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"content": "\u003cp>For those who have no idea what this show is about, I advise you to read \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/tag/poldark/\">my previous recaps\u003c/a>. If you’re too busy or impatient for all of that, here’s the much-abbreviated gist:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ross Poldark fought in the American Revolutionary War on the British side. As we know, things didn’t really work out. Presumed dead, his ex, Elizabeth, got with his lame cousin because there were apparently no other men around who flaked on the war. Ross returns alive and everyone is supremely inconvenienced by his not-deadness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ross proceeds to spend a lot of time hanging out with poor people. He even marries one! His scullery maid, Demelza! And has a baby with her! But don’t get too excited; the baby dies of strep throat or something like that. Demelza and Ross soon make another baby because they're constantly boning, but no one is happy about the new baby because Ross spends an entire season being the worst husband ever and committing adultery at a glacial pace with Elizabeth. Where's Elizabeth's husband/Ross' cousin, you ask? He was murdered by a random puddle (no, seriously).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oh, and there’s a former classmate of Ross’ who is hell-bent on ruining his life and has one of those faces that’s just begging for a knuckle sandwich. Said classmate, whom I unaffectionately call Malfoy, almost gets Ross hanged and sabotages him at every turn because this was before Netflix, so everyone was supremely bored. Ross returns the favor by beating him up a couple of times and almost setting Malfoy's head ablaze in a fireplace. Malfoy gets even by marrying Elizabeth and knocking her up. At least that's what he thinks for now, until some 18th-century version of Maury pops out to proclaim: \u003cem>You're not the father! Ross is!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Okay, got all that? Great. Let’s do this…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We're thrown right into the action. A pregnant Elizabeth can't control her bolting horse and is about to be catapulted off a cliff! So the writers of the show \u003cem>did\u003c/em> get all those letters I sent! But right before I get my wish, Ross saves the day (again).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/mary-kate-olsen-eye-roll-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96472\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/mary-kate-olsen-eye-roll-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"358\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elizabeth is really thankful and wishes him a good day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Psych! That would be the way a normal, gracious, non-bratty person would behave. 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And how she saved you from that pitchfork mob, despite you sleeping with her husband?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elizabeth's answer to all of these prompts:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/justin-bieber-brat-i-dont-recall-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96473\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/justin-bieber-brat-i-dont-recall-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"260\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before I can even finish thinking \u003cem>Elizabeth is the absolute worst\u003c/em>, someone more despicable trots up. Malfoy is just as ungrateful and threatens Ross. Um, the last time you did that, Ross almost cooked your entire head in a fireplace like a Christmas ham. No one on this show ever learns! But if this particular case of amnesia leads to Malfoy getting pummeled one more time, I'll allow it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at chez Elizabeth, Malfoy admonishes her for being so reckless in her last month of pregnancy. On top of the horse drama, he also caught her walking for three miles and lifting heavy books (*gasp*). Agatha (oh, how I've missed her boozy octogenarian ways!) sends over a you-are-so-messy look. Elizabeth wants to accidentally-but-kinda-on-purpose kill Ross' baby!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yikes-good-luck-with-that-seinfeld-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96475\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yikes-good-luck-with-that-seinfeld-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"266\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having heard about Ross saving the day through the grape vine, Elizabeth's son, Geoffrey Charles, makes the moment even more awkward by suggesting they throw a party in Ross' honor. Malfoy shuts that nice idea down with a quickness: \u003cem>Absolutely not! I'm still not finished fighting with Ross over whose penis is bigger! Oh, and we're changing your name from Poldark to my last name 'cause I'm that insecure.\u003c/em> Geoffrey Charles immediately agrees. \"Since you wish it, I will change my name... to Geoffrey Charles \u003cem>Francis\u003c/em> Poldark!\" Agatha, our drunk stand-in, cracks up just as hard as I do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jinkx-monsoon-drag-race-laughing-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96476\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jinkx-monsoon-drag-race-laughing-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, a hot dude walks up to Demelza's house (and not a moment too soon -- Ross doesn't do it for me anymore after all his monstrous behavior last season). Demelza looks in his direction. \u003cem>Is that babe here to rescue me from a life of being second-best? Mmm, break me off a piece of that! ... Oops, that's my brother!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jennifer-lawrence-oops-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96477\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jennifer-lawrence-oops-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"490\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They have a brief, joyous reunion, but because this is Demelza's life in which she can never be happy for more than 2.7 seconds before everything goes to crap, her brother, Drake, tells her she has to come back home. Their abusive dad is on his death bed. Demelza says, \"All he ever gave me was bruises.\" Translation: No thanks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In town, a random girl smells flowers in slow motion, so I guess that means this is a new character we have to start caring about. Her name is Morwenna, a random jumble of letters that this modern-day mom will probably steal for her next baby:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96478\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-1020x717.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-1020x717.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-160x113.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-800x563.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-768x540.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-1180x830.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-960x675.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-240x169.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-375x264.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-520x366.jpg 520w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Morwenna, who turns out to be a cousin of Elizabeth's, is hired by Malfoy to be Geoffrey Charles' governess and make him less of a momma's boy. But we can all surely tell her real purpose is to have an intense Romeo & Juliet romance with Drake, right? Lucky girl (minus the whole double suicide thing).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, Blondie is keeping her dying uncle company. That's very sad and all, but HORACE THE PUG IS IN THE HOUSE! FINALLY. Truth be told, he is the driving force behind my continuing these recaps. I mean, just look at him:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96483\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1020x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-800x451.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-768x433.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1920x1081.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1180x665.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-960x541.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96482\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1020x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-960x540.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96481\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1020x553.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1020x553.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-160x87.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-800x434.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-768x416.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1920x1040.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1180x639.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-960x520.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-240x130.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-375x203.