"And Just Like That" My "City" Was Gone

 

bibulous - adj. - excessively fond of drinking alcohol (Google)

In case you live under a rock, you already know that HBO's "Sex and the City" is a chancy cable series. When it premiered in 1998, it reconfigured the notion of women's lib. Decades later, it is still an adored television staple that never ages for us broad-minded women, gays and a few metrosexuals with a sense of humor. Unfortunately, the original has graduated to MAX's "And Just Like That," an often painful spin-off featuring three of the four formerly lovable characters: Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda, who ironically pronounces on the third episode of the new season, "I have actually experienced the joy of hate-watching." Exactly. Miranda, when it come to "AJLT," we know what you mean. Why? Nearly thirty years later, the landscape of the "City" has changed so drastically (which is also true regarding the real New York) that it is barely recognizable. And neither are the three main characters. 

A now cult classic, "Sex"went from featuring four urban, bibulous, thirty-something, white single women with no filter when it comes to sharing their sexual conquests to the same-but-different three surrounded by the woke ideal: friends of color with dashes of LGBTQ correctness. Which just seems forced as though extreme liberals had emailed the writers informing them that if they didn't include every possible politically correct angle, the show would be put to rest permanently. My thirty-four-year-old daughter who as a pre-teen had learned about the birds and the bees from secretly watching the show on DVD, pretty much hit the nail on the head when she commented, "The characters are in an alternative universe wherein the only character who is consistently himself is gay Anthony, but he was never fully developed in the original."  

Just in case you don't already know, at the sequel's premiere, "And Just Like That," Samatha (real-life confederate Kim Cattrall) has retreated to life in London disappearing like gay, Shinto monk Sanford (the deceased Willie Garson) in a new world–in his case, Kyoto and culture (Japanese). Miranda transitions from steadfastly heterosexual to a fully realized Lesbian; the former Ralph Lauren teen model, Upper Eastside Charlotte becomes ensconced in the expectations of severe maternal materialists: New York upper class soccer moms. Yuck. 

Every fan's favorite, Carrie has gone from funny, fabulous, and flawed–just F.I.N.E."(fucked up, insecure, neurotic and emotional) to goody-too-many-shoes as proven by her reunion with twice-ex Aidan Shaw (John Corbett, famous for marrying Bo Derek). Although pseudo-redneck Aidan is universally likable, he has never been the right match for our "material girl," who still has the nerve and impracticality to wear six-inch sandals and a frilly, low-cut, tight-tube designer dress in her fifties while visiting Aidan and his adolescent sons (at least one of whom is in his sexual prime) on the family farm in Virginia. The reason why she broke up with him in the original series was because the two were just like oil and water, meaning they had nothing in common. And now in "AJLT," they still don't, which at least is consistent. Even though Carrie has always loved Aidan, it doesn't make sense that she would graduate from whiney selfishness to understanding selflessness. Technically, nobody (especially not Aidan) should get away with putting Carrie in the corner of a guesthouse without her unfairly overanalyzing the move and motives and abruptly breaking up with him on the spot. The new Carrie is just too perfect to be entirely sympathetic. Audiences used to be able to see their own imperfections in vulnerable Carrie. She was the more "real people model" whom we viewers related to on a gut level, admiring unconditionally as if she were a best friend or sister.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not the writers of the current show will somehow come to the conclusion on their own that their reimagined, formerly beloved "Sex and the City" characters are just not attractive anymore. Perhaps they will be forced to watch the original series in full so as to become reacquainted with the fictive women who did so much for the televised sexual revolution in the early 2000s. Or maybe not. Maybe they think those days are over and the New York woke present is the only validity that makes sense. I don't know about you, but I'd like to see a bi-sexual Miranda forget about her lust for unattractive women and fall back in love with Steve, an exhausted Charlotte send both of her kids to board at the Lawrenceville School in Jersey, and "Tiffany-twisted" Carrie dump agrarian Aidan and run into Big's stunt double at LeCirque. And perhaps an impersonator can do a close Samatha on the smartphone to Carrie every once in a while. I'd even take a text message from jolly ole Ms. Jones. The new gal pals may slip in on occasion but perhaps by chance. I'd be fine with all of this. But then again, I've always been a purist. What can I say? When it comes to TV comedies, I just don't like change. 

#personal essay, #opinion, #Sex and the City, #And Just Like That, #blog, #blogger, #TV series, #MAX

Nepo Babies and Claims to Fame

 

nepotism baby (nepo baby) - noun - term used to describe a person often in the entertainment industry who benefits from their parent's fame or connections, suggesting that their success is partially due to those connections rather than solely their own merit or talent. (Google)

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in the auditorium of the Academy Museum of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences listening to legendary actor Goldie Hawn, whom I have always respected, mainly because she, unlike so many in the industry, is not a nepo baby, one who benefited from her parents' connections. Although she had a lot of information to share, mainly about her own career, she mentioned in passing that she never outright helped her children Kate Hudson, Oliver Hudson, and Wyatt Russell get to where they are today in show business. Albeit honest, the statement struck me as being ironic as she has never needed to lift a finger to assist them. Everyone who is anyone in Hollywood knows her and recognizes her children, giving them a clear advantage over actors who aren't related to celebrities. Although many in the biz will insist that the wielders of power in the entertainment sector don't like the idea of nepo babies, they clearly have a leg up and always have. Remember the adage: "It's not what you know, but whom you know"? I do. 

