tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post5967356297222806020..comments2024-03-17T18:19:49.076-04:00Comments on It's About TV: Stranger in a Strange LandMitchell Hadleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08695771505209080030noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-90738707036097640592018-01-12T10:55:14.210-05:002018-01-12T10:55:14.210-05:00In my real-world disguise, I work with an agency a...In my real-world disguise, I work with an agency affiliated with the department of corrections, so the subject of policing often comes up. I found this post fascinating because earlier this week, we were talking about Hill Street Blues, and how that's one of many dividing lines between the policing of the past and the present.<br /><br />Consider how Sgt. Esterhaus ended each roll call with "Let's be careful out there," and how, after Michael Conrad's death, Sgt. Jablonski took over and ended his roll call with "Let's do it to them before they do it to us." I read that as the first is a relic of the days of beat cops serving and protecting. Jablonski's line looks forward to cops in surplus military gear with the Punisher logo on their cars meeting protesters with extreme prejudice.<br /><br />Every once in a while, I drive clients through a small community and we catch sight of the bicycle cops who ride up and down its main drag and know every shopkeeper and store owner by name. I've had clients comment on how weird that is several times. They don't know the beat cops of the past watching out for everyone, but they often have stories about the violence they claim to have suffered when they were arrested. (Not universal; many clients do have stories about how gentlemanly and decent their arresting officers were to them.)<br /><br />So overall, I think if you're looking for a good argument about that dividing line between the escapism of a kinder past and a more stark present, you could make a case for 1984-85 and Sgt. Jablonski. I enjoy many modern cop shows - Jeff Goldblum's short run on Law & Order: Criminal Intent is mostly amazing - but I think I prefer the days when cops wanted to be careful out there instead of proactive.G.G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14139897093825738777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-90497048513716992372017-03-17T16:38:53.962-04:002017-03-17T16:38:53.962-04:00I understand Paul, and I fully respect the idea of...I understand Paul, and I fully respect the idea of not being pressed into a mold.<br /><br />But when I wanted to turn on the television I wanted to be entertained. Not told what was existentially wrong with the universe. I get my nose rubbed in the problems around me for most of the day, so a little bit of wholesome escape is welcome. <br /><br />It seems like things such as "family values", right versus wrong and other things my generation valued are slowly but surely going down the proverbial tubes. I never believed "Leave it to Beaver," or "Ozzie & Harriet" or other such shows were real but I saw them as examples of us at our best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-72718385423488638082017-03-17T12:05:17.460-04:002017-03-17T12:05:17.460-04:00I don't like the mentality that television sho...I don't like the mentality that television should be an idealized escape from reality, making the unstated message there is something wrong with us if we don't fit into that model mold.Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-33550231914966978882017-03-17T11:50:34.962-04:002017-03-17T11:50:34.962-04:00You make some excellent points here. Michael Medv...You make some excellent points here. Michael Medved's book, HOLLYWOOD VS. AMERICA, detailed many of these points 25 years ago now, and unfortunately it's only gotten worse since then.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00483417885845331990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-28096829926662562402017-03-15T20:14:26.949-04:002017-03-15T20:14:26.949-04:00Thanks for the kind words, George! From your lips ...Thanks for the kind words, George! From your lips to God's ears.Mitchell Hadleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08695771505209080030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-10989406225992002082017-03-15T18:31:41.492-04:002017-03-15T18:31:41.492-04:00This is one reason I love your page Mitch! You re...This is one reason I love your page Mitch! You remember things as they were and as many of us wish they were again. I wish many of today's millennials felt this way.<br /><br />George E.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com