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-520x282.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at Ross' mine, he has a surprise visitor. It's Geoffrey Charles. He wants to hang out with his dead dad's side of the family. Ross is like, \u003cem>Cool! Let's go down into the mine where your dad drowned to death!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/winona-weird-faces-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96479\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/winona-weird-faces-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"384\" height=\"375\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Drake heads back to his dying father, Demelza wishes aloud that she could be more like Ross (a sociopath) and not have feelings, but she can't help it. She rides off to be by her father's side, despite his being the antichrist. Turns out Demelza's former home is basically a modeling agency for boys. Another hot brother we never knew about called Sam greets her, but becomes less hot when all he wants to talk about is the bible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their father's dying wish is for all of them to become Christian missionaries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sam's response:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/12/tumblr_ml252mhGRm1qedlsro1_250.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10201\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/12/tumblr_ml252mhGRm1qedlsro1_250.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"193\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Demelza's response:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/09/26704-god-is-not-real.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-38901\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/09/26704-god-is-not-real.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"193\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Drake's response:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/unsure-wiig-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96480\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/unsure-wiig-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"229\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right before their dad is about to pass away, Demelza is like, \u003cem>I'd stay, but a. I don't want to, and b. I got more important stuff to do. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That more important stuff turns out to be a super secret wedding between Blondie and Doc, who's on a 24-hour leave from the war. Blondie and Doc embrace and are ready to rip each other's clothes off. They share a look that says:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/were-gonna-bang-emma-stone-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96484\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/were-gonna-bang-emma-stone-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"242\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ross interrupts with a nudge that says, \u003cem>Um, hey guys, the priest is literally standing right over there. Get married first.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, Elizabeth senses that Ross is thinking about something other than her, so she throws a vase and then herself down a flight of stairs. Unborn Ross Jr. is like:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/can-i-live-obama-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96485\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/can-i-live-obama-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"240\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at chez Ross, Doc walks into the guest room he's sharing with his new wife and asks if she's nervous. Blondie responds: \"I would be were tonight our first time.\" You go, girlfriend!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/meryl-j-lo-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96487\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/meryl-j-lo-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"245\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before they can get it on, news of Elizabeth's tumble arrives (damn it, Liz, must you ruin every single little thing?!). Doc runs off to try saving the baby Elizabeth really hopes dies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/awkward-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96488\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/awkward-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at Elizabeth's, Malfoy's uncle says he should have married a \"younger, more robust specimen,\" and advises that \"if it comes to a choice, obviously the child takes priority.\" Agatha and Geoffrey Charles try to remember his exact proportions so they can get the voodoo doll just right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Upstairs, after a very loud labor, Doc delivers the baby. Elizabeth asks, \"Is it alive?\" Before Doc can answer that, yes, the baby she tried to kill with long walks and heavy books did survive, Elizabeth passes out or dies. ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, Blondie's uncle apologizes for cock-blocking her and Doc all last season. Blondie is like, \u003cem>No sweat! I lost my virginity to him ages ago! Oh, and check out my wedding ring!\u003c/em> Her uncle dies on the spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at Malfoy Manor, Elizabeth is alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/britney-happy-fake-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96494\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/britney-happy-fake-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"200\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doc puts the baby in her arms, and Elizabeth looks at it like, \u003cem>Sorry about the staircase, I guess. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside, Ross hides in a bush, Sean Spicer-style, and watches as Agatha shouts about how the baby should be called Ross and how it's hella cursed. Malfoy has two of his Slytherin cronies pick her chair up and carry her off to her room. The one time I want Ross to bust down the door and intervene, he doesn't. He's really going to let them manhandle a national treasure like that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96515\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1008\" height=\"671\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone.jpg 1008w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-768x511.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-960x639.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-240x160.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-375x250.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-520x346.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next day, Ross arrives home after being out all night. Demelza doesn't even bother fighting with him about it 'cause what's the point? Instead they have this sad exchange:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Demelza:\u003c/strong> \"There's something I must tell you, Ross, and I fear you might not like it. I'm with child again. You're not displeased?\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ross:\u003c/strong> \"I might wish the timing were better.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, Ross, the timing isn't great, considering you just had a secret baby with your married ex. Tell your sperm to find some chill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because this is all getting rather heavy and depressing, the show's writers throw us a bone in the form of a shirtless Drake bathing in a stream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/landscape-1496332367-poldark-trailer.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96495\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/landscape-1496332367-poldark-trailer.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"240\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Off the border of France, Doc writes Blondie a letter that goes something like this: \u003cem>Hey, so I'm 98% sure the French are about to blow me to bits, but I don't want you to worry, despite the very worrisome thought I just put in your head. Hope you're having a good day!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at the mine, Ross reunites with an old pirate he knew as a kid because that's totally normal. Old Pirate Dude has a hook for a hand and carries his dearly departed hand's bones in a little pouch that he plays like a maraca. The sound reminds him that life is short, so you should live it up while you can. YOLO and what not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yolo-donald-duck-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96499\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yolo-donald-duck-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"380\" height=\"282\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Time sure does fly when you're lying about your baby's father; it's already time for Ross Jr. a.k.a. Valentine's baptism! Verity comes back into town for the event and immediately brings attention to how \"robust\" Valentine is for allegedly being premature. Blondie helps her open that can of worms further: \"He's darker than his father!