How many nepo babies can you name? There are just so many. Hmm. Other than the aforementioned, there are Miley Cyrus, Dakota Johnson, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz, George Clooney, Nancy Sinatra, Liza Minelli, etc., etc. Some nepo babies have considerable talent while others don't. All grew up in the shadows of their famous parents, not knowing much of anything but privilege and all the right moves that might make them some money in the entertainment world.

Those who have been in show business all of their lives and have never been given much in the way of breaks via their parents or anyone else know that luck and talent need to work together to create success. For example, although Cher's mother was an actor who appeared as an extra in many films, she never got anywhere because she refused to use the casting couch (big in the forties and fifties) to obtain roles. In her recent memoir, Cher writes that she is aware that there are thousands of performers out there who have way more talent than she does, but Lady Luck has not been on their side. And she is absolutely right. She just happened to be in the right place at the right time and met the right men who promoted her to super stardom. Serendipity always makes for a better story than nepotism in my opinion anyway. The rags-to-riches yarn is pretty much the definition of the American Dream.

Interestingly enough, the celebrity of the moment, Taylor Swift enjoyed luck of another kind. Her parents, notably her dad, possesses sumptuous quantities of money to finance her career. Emotional as well as monetary support can result in fame. Talent, although generally natural, can be enhanced via the right people. In the music business, it is usually the producers that make the difference, and Swift has had many. 

Although there are times when I wish I were a nepo baby or just had parents who had the motivation to be stage parents, I am glad that I remained a hardworking G.D.I. in show business. Lady Luck shook my hand momentarily, but the timing just wasn't right. And as we all know, timing is everything. Besides, who wants mega attention anyway? It involves so much responsibility and very little privacy. Heck, the Internet thinks I'm famous. What more do I need? 

If you aren't a nepo baby, don't despair. You are probably way more content than they are. 

#nepotism, #nepobabies, #Personal Essay, #blog, #blogger, #society, #spilled thoughts

Telltale Texting

 

telltale - adjective - revealing, indicating, or betraying something. 

About how many text messages do you send and/or receive daily? I am guessing you don't count them. Neither do I. I'm probably afraid to as I am the type who still appreciates the simplicity of antiquated means of communication despite the fact that they are rarely used. You know, like the long lost art form known as letter writing and talking on a landline phone. If I didn't have a hip, thirty-something daughter, I'd probably still be an analogue "artist." During the pandemic after my flip phone flipped out, she's the one who convinced me to get an iPhone, a device that has definitely changed my life just as it has altered the myriad users of it internationally. Sure it has its advantages, one of which is a glorious camera that I use just about every day. The other is–dare I say it? Texting.

Texting is not what it seems to be. But as you already know, nothing is. What it seems to be is a modern alternative to what we used to do in high school in the 1970s: pass each other messages scratched out in pencil on torn-off looseleaf notebook paper folded in half at least four times for privacy. When the classroom teacher wasn't looking, we would toss the notes that sometimes looked like miniature footballs to each other. It definitely was the forerunner of today's texting, only it was much cheaper and, in some cases, faster because we could write quicker than type and also were forced to relay the communication within seconds before we were caught and given detention for passing notes. Because there was no such creature as spellcheck, we could spell fairly accurately (which few know how to do at present as we don't have to) or use shorthand (specific abbreviations) in order to get our gossip across. The verboten "bad habit" sure made some of our dull classes tolerable. 

Fast-forward to the present: what I find interesting is that texting or telltale texting can be a reflection of the writer's personality. For instance, unselfish people-pleasers tend to worry that they have texted too much or too little. They always respond to texts within seconds of their receipt. On the other hand, those self-centered types whose attentions lie elsewhere (such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, whatever) instead of on you will procrastinate, often forgetting completely to answer a text message. Days or weeks or months might go by, leaving the sender frustrated, wondering what he or she or they texted that could have possibly have affected the receiver negatively enough to ignore it. And then there are the inexplicable, idiosyncratic types who will send a lengthy text, prompting one in return, but then the conversation will end there, leaving unanswered questions. I know of friendships that have dissolved because of unanswered texts, which has come to be known as "ghosting." But is the ghosting intentional or not? Sometimes we never quite know for sure. The tenacious few resend and hope that the message won't go unanswered a second time. Those who feel secure might just move on to text another, more responsible friend, a reliable first text responder for instant gratification.  As for me, I'd like to go back to what we did in high school :). 

With the aforementioned in mind, I can't help but think that more relationships could remain in tact if we gave up texting altogether and just emailed each other. Or we could use the call feature and actually have a conversation or at least leave a message. Maybe the parties queried will return the call? Maybe not. It's a crapshoot because human nature is just so capricious. 

#blog, #PersonalEssay, #texting, #blogging, #Society, #HumanNature