Interesting TV Trend
I’m not entirely sure when it started. I think it’s fairly cool, makes television a little more real. TV shows are starting to show people smoking again.They had stopped a number of years ago. And it was such a big deal about seeing someone smoke on TV. It’s been a pretty big deal about people smoking in the movies. Something about enticing kids to smoke. The way I look at it, if you don’t want your kids smoking, teach them the drawbacks of smoking. Don’t blame entertainment.
Anyway, I know it may seem like a really weird thing for me to mention. I mean, I don’t smoke. Hubby does, but wants to quit. Da does, and doesn’t want to quit. But I don’t. So I wonder why it was so noticeable to me? I think the last time a really noticed someone smoking on a TV show it was X-Files with the cigarette smoking man. But just this week I have seen three instances of people smoking. The first was Numb3rs. The second was My Own Worst Enemy (fantastic show, by the way. LOVE Christian Slater.) The third was LA Ink.
LA Ink might not be too weird in the smoking arena. It is a reality show after all. But I don’t remember ever seeing anyone smoke before. I guess it has just always been edited out. Numb3rs and My Own Worst Enemy, the story lines had people smoking. I’ve been expecting people to be smoking in Life on Mars (they do in the British version, but not in the Americanized version, yet.)
I guess the reason I notice is because, as you can see by my reference of Life on Mars, I watch British TV. They are much more laid back regarding their television. There is cursing, smoking, partial nudity, strong intimation of sex, homosexual relationships, and more. And amazingly enough, the British are not a depraved people. The children grow up well-adjusted, and the onus for raising said children is on the parents. The government does not find it necessary to jump in at every off-color comment or alternative life-style choice.
This all kind of reminds me of the George Carlin bit with the (I think it was) 7 words the FCC won’t allow on air. But I don’t remember where the ban on smoking came from. And I remember hearing recently about not having smoking scenes in movies. I’m sorry, but pathetic. So maybe I see this is our finally coming of age and not being held down and paralyzed by the people telling us what to do. I won’t hold my breath, but just maybe…