\" Agatha's burpy response says it all:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/xcusemybeauty/status/914746367263698945\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>News breaks of a 12-hour stormy battle off the shore of France. Both Verity and Blondie's husbands are missing. Doc really jinxed things with that letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since their father's death, Demelza's cute brothers have moved in with Ross and co. and gotten started on all that converting-the-heathens business. They're also on the hunt for a cool church to attend. What about the one owned by Ross' worst enemy in the entire world? A totally reasonable choice that couldn't possibly cause any conflict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sam and Drake show up for mass and get testy when the priest won't start without Malfoy. What would Jesus do (if he was punk rock)? Loudly sign hymns as a form of protest until he got banned from the church, that's what!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/powerpuff-girls-sing-loud-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96503\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/powerpuff-girls-sing-loud-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at chez Malfoy, Valentine is also getting really loud. Verity comes in to check on him and finds Elizabeth just sitting there, ignoring his cries. Verity points out that Elizabeth always comforted Geoffrey Charles when he was a baby. Elizabeth snaps back: \"All children are different. If you ever have another, you'll realize that.\" Cool thing to say to someone whose husband might be at the bottom of the English Channel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All over Cornwall, Drake and Morwenna run into each other every ten minutes and have cute little moments, but I'm not going to go into detail about any of them 'cause Drake's shirt was on for all of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/sue-me-drag-race-nina-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96505\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/sue-me-drag-race-nina-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"279\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some rich dude we've never heard of throws a huge party and specifically invites both Ross and Malfoy. Now that Blondie's magistrate uncle is dead, the position needs to be filled. An old guy in a powdered wig offers the gig to Ross, who is as confused as I am. Ross asks, \u003cem>You remember when I almost was sentenced to death for inciting a riot just last season, right? Or all the other times I almost got hanged for various tomfoolery? \u003c/em>Turns out none of that matters when you're white and come from a rich family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96506\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"200\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the opportunity to help the downtrodden from the bench, Ross declines because it would interfere with his busy schedule of stalking Elizabeth and ignoring Demelza. The job goes to Malfoy, who is really jazzed about filling the gallows with the poor to keep them from upsetting the status quo with their pesky pleas for civil rights. Again:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96506\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"200\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That night, Ross and Demelza chat in bed about how they're happy things are about to be peaceful around here, when a frantic knock comes at the door. It's Old Maraca-Playing Pirate Dude! He says Doc is probably being held at some prison in France and Ross needs to go free him. Invading a foreign country in the throes of revolution, freeing a single prisoner, and making it back home alive. Sounds totally doable!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in France, a bunch of Brits are lined up and shot. A rifle is pointed at Doc's face. Please don't shoot! Horace the Pug needs a father figure!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>End scene!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until next week! If you miss my thoughts on \u003cem>Poldark\u003c/em> or pop culture in general, follow me on Twitter \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/xcusemybeauty\">@xcusemybeauty\u003c/a>, listen to my podcast \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cooler/id1041117499?mt=2\">\u003cem>The Cooler\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, or read all my \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/tag/recaps/\">other \u003cem>Poldark\u003c/em> recaps\u003c/a> below!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center\">\u003cem>\u003cstrong>More recaps:\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/27/poldark-season-2-finale-recap-burn-baby-burn/\">‘Poldark’ Season 2 Finale Recap: Burn Baby Burn\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/20/poldark-season-2-episode-8-recap-man-i-feel-like-a-woman/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 8 Recap: Man! I Feel Like A Woman!\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/13/poldark-season-2-episode-7-recap-im-in-love-with-a-monster/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: I'm In Love With A Monster\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/06/poldark-season-2-episode-6-recap-informer/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 6 Recap: Informer\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/30/poldark-season-2-episode-5-recap-before-he-cheats/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 5 Recap: Before He Cheats\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/24/poldark-season-2-episode-4-recap-sink-or-swim/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 4 Recap: Sink or Swim\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/17/poldark-season-2-episode-3-recap-miss-independent/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 3 Recap: Miss Independent\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/02/poldark-season-2-episode-2-recap-you-dont-bring-me-flowers/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 2 Recap: You Don't Bring Me Flowers\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/27/poldark-season-2-premiere-recap-court-and-spark/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 1 Recap: Court and Spark\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/23/poldark-season-1-episode-4-recap-send-my-love-to-your-new-lover/\"> 'Poldark' Season 1, Episode 4 Recap: Send My Love to Your New Lover\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/21/poldark-season-1-episode-3-recap-oops-there-goes-my-shirt/\">‘Poldark’ Season 1, Episode 3 Recap: Oops, There Goes My Shirt\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/20/poldark-season-1-episode-2-recap-guns-and-ships-bang-bang/\">‘Poldark’ Season 1, Episode 2 Recap: Bang Bang\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/19/poldark-season-1-premiere-recap-stayin-alive/\">‘Poldark’ Season 1 Premiere Recap: Stayin’ Alive\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "This episode has it all: people are born, people die, and, most importantly, people take off their shirts.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For those who have no idea what this show is about, I advise you to read \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/tag/poldark/\">my previous recaps\u003c/a>. If you’re too busy or impatient for all of that, here’s the much-abbreviated gist:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ross Poldark fought in the American Revolutionary War on the British side. As we know, things didn’t really work out. Presumed dead, his ex, Elizabeth, got with his lame cousin because there were apparently no other men around who flaked on the war. Ross returns alive and everyone is supremely inconvenienced by his not-deadness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ross proceeds to spend a lot of time hanging out with poor people. He even marries one! His scullery maid, Demelza! And has a baby with her! But don’t get too excited; the baby dies of strep throat or something like that. Demelza and Ross soon make another baby because they're constantly boning, but no one is happy about the new baby because Ross spends an entire season being the worst husband ever and committing adultery at a glacial pace with Elizabeth. Where's Elizabeth's husband/Ross' cousin, you ask? He was murdered by a random puddle (no, seriously).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oh, and there’s a former classmate of Ross’ who is hell-bent on ruining his life and has one of those faces that’s just begging for a knuckle sandwich. Said classmate, whom I unaffectionately call Malfoy, almost gets Ross hanged and sabotages him at every turn because this was before Netflix, so everyone was supremely bored. Ross returns the favor by beating him up a couple of times and almost setting Malfoy's head ablaze in a fireplace. Malfoy gets even by marrying Elizabeth and knocking her up. At least that's what he thinks for now, until some 18th-century version of Maury pops out to proclaim: \u003cem>You're not the father! Ross is!