television – Page 3 – Don't Gel Too Soon

The 50s, TV, The Company and The Hungarian Uprising

I was ten in 1956, when the people of Hungary rose up to end the Russian occupation. It was a rout – and they remained under Communist domination until the fall of the Berlin Wall. It’s difficult to explain now just how scary it was to hear of these heroic people crushed in the streets, and, for a child, difficult to place. Could it happen to me? To my family? How did the Russians get there? Why did they care what people did in Hungary?

A couple of years later a local church group sponsored a Hungarian family’s move to the US and their son, our age and pretty good at speaking English, came to dinner at the home of my friend Lois and spoke to a group of us – maybe it was our Girl Scout troop; maybe just a bunch of girlfriends – I’m not sure. He was dramatic and dignified and so happy to be there. Listening to him and the stories of those he’d left behind was a haunting experience – especially in the mind of a romantic politicized 13 year old mad for JFK.

I hadn’t thought about any of this in years, but this summer TNT brings us The Company – a history of the CIA — and of the Hungarian tragedy of 1956. From the perspective of 50 years it’s still so sad, even through the gauze of TV melodrama – and the freedom and prosperity of Hungary today doesn’t mitigate much.

I’ve kept my eye on what happened in the East since then. We took our kids through Czechoslovakia and East Germany while they were still behind the Iron Curtain. We couldn’t get the boys dry socks after a heavy rain because, as the storekeeper told us “we don’t have socks today.” We gave all our Bruce Springsteen tapes to our guide; each one would have cost him a month’s pay on the black market.

I’ve even been to Pottsdam. That photo on the left is the bridge where spies were exchanged during the days of the Cold War. So it’s not like I don’t know what happened historically. Once in a while though the recreation of reality, even with Hollywood gloss, slams me back where I was for a little while.

That’s all – I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a real ending for this – and I can’t — no massive summary available. Good night.

CALLING ALL NEWS JUNKIES

It’s almost Shabbat and I only have a second but if you’re hanging around the web this weekend don’t miss this. It’s the newest Jib Jab video and will tell you all you need to know about why I went from TV to the web. Happy Passover!

HOW ELSE WOULD I GET TO JOHN MELLENKAMP’S HOUSE?

February 22nd is Rona Elliot’s birthday. She’s the one in the red dress next to John Mellenkamp – I’m the one on the right in the weird shirt. The woman in the middle is Kathy Schenker, a wonderful person who was then his publicist. We were in Bloomington Indiana, at Mellenkamp’s house (honest!) to interview him about his new album (I think they were still albums then.)

This kind of adventure is what Rona has brought into my life, along with a deep abiding friendship and a sense of respect for her that I feel for few others. She is courageous, funny, smart, cool, great, did I say smart?, and the best production partner I ever had. We both worked for the TODAY SHOW. In 1988 I was told I wasn’t assigned to cover the New Hampshire primary and was really – really – upset. Rona laughed – "I have something so much better for you", she said. And she did.

We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in Manhattan. Bruce Springsteen inducted Bob Dylan, Elton John inducted the Drifters. Also honored and present, the three surviving Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys and more. AND they all sang together. AND we stayed up all night and cut a piece about it for the show. A good one. I don’t think I have had many experiences that were that thrilling – professionally or as an audience member. But what’s really important about it is that that sort of joyous event — and the desire to share it — is part of the package that is Rona.

A friend for all seasons, she never forgets or loses someone she loves — and believe me when she’s in your life you’re glad she’s there. Not just for Rock and Roll shows (although we’ve shared many amazing times) but also for giving my kids "I Love Heavy Metal" shirts to "scare your mom" and volunteering at an orphanage and being a spectacular mother and wife and always open to new ideas and experiences every moment she’s alive. I’m so so grateful to share the brief times in our life that are still available in our coast-to-coast lives. That night we saw Bruce Springsteen induct Bob Dylan into the Hall of Fame, he ended by saying – "and to quote one of your songs, ‘You was the brother that I never had.’" Well I have two wonderful sisters but Rona – you’re the other amazing — as you call it — sistah — that I’m glad I have. Happy Birthday.

CHARMED, I’M SURE

I work at home much of the time. Usually I watch C-SPAN. But I tripped over a show called CHARMED (more) that most of you probably already know and I find that I’m … well…charmed by it. In case you’re as clueless as I was, it’s a long-running Aaron Spelling (no surprise there) series about three sisters who learn that they’re witches — good witches of course — and not only good witches but the official CHARMED ONES. Apparently the power of sisters radically increases the power of witch-hood. Anyone with sisters could have told you that.

The longest running series with female leads, the show ran for 8 years and is now in multiple reruns on TNT, which is where I found them. They’re gorgeous, smart, sensible and dedicated to vanquishing evil and saving the world. Just like the rest of us, right? They love each other, they grow, learn, fall in love, have children, and fight demons with their powers — all at the same time.

I don’t know what it is. I have two sisters and we love each other and used to have sister power hugs every holiday when we were all together and now, with all of us over 50, still love each other and our sister power even through its occasional glitches and frayed moments. I love women — always have- and get what it is about us all that’s so wonderful. But none of that explains my affection for a television show about women younger than my sons and their do-gooding, loving, thrilling, gorgeous lives. I’m more of a West Wing/Six Feet Under/Sopranos kind of girl. Go figure.

I don’t think I’m going to try. Any time great, brave, committed, generous women are out saving the world – whether they’re Amy, Lauren and Maxine, Cagney and Lacey, CJ, Donna, Abbey and Amy, or Rose, Georgina, Lady Marjory and Mrs. Bridges, it’s a cause for celebration. So that’s what I’m doing. Celebrating the charm of the Charmed Ones and glad that they keep me company once in a while.

TOO SAD, TOO TRUE

As usual, Ms. Sweetney is onto whatever a person should be onto in the morning. This is a remarkable editorial — maybe a it too long but worth watching. I started to write a long essay to go with it and decided I sounded like a parody, SO I’m not going to say any more. Except that I totally would have missed it without Tracey – I NEVER watch that show. Maybe I should start…..

AND THE EMMY GOES TO…

When I was in high school, there was a TV show called EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE. It starred George C. Scott as a social worker with a black female co worker. The show portrayed the pain and injustice that was part of inner city life in the early 60s. Once, and this is the show I remember most of all, the baby of a young black couple was bitten, in its crib, by a rat. Desperate to get the child the a hospital, they were unable to get a cab to stop for them – – cabs didn’t stop for black people.

It had an enormous impact on me and helped to form my political and social perspectives. So even then TV sometimes had a powerful and positive impact. [EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE, by the way, social impact and all, was cancelled after one season. I later learned that the black-white work environment kept the show from being carried on any southern TV stations – which reduced its ratings and knocked it off the air.]

In general, TV somehow seems different now. Even the awards shows are better.

The Emmy Awards used to be kind of trashy and dull. The show tonight isn’t bad, though. Besides, these days, television offers more quality than feature films, as far as I can tell. I love popular culture and can watch plenty that isn’t great without embarassment, but right now there’s so much that’s really amazing. With the power of EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE in 1963, I’ve seen West Wings, Six Feet Unders and Sopranos that take your breath away and acting that does the same. Heartbreaking stories and hilarious ones. Classy characters, righteous outrage transformed into great drama, provocative ideas and just plain fun.

In fact, TV news, where I used to work, has in many cases sunk far below what’s on fictional TV. Sure there’s trash too, but the good stuff is so good, and there’s so much more of it. If the news folks stuck to their guns as well as the drama and comedy producers do, reporters wouldn’t rank so low in public opinion polls.

Is TV better now or do I just watch better shows now? What do you think?