crockett or Harry in Hot Spot. I want to see Gerald McRaney as Rick tipping back a few beers with his brother while they investigate a case. I love seeing George Peppard and Dirk Benedict, pull out a cigar and smoke it while they plan their next move.

I want the real romance back. You know when you saw two characters go out on a date to eat, a kiss may have followed, not sex. The only characters to do such were characters like Abbey Ewing of Knots Landing or Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, we called them bitchy sluts. They made the story move along. We hated to love these characters, but we did.

Children didn't get thrown into the plot line because they ran out of ideas. You know what I mean. Suddenly the main characters are pregnant or they have an illegitimate child, usually meaning they are grasping for ratings if you ask me. It used to be if children were involved, by the end of the show the child himself was a little wiser not guessing who's my daddy? Now days, it's the kid doing the leg work. Sad situation if you ask me.

As much as I love a good sex scene in anything; movie or television, I still love seeing Dirk Benedict kiss the women and tease them with his words. You figured he slept with most of the women he teased but there was an air of mystery that kept us guessing. Can you imagine Dirk Benedict having to do Faceman's womanizing ways on television today? First he would have to disrobe because let's face it, it's a code among them (Hollywood) that all television series that aren't about children require some nudity of some sort (exclude the bare chest of men). He also couldn't get away by being the one who makes the girls cry when he dumps them because they (certain people in society) have deemed characters with this kind of behavior bad and unacceptable, even though you can flip to any reality show and this happens all the time. I guess in make believe world we aren't aloud to have such characters. The difference is Faceman would let them down gently, breaking their hearts, but turning us on, unlike Snooki's boyfriend who got drunk, screwed her best friend, threw up from his drinking binge, then denied he ever did anything, all the while everything is on reality TV tape. How romantic.

Still don't believe me? Take the movie Avatar, made enough money to pay several people's doctor's bills. Well it wasn't enough for Mr. Cameron to leave his formula alone. So he decided to do something. He took the film re-put it out with the sex scenes. Can anybody guess what happened? It flopped. Tease us don't show us. There is a lack of intimacy among characters anymore. They go from point A to point B not learning a damn thing about each other. Our main characters are left out there until the ratings show they need a boost or be cancelled. Then let's throw in something dark from their past, like an illegitimate child. The art of film making is really gone. It's all computer generated with a computer generated price. Whatever happened to the location shots? Miami Vice was filmed in Miami not in a studio using computer graphics. Dallas was filmed in Dallas. Falcon Crest was filmed in California, Magnum PI in Hawaii. Very few shows are on location now days. Stunt men and women actually worked. They did stunts; very few stunts are used anymore since the dawn of the computer age.

I know some of you are asking well, don't you like any television? Yes, I love shows just like you; however I don't hold them as classics in twenty years. They will be just another show from the past.

Have you been in the local movie store or wherever movies are sold or rented? Do you know what is flying off the shelves? The old television shows and movies. America wants these shows because of what they stood for simple, clean, symbolism, style, seduction, art, sex, intimacy, flirting, laughter, tears and lots of mystery. I'm like the rest of America, we don't have to see all the blood and guts to get the jest he was shot or ate by a tiger. We don't have to see sex to know when two characters are kissing each other and end up on the bed still clothed that we know how it will end leave us wanting more please!

If there is one show that I feel follows the old formula of television and doing it really great at it is, Burn Notice. It's filmed on location, Miami Florida, you have stunts performed by stunt people and the characters keep us engrossed. Yes, we have a boozing and gambling Sam who womanizes, using women like tissues, but we still love him. A handsome hero, Michael, with problems, a woman, Fiona, who let's face it needs Michael. She maybe strong, but deep down she needs Michael (sorry you women who think women don't need men, we do) The air of mystery of the characters are there but you know them well enough to know they aren't going to spring a kid out of nowhere. There is intimacy between these three characters, there is style, art and yes, the characters learn a little more about themselves at the end of the show. They tease us, making us beg for more and that's what keeps this show going and fall into the classic category in the future. They are using the formula.

Now whatever happened to...?



Books by Carla Landreth
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