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Okay, got all that? Great. Let’s do this…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We're thrown right into the action. A pregnant Elizabeth can't control her bolting horse and is about to be catapulted off a cliff! So the writers of the show \u003cem>did\u003c/em> get all those letters I sent! But right before I get my wish, Ross saves the day (again).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/mary-kate-olsen-eye-roll-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96472\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/mary-kate-olsen-eye-roll-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"358\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elizabeth is really thankful and wishes him a good day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Psych! That would be the way a normal, gracious, non-bratty person would behave. Elizabeth, being none of these things, instead yells at Ross for abandoning her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Girl, what? Did you forget about Ross giving you all his money so you could continue enjoying high-end caviar snacks, while his own wife and child starved? And speaking of children, did you forget Ross' first child DIED because of your grubby germs? And did you also forget the only reason you and your son are still alive is because Demelza nursed you two back to health and almost died in the process? And how she saved you from that pitchfork mob, despite you sleeping with her husband?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elizabeth's answer to all of these prompts:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/justin-bieber-brat-i-dont-recall-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96473\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/justin-bieber-brat-i-dont-recall-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"260\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before I can even finish thinking \u003cem>Elizabeth is the absolute worst\u003c/em>, someone more despicable trots up. Malfoy is just as ungrateful and threatens Ross. Um, the last time you did that, Ross almost cooked your entire head in a fireplace like a Christmas ham. No one on this show ever learns! But if this particular case of amnesia leads to Malfoy getting pummeled one more time, I'll allow it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at chez Elizabeth, Malfoy admonishes her for being so reckless in her last month of pregnancy. On top of the horse drama, he also caught her walking for three miles and lifting heavy books (*gasp*). Agatha (oh, how I've missed her boozy octogenarian ways!) sends over a you-are-so-messy look. Elizabeth wants to accidentally-but-kinda-on-purpose kill Ross' baby!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yikes-good-luck-with-that-seinfeld-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96475\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yikes-good-luck-with-that-seinfeld-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"266\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Having heard about Ross saving the day through the grape vine, Elizabeth's son, Geoffrey Charles, makes the moment even more awkward by suggesting they throw a party in Ross' honor. Malfoy shuts that nice idea down with a quickness: \u003cem>Absolutely not! I'm still not finished fighting with Ross over whose penis is bigger! Oh, and we're changing your name from Poldark to my last name 'cause I'm that insecure.\u003c/em> Geoffrey Charles immediately agrees. \"Since you wish it, I will change my name... to Geoffrey Charles \u003cem>Francis\u003c/em> Poldark!\" Agatha, our drunk stand-in, cracks up just as hard as I do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jinkx-monsoon-drag-race-laughing-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96476\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jinkx-monsoon-drag-race-laughing-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, a hot dude walks up to Demelza's house (and not a moment too soon -- Ross doesn't do it for me anymore after all his monstrous behavior last season). Demelza looks in his direction. \u003cem>Is that babe here to rescue me from a life of being second-best? Mmm, break me off a piece of that! ... Oops, that's my brother!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jennifer-lawrence-oops-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96477\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/jennifer-lawrence-oops-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"490\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They have a brief, joyous reunion, but because this is Demelza's life in which she can never be happy for more than 2.7 seconds before everything goes to crap, her brother, Drake, tells her she has to come back home. Their abusive dad is on his death bed. Demelza says, \"All he ever gave me was bruises.\" Translation: No thanks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In town, a random girl smells flowers in slow motion, so I guess that means this is a new character we have to start caring about. Her name is Morwenna, a random jumble of letters that this modern-day mom will probably steal for her next baby:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96478\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-1020x717.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-1020x717.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-160x113.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-800x563.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-768x540.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-1180x830.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-960x675.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-240x169.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-375x264.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015-520x366.jpg 520w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/015.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Morwenna, who turns out to be a cousin of Elizabeth's, is hired by Malfoy to be Geoffrey Charles' governess and make him less of a momma's boy. But we can all surely tell her real purpose is to have an intense Romeo & Juliet romance with Drake, right? Lucky girl (minus the whole double suicide thing).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, Blondie is keeping her dying uncle company. That's very sad and all, but HORACE THE PUG IS IN THE HOUSE! FINALLY. Truth be told, he is the driving force behind my continuing these recaps. I mean, just look at him:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96483\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1020x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-800x451.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-768x433.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1920x1081.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-1180x665.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-960x541.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96482\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1020x574.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-960x540.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace2-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96481\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1020x553.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1020x553.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-160x87.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-800x434.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-768x416.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1920x1040.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-1180x639.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-960x520.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-240x130.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-375x203.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/horace3-520x282.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at Ross' mine, he has a surprise visitor. It's Geoffrey Charles. He wants to hang out with his dead dad's side of the family. Ross is like, \u003cem>Cool! Let's go down into the mine where your dad drowned to death!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/winona-weird-faces-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96479\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/winona-weird-faces-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"384\" height=\"375\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Drake heads back to his dying father, Demelza wishes aloud that she could be more like Ross (a sociopath) and not have feelings, but she can't help it. She rides off to be by her father's side, despite his being the antichrist. Turns out Demelza's former home is basically a modeling agency for boys. Another hot brother we never knew about called Sam greets her, but becomes less hot when all he wants to talk about is the bible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their father's dying wish is for all of them to become Christian missionaries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sam's response:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/12/tumblr_ml252mhGRm1qedlsro1_250.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10201\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/12/tumblr_ml252mhGRm1qedlsro1_250.