OK, well, I don’t really remember a lot about 1973. I know I was 6 years old and had just left my little Kindergarten class at Pio Decimo in South Tucson for the big city of Dallas, where my mom finished her degree.
I remember the furnished apartment we rented was covered in plaid and wood paneling. Folk Mass was really big in the Catholic Church at the time, along with priests wearing sandals, which was liberating in different ways. I even remember running to tell my mom that some hippies walked by our apartment window and gave me the peace sign while I was playing with my Barbie doll.
So when I found out a TV show was starting this season (Life on Mars, based on the British time-travel cop show) set in New York City in, yes, 1973, I watched it and was hooked. It was nice to watch Harvey Keitel, but I was particularly pleased to see Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos back on TV–this time with long shaggy hair and a thick handlebar mustache.
But the TV folks at ABC have canceled it and there are only 17 episodes left.
I’ve been knee-deep in nostalgia lately. No life? Middle age? But this 1973 visit was a great reminder of life before human resources in the workplace and cell phones, and life before CSI shows and forensics. Each episode was like talking to old newspaper folks about Compugraphics, waxers, and pica poles, but with a cool soundtrack.
Supposedly the creators are thinking about a new series called Ashes to Ashes, about a detective that goes back to the 1980s. Look, they didn’t celebrate the country’s Bicentennial in the 1980s, and they didn’t have banana seats or TV variety shows. I’m not sure if I’d be ready to go back there since it doesn’t seem that long ago.
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2009.
I wonder if it will show up on Hulu or something — I’m rather digging it from that Starter’s Kit. Never got to see the show myself.
Great show not only because it is 1970’s but
because it is in New York (look at those cheap rents, those streets and bridges) place it in Kansas City and it would not work,
because it has a pretty respectable sound track,
because there is a solid amount of interesting hair,
because it has a sci-fi metaphyscial bent (Prisoner Lite),
because of the costumes,
because it is a classic cliche cop show,
because it confronts sexism (You know like running hetero happy hot chicks in bikinis on the front page but NEVER a hot guy all waxed and in a Speedo because, well you know, we’re not ready for that are we?)
but most of all because… IT HAS HARVEY EFFIN K!
I’ll watch anything with Harvey.
Smoke, LuLu on the Bridge, that piano flick.
Anyone else and I’d tune out.
On the downside it is the 70’s as shown are a nostalgic rose colored view of the time. But perhaps that is just what everyone needs these days.
Major Tom: How do you know our swimsuit model was hetero? I can certainly imagine her in a loving embrace with another young lady. I think it’s terrible to assume that just because a woman is attractive, she must be straight.
Jimmy – This is it… Next year, speedo man from Brazil.
Maybe we should do a Men of the Weekly calendar for 2010?
Which men of the Weekly? The ones I’ve only heard about that work in the back warehouse. OK, sure, that would be fine.
— How do you know our swimsuit model was hetero? I can certainly imagine her in a loving embrace with another young lady. I think it’s terrible to assume that just because a woman is attractive, she must be straight.
Now now Mr. Nintzel, no gotcha politics please.
From what I can tell the post was about the intended audience not the orientation of the model.
But you are right.
Even hetero oriented people may have been disturbed by the cover.
If you honestly think there is nothing to this issue, then here are some links you might find interesting.
I don’t expect you to change, diversity is good, but as a journalist please consider how the actions of your publication and yourself impact the struggles for equality and respect many women face.
Especially in journalism.
There is an extensive body of work on this topic.
Here are some links if you would like to learn more.
Thank you.
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/
http://tnjn.com/2007/mar/20/515-the-media-portrayal-of-wom/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18601/images_of_femininity_media_portrayals.html
I guess I didnt right that write.
I was trying to say it was kind of a hetero fantasy cover.
But you’re right that discounts bi, trans and so on.
So my bad.
Besides man, if you want to know the truth, that broad on the cover gave me some seious, and I mean serious wood!
You should have seen the looks I kept getting from a couple of MILF types at the coffee shop.
Hell, if you don’t want the kiddies to see this, go to friggin library man.
It’s a free country.
Am I right or what?
High five.
I get wood every time a new issue of the TW comes off the press.
For the record, I just want to know where Jimmy is today? Is he away from his computer? Is he busy in meetings? Where is the editor when you need him? Where?
Wait!
Before calling in Big Daddy, I do think the cover deserves some discussion since it impacts everyone who sees it, and it is on public display all around town.
I read the editorial and readers who did not like it were basically told to get a life. I agree. The paper has every right to publish whatever the hell it wants.
But does TW also have a right to stand up for those who fight inequality, who face workplace descrimination, who are subjected to images of the ideal body type and so on?
Should it perhaps take a more progressive, alternative stand on this sort of issue?
There is room for debate I would think.
I for one love it for the wood it gives me, sitting in the park with my trenchcoat and wry smile.
To quote Hector: The entire TW gives me wood.
But Mari where do you stand on all this?
As a journalist?
As a woman?
As a mother?
Serously, what are your thoughts?
Where do you stand?
Tucson wants to know.
I think I already said it, in the interest of full equality, that I would love for next year’s cover to be a speedo man of Brazil. Nuf said.
Who’s Nuf said?
Try ‘nuf said.
Technically, it’s ’nuff said, if you’re quoting the Stan “The Man” Lee. Excelsior, true believers!
Nuf said, ‘nuf said… get out of town. Next year, speedo man of Brazil is on the cover. Red Star?
Yes, but she has to try the ‘nuf said before she can advance to the technically correct ’nuff said.
She’s the incremental type what with the whole “next year, Rio Speedo…” thing of hers. This needs to be understood and incorporated into her training.