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"193\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Demelza's response:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/09/26704-god-is-not-real.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-38901\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/09/26704-god-is-not-real.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"193\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Drake's response:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/unsure-wiig-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96480\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/unsure-wiig-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"406\" height=\"229\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right before their dad is about to pass away, Demelza is like, \u003cem>I'd stay, but a. I don't want to, and b. I got more important stuff to do. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That more important stuff turns out to be a super secret wedding between Blondie and Doc, who's on a 24-hour leave from the war. Blondie and Doc embrace and are ready to rip each other's clothes off. They share a look that says:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/were-gonna-bang-emma-stone-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96484\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/were-gonna-bang-emma-stone-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"242\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ross interrupts with a nudge that says, \u003cem>Um, hey guys, the priest is literally standing right over there. Get married first.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, Elizabeth senses that Ross is thinking about something other than her, so she throws a vase and then herself down a flight of stairs. Unborn Ross Jr. is like:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/can-i-live-obama-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96485\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/can-i-live-obama-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"240\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at chez Ross, Doc walks into the guest room he's sharing with his new wife and asks if she's nervous. Blondie responds: \"I would be were tonight our first time.\" You go, girlfriend!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/meryl-j-lo-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-96487\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/meryl-j-lo-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"245\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before they can get it on, news of Elizabeth's tumble arrives (damn it, Liz, must you ruin every single little thing?!). Doc runs off to try saving the baby Elizabeth really hopes dies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/awkward-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96488\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/awkward-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at Elizabeth's, Malfoy's uncle says he should have married a \"younger, more robust specimen,\" and advises that \"if it comes to a choice, obviously the child takes priority.\" Agatha and Geoffrey Charles try to remember his exact proportions so they can get the voodoo doll just right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Upstairs, after a very loud labor, Doc delivers the baby. Elizabeth asks, \"Is it alive?\" Before Doc can answer that, yes, the baby she tried to kill with long walks and heavy books did survive, Elizabeth passes out or dies. ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Across town, Blondie's uncle apologizes for cock-blocking her and Doc all last season. Blondie is like, \u003cem>No sweat! I lost my virginity to him ages ago! Oh, and check out my wedding ring!\u003c/em> Her uncle dies on the spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back at Malfoy Manor, Elizabeth is alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/britney-happy-fake-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96494\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/britney-happy-fake-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"200\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doc puts the baby in her arms, and Elizabeth looks at it like, \u003cem>Sorry about the staircase, I guess. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside, Ross hides in a bush, Sean Spicer-style, and watches as Agatha shouts about how the baby should be called Ross and how it's hella cursed. Malfoy has two of his Slytherin cronies pick her chair up and carry her off to her room. The one time I want Ross to bust down the door and intervene, he doesn't. He's really going to let them manhandle a national treasure like that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96515\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1008\" height=\"671\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone.jpg 1008w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-768x511.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-960x639.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-240x160.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-375x250.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/leave-agatha-alone-520x346.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next day, Ross arrives home after being out all night. Demelza doesn't even bother fighting with him about it 'cause what's the point? Instead they have this sad exchange:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Demelza:\u003c/strong> \"There's something I must tell you, Ross, and I fear you might not like it. I'm with child again. You're not displeased?\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ross:\u003c/strong> \"I might wish the timing were better.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, Ross, the timing isn't great, considering you just had a secret baby with your married ex. Tell your sperm to find some chill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because this is all getting rather heavy and depressing, the show's writers throw us a bone in the form of a shirtless Drake bathing in a stream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/landscape-1496332367-poldark-trailer.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96495\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/landscape-1496332367-poldark-trailer.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"240\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Off the border of France, Doc writes Blondie a letter that goes something like this: \u003cem>Hey, so I'm 98% sure the French are about to blow me to bits, but I don't want you to worry, despite the very worrisome thought I just put in your head. Hope you're having a good day!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at the mine, Ross reunites with an old pirate he knew as a kid because that's totally normal. Old Pirate Dude has a hook for a hand and carries his dearly departed hand's bones in a little pouch that he plays like a maraca. The sound reminds him that life is short, so you should live it up while you can. YOLO and what not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yolo-donald-duck-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96499\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/yolo-donald-duck-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"380\" height=\"282\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Time sure does fly when you're lying about your baby's father; it's already time for Ross Jr. a.k.a. Valentine's baptism! Verity comes back into town for the event and immediately brings attention to how \"robust\" Valentine is for allegedly being premature. Blondie helps her open that can of worms further: \"He's darker than his father!\" Agatha's burpy response says it all:\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>News breaks of a 12-hour stormy battle off the shore of France. Both Verity and Blondie's husbands are missing. Doc really jinxed things with that letter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since their father's death, Demelza's cute brothers have moved in with Ross and co. and gotten started on all that converting-the-heathens business. They're also on the hunt for a cool church to attend. What about the one owned by Ross' worst enemy in the entire world? A totally reasonable choice that couldn't possibly cause any conflict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sam and Drake show up for mass and get testy when the priest won't start without Malfoy. What would Jesus do (if he was punk rock)? Loudly sign hymns as a form of protest until he got banned from the church, that's what!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/powerpuff-girls-sing-loud-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96503\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/powerpuff-girls-sing-loud-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over at chez Malfoy, Valentine is also getting really loud. Verity comes in to check on him and finds Elizabeth just sitting there, ignoring his cries. Verity points out that Elizabeth always comforted Geoffrey Charles when he was a baby. Elizabeth snaps back: \"All children are different. If you ever have another, you'll realize that.\" Cool thing to say to someone whose husband might be at the bottom of the English Channel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All over Cornwall, Drake and Morwenna run into each other every ten minutes and have cute little moments, but I'm not going to go into detail about any of them 'cause Drake's shirt was on for all of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/sue-me-drag-race-nina-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96505\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/sue-me-drag-race-nina-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"279\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some rich dude we've never heard of throws a huge party and specifically invites both Ross and Malfoy. Now that Blondie's magistrate uncle is dead, the position needs to be filled. An old guy in a powdered wig offers the gig to Ross, who is as confused as I am. Ross asks, \u003cem>You remember when I almost was sentenced to death for inciting a riot just last season, right? Or all the other times I almost got hanged for various tomfoolery? \u003c/em>Turns out none of that matters when you're white and come from a rich family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96506\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"200\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the opportunity to help the downtrodden from the bench, Ross declines because it would interfere with his busy schedule of stalking Elizabeth and ignoring Demelza. The job goes to Malfoy, who is really jazzed about filling the gallows with the poor to keep them from upsetting the status quo with their pesky pleas for civil rights. Again:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-96506\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/10/pretends-to-be-shocked-gif.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"347\" height=\"200\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That night, Ross and Demelza chat in bed about how they're happy things are about to be peaceful around here, when a frantic knock comes at the door. It's Old Maraca-Playing Pirate Dude! He says Doc is probably being held at some prison in France and Ross needs to go free him. Invading a foreign country in the throes of revolution, freeing a single prisoner, and making it back home alive. Sounds totally doable!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in France, a bunch of Brits are lined up and shot. A rifle is pointed at Doc's face. Please don't shoot! Horace the Pug needs a father figure!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>End scene!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until next week! If you miss my thoughts on \u003cem>Poldark\u003c/em> or pop culture in general, follow me on Twitter \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/xcusemybeauty\">@xcusemybeauty\u003c/a>, listen to my podcast \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cooler/id1041117499?mt=2\">\u003cem>The Cooler\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, or read all my \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/tag/recaps/\">other \u003cem>Poldark\u003c/em> recaps\u003c/a> below!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center\">\u003cem>\u003cstrong>More recaps:\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/27/poldark-season-2-finale-recap-burn-baby-burn/\">‘Poldark’ Season 2 Finale Recap: Burn Baby Burn\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/20/poldark-season-2-episode-8-recap-man-i-feel-like-a-woman/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 8 Recap: Man! I Feel Like A Woman!\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/13/poldark-season-2-episode-7-recap-im-in-love-with-a-monster/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: I'm In Love With A Monster\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/11/06/poldark-season-2-episode-6-recap-informer/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 6 Recap: Informer\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/30/poldark-season-2-episode-5-recap-before-he-cheats/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 5 Recap: Before He Cheats\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/24/poldark-season-2-episode-4-recap-sink-or-swim/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 4 Recap: Sink or Swim\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/17/poldark-season-2-episode-3-recap-miss-independent/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 3 Recap: Miss Independent\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/10/02/poldark-season-2-episode-2-recap-you-dont-bring-me-flowers/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 2 Recap: You Don't Bring Me Flowers\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/27/poldark-season-2-premiere-recap-court-and-spark/\">'Poldark' Season 2, Episode 1 Recap: Court and Spark\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/23/poldark-season-1-episode-4-recap-send-my-love-to-your-new-lover/\"> 'Poldark' Season 1, Episode 4 Recap: Send My Love to Your New Lover\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/21/poldark-season-1-episode-3-recap-oops-there-goes-my-shirt/\">‘Poldark’ Season 1, Episode 3 Recap: Oops, There Goes My Shirt\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/20/poldark-season-1-episode-2-recap-guns-and-ships-bang-bang/\">‘Poldark’ Season 1, Episode 2 Recap: Bang Bang\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2016/09/19/poldark-season-1-premiere-recap-stayin-alive/\">‘Poldark’ Season 1 Premiere Recap: Stayin’ Alive\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "Confessions of an (Only Moderately) Embarrassed 'Big Bang Theory' Watcher",
"title": "Confessions of an (Only Moderately) Embarrassed 'Big Bang Theory' Watcher",
"headTitle": "KQED Pop | KQED Arts",
"content": "\u003cp>Imagine you're looking at a Venn diagram of people who really liked Darren Aronofsky's \u003cem>mother!\u003c/em> and people who watch CBS's \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>. It is a very small circle next to a very big circle. Now, look closer. Closer. Closer. Do you see that tiny area of overlap? Do you see that there is one lonely person inside of it, waving? That's me. I like weird art movies that are maybe about annoying poets \u003cem>and \u003c/em>about the Bible and might be saying something about herbalism? And I also like \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>. Well, sort of.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the show's popularity, when I tell people I sort of like it, they often react as if I had said, \"I have a raccoon in my desk. It does not have rabies, \u003cem>probably\u003c/em>.\" By this, I mean that they are (1) surprised, (2) curious, (3) wary, and (4) gone quickly. And also that (5) I feel like they like me a little bit less. So as my gift to you, and so that you never again have to be the person on Twitter saying, \"IS THAT STILL ON? WHO LIKES THIS SHOW?\" I am stepping forward. It is still on! I still enjoy it! I am not sure whether I should! I watch screeners of it ahead of time! I own several seasons of it on DVD!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A disclosure: the original title of this post was \"I Say Bazinga, They Say Po-tah-to.\" I say this to acknowledge that part of me is, always was, and always shall be a fan of the worst, dopiest, corniest jokes you could conceive of. Have you ever had a notion strike you along the lines of, \"The joke I just thought of is so stupid, and yet I am devastated that I have no one to tell it to\"? If you have, it's only because I am not beside you. Keep this in mind. It might be relevant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Bazinga!\", of course, is the catch phrase of Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons. Sheldon says it right after he makes a joke. He's one of the lead characters on \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>, which begins its 11th season on CBS tonight. It's about some guys who are scientists, and they know some women who are mostly also scientists. Monday's premiere is immediately followed by the premiere of \u003cem>Young Sheldon\u003c/em>, a prequel series that focuses on Sheldon's childhood: the \u003cem>Muppet Babies \u003c/em>of multi-camera sitcoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR-jIhwIfIw\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003cem>Big Bang \u003c/em>business has been highly profitable for a very long time in an environment where hits are hard to find. Furthermore, Parsons has won four Emmy Awards, and \u003cem>Big Bang\u003c/em> has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series five times. It remains hugely popular: last season, almost 19 million people watched it on average, making it the most popular scripted show on broadcast television. (The \u003ca href=\"http://deadline.com/2017/05/2016-2017-tv-season-ratings-series-rankings-list-1202102340/\">only thing that beats it\u003c/a> in pure viewership numbers is football.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another disclosure: As a person who is uncool in any number of ways, many of them visible from space, I acknowledge that the fact that I often enjoy \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>might be, for many people, the most uncool thing about me. You see, liking \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>is common, but it is not cool. In fact, I often see it used as shorthand for \"a popular thing that people like that is bad, and if you like it, you are bad.\" \u003cem>Sometimes\u003c/em>, this is said even by people who have actually seen it once or twice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(By the way, we must account for the inevitability of backlash when personal taste is at issue, so: For every tweet I receive explaining that I am an idiot lacking in discernment, I will add $1 to the amount I have already vowed to spend on myself during my birthday trip this fall. Name-calling is worth two dollars. So don't worry about me: Mama needs a massage anyway. I would have made this a fundraiser for something worthwhile, but that would have been paying nice people, eager to support a good cause, to insult me for charity.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Let me try to answer the question: \"Why do you like this thing?\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I know the arguments against the show. I'm not sure they're all even wrong. First up: not funny! To that I say: funny to me! And we immediately are at an impasse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How do you explain what makes you laugh? How do I explain that Jim Parsons is just \u003cem>funny\u003c/em> to me? And that some of the darling comedies of modern criticism, highly valued for their incisive, dark, weird insights, are not \u003cem>funny \u003c/em>to me? How do I explain that sometimes I am, comedically speaking, a cheap date? The \u003cem>cheapest \u003c/em>date?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next objection I often hear: It is mean to nerds! This is true, up to a point, in much the same way \u003cem>Seinfeld \u003c/em>was mean to single New Yorkers and \u003cem>Silicon Valley \u003c/em>is mean to men in tech. I've never been persuaded that Sheldon and Leonard and their friends' ridiculousness is any more pronounced than the ridiculousness of any other ensemble on a high-silliness comedy. Furthermore, as the show has progressed and they've gotten older, the guys are much more defined as scientists than as nerds in the way most people would use that term. They get excited about new \u003cem>Star Wars \u003c/em>movies, but they're not defined by their voracious consumption of culture the way they once were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Objections mount: Their nerd-dom meant these guys couldn't have successful romantic relationships, and that's insulting! Point taken — that's a stereotype that, as you know if you have ever seen people canoodling at fan events or podcast festivals, you know is not true. (Shout-out to cosplayers making out while waiting in line.) In defense of the show, though, futile and sometimes creepy horndoggishness, as a theme, hasn't lasted: three of the four of the guys are now happily coupled and very much in love. Two are married. (Getting Howard, in particular, out of single mode, meaning he stopped being a gross aspiring player, did the entire program a world of good.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's probably in its treatment of relationships, in fact — and, by extension, women — that \u003cem>Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>has changed the most from its original incarnation. It launched in 2007 as a show mostly about Sheldon and Leonard ogling Penny through her apartment door, but — as I wrote (gulp) \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2010/01/how_degazing_saved_the_big_ban.html\">seven years ago\u003c/a> — it managed to improve itself quite a bit, making Penny funnier, giving her more personality, and changing her relationship to the guys from empty ideal to true friend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrZozvcn1OM\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Furthermore, it cast Melissa Rauch and then Mayim Bialik to play Bernadette and Amy, Howard and Sheldon's partners respectively. The women now have their own friendships, their own jokes, their own scenes in which the men aren't even involved. In fact, early in this eleventh season, two female characters who are professionally accomplished have a conversation about their victories and how they do and don't talk about them that rang very true, is very funny, and didn't quite sound like anything I'd heard on television before. There are a lot of times when the male \u003cem>Big Bang \u003c/em>characters leave me cold, but I have come to like the women very much. There aren't that many hugely popular properties that feature two women who are highly accomplished in science who are not using it on dead bodies to solve crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next objection: Retrograde sociopolitical garbage, even aside from gender politics. Response: This one is true, at least to a point. This is what frustrates me most about \u003cem>Big Bang\u003c/em>, that it makes it hard for me to embrace its cornball sense of humor like I'd like to. It does often seem to take its cues on various issues — especially LGBT issues, as well as the deployment of Raj's accent — from about 1995. For years, it shared \u003cem>Friends\u003c/em>' smarmy fondness for gay-panic jokes around its male BFFs, as well as \u003cem>Friends\u003c/em>' (and other comedies') attachment to the old \"the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to this guy was kissing a woman who turned out to be transgender\" joke. That last one was a while ago; would they come up with it now? I don't know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don't recommend this show the way I would if it didn't have — and if it \u003cem>hadn't\u003c/em> had — those lazy jokes. (Lazy fat jokes, too, but practically everything has those. You refuse to forgive those, and you give up most of television.) I like to say I don't believe in guilty pleasures, but this is as close as I get: a show that makes me laugh, with a bunch of performances I admire, that I don't exactly recommend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the other hand, I can think of very few shows on broadcast or cable television that I would recommend without thinking about times when I wondered whether they couldn't, for lack of a better phrase, be better creative citizens. More engaged, more fair, less facile in their stereotyping, more inclusive, more thoughtful — even comedies. Even some of the \u003cem>best \u003c/em>comedies. It's not an excuse, by any means; it's only to say that if you're curious how anyone watches this show, how anyone can overlook those things? In my case, it's that I'm fairly accustomed to making those trade-offs, and not only here. In shows I love. In shows \u003cem>you \u003c/em>probably love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you only hear me out about one thing about which I am perfectly happy to act as the a deranged crank of the internet, please hear me about this: stop saying \u003cem>Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>has a laugh track. Or \"canned laughter.\" It has a studio audience. We all know, and the internet will tell you, that only hacks who had no confidence in their comedy would ever use a laugh track from a machine. You know, hacks like the guys who made \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02m7devejKI\">\u003cem>M*A*S*H.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes I like \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>. Sometimes I just watch it. That, at least, should be uncontroversial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bazinga!\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Confessions+Of+A+%27Big+Bang%27+Watcher%2C+11+Seasons+In&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Imagine you're looking at a Venn diagram of people who really liked Darren Aronofsky's \u003cem>mother!\u003c/em> and people who watch CBS's \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>. It is a very small circle next to a very big circle. Now, look closer. Closer. Closer. Do you see that tiny area of overlap? Do you see that there is one lonely person inside of it, waving? That's me. I like weird art movies that are maybe about annoying poets \u003cem>and \u003c/em>about the Bible and might be saying something about herbalism? And I also like \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>. Well, sort of.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the show's popularity, when I tell people I sort of like it, they often react as if I had said, \"I have a raccoon in my desk. It does not have rabies, \u003cem>probably\u003c/em>.\" By this, I mean that they are (1) surprised, (2) curious, (3) wary, and (4) gone quickly. And also that (5) I feel like they like me a little bit less. So as my gift to you, and so that you never again have to be the person on Twitter saying, \"IS THAT STILL ON? WHO LIKES THIS SHOW?\" I am stepping forward. It is still on! I still enjoy it! I am not sure whether I should! I watch screeners of it ahead of time! I own several seasons of it on DVD!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A disclosure: the original title of this post was \"I Say Bazinga, They Say Po-tah-to.\" I say this to acknowledge that part of me is, always was, and always shall be a fan of the worst, dopiest, corniest jokes you could conceive of. Have you ever had a notion strike you along the lines of, \"The joke I just thought of is so stupid, and yet I am devastated that I have no one to tell it to\"? If you have, it's only because I am not beside you. Keep this in mind. It might be relevant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Bazinga!\", of course, is the catch phrase of Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons. Sheldon says it right after he makes a joke. He's one of the lead characters on \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>, which begins its 11th season on CBS tonight. It's about some guys who are scientists, and they know some women who are mostly also scientists. Monday's premiere is immediately followed by the premiere of \u003cem>Young Sheldon\u003c/em>, a prequel series that focuses on Sheldon's childhood: the \u003cem>Muppet Babies \u003c/em>of multi-camera sitcoms.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/XR-jIhwIfIw'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/XR-jIhwIfIw'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003cem>Big Bang \u003c/em>business has been highly profitable for a very long time in an environment where hits are hard to find. Furthermore, Parsons has won four Emmy Awards, and \u003cem>Big Bang\u003c/em> has been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series five times. It remains hugely popular: last season, almost 19 million people watched it on average, making it the most popular scripted show on broadcast television. (The \u003ca href=\"http://deadline.com/2017/05/2016-2017-tv-season-ratings-series-rankings-list-1202102340/\">only thing that beats it\u003c/a> in pure viewership numbers is football.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another disclosure: As a person who is uncool in any number of ways, many of them visible from space, I acknowledge that the fact that I often enjoy \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>might be, for many people, the most uncool thing about me. You see, liking \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>is common, but it is not cool. In fact, I often see it used as shorthand for \"a popular thing that people like that is bad, and if you like it, you are bad.\" \u003cem>Sometimes\u003c/em>, this is said even by people who have actually seen it once or twice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(By the way, we must account for the inevitability of backlash when personal taste is at issue, so: For every tweet I receive explaining that I am an idiot lacking in discernment, I will add $1 to the amount I have already vowed to spend on myself during my birthday trip this fall. Name-calling is worth two dollars. So don't worry about me: Mama needs a massage anyway. I would have made this a fundraiser for something worthwhile, but that would have been paying nice people, eager to support a good cause, to insult me for charity.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Let me try to answer the question: \"Why do you like this thing?\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I know the arguments against the show. I'm not sure they're all even wrong. First up: not funny! To that I say: funny to me! And we immediately are at an impasse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How do you explain what makes you laugh? How do I explain that Jim Parsons is just \u003cem>funny\u003c/em> to me? And that some of the darling comedies of modern criticism, highly valued for their incisive, dark, weird insights, are not \u003cem>funny \u003c/em>to me? How do I explain that sometimes I am, comedically speaking, a cheap date? The \u003cem>cheapest \u003c/em>date?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next objection I often hear: It is mean to nerds! This is true, up to a point, in much the same way \u003cem>Seinfeld \u003c/em>was mean to single New Yorkers and \u003cem>Silicon Valley \u003c/em>is mean to men in tech. I've never been persuaded that Sheldon and Leonard and their friends' ridiculousness is any more pronounced than the ridiculousness of any other ensemble on a high-silliness comedy. Furthermore, as the show has progressed and they've gotten older, the guys are much more defined as scientists than as nerds in the way most people would use that term. They get excited about new \u003cem>Star Wars \u003c/em>movies, but they're not defined by their voracious consumption of culture the way they once were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Objections mount: Their nerd-dom meant these guys couldn't have successful romantic relationships, and that's insulting! Point taken — that's a stereotype that, as you know if you have ever seen people canoodling at fan events or podcast festivals, you know is not true. (Shout-out to cosplayers making out while waiting in line.) In defense of the show, though, futile and sometimes creepy horndoggishness, as a theme, hasn't lasted: three of the four of the guys are now happily coupled and very much in love. Two are married. (Getting Howard, in particular, out of single mode, meaning he stopped being a gross aspiring player, did the entire program a world of good.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's probably in its treatment of relationships, in fact — and, by extension, women — that \u003cem>Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>has changed the most from its original incarnation. It launched in 2007 as a show mostly about Sheldon and Leonard ogling Penny through her apartment door, but — as I wrote (gulp) \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2010/01/how_degazing_saved_the_big_ban.html\">seven years ago\u003c/a> — it managed to improve itself quite a bit, making Penny funnier, giving her more personality, and changing her relationship to the guys from empty ideal to true friend.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/NrZozvcn1OM'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/NrZozvcn1OM'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Furthermore, it cast Melissa Rauch and then Mayim Bialik to play Bernadette and Amy, Howard and Sheldon's partners respectively. The women now have their own friendships, their own jokes, their own scenes in which the men aren't even involved. In fact, early in this eleventh season, two female characters who are professionally accomplished have a conversation about their victories and how they do and don't talk about them that rang very true, is very funny, and didn't quite sound like anything I'd heard on television before. There are a lot of times when the male \u003cem>Big Bang \u003c/em>characters leave me cold, but I have come to like the women very much. There aren't that many hugely popular properties that feature two women who are highly accomplished in science who are not using it on dead bodies to solve crimes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next objection: Retrograde sociopolitical garbage, even aside from gender politics. Response: This one is true, at least to a point. This is what frustrates me most about \u003cem>Big Bang\u003c/em>, that it makes it hard for me to embrace its cornball sense of humor like I'd like to. It does often seem to take its cues on various issues — especially LGBT issues, as well as the deployment of Raj's accent — from about 1995. For years, it shared \u003cem>Friends\u003c/em>' smarmy fondness for gay-panic jokes around its male BFFs, as well as \u003cem>Friends\u003c/em>' (and other comedies') attachment to the old \"the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to this guy was kissing a woman who turned out to be transgender\" joke. That last one was a while ago; would they come up with it now? I don't know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I don't recommend this show the way I would if it didn't have — and if it \u003cem>hadn't\u003c/em> had — those lazy jokes. (Lazy fat jokes, too, but practically everything has those. You refuse to forgive those, and you give up most of television.) I like to say I don't believe in guilty pleasures, but this is as close as I get: a show that makes me laugh, with a bunch of performances I admire, that I don't exactly recommend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the other hand, I can think of very few shows on broadcast or cable television that I would recommend without thinking about times when I wondered whether they couldn't, for lack of a better phrase, be better creative citizens. More engaged, more fair, less facile in their stereotyping, more inclusive, more thoughtful — even comedies. Even some of the \u003cem>best \u003c/em>comedies. It's not an excuse, by any means; it's only to say that if you're curious how anyone watches this show, how anyone can overlook those things? In my case, it's that I'm fairly accustomed to making those trade-offs, and not only here. In shows I love. In shows \u003cem>you \u003c/em>probably love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you only hear me out about one thing about which I am perfectly happy to act as the a deranged crank of the internet, please hear me about this: stop saying \u003cem>Big Bang Theory \u003c/em>has a laugh track. Or \"canned laughter.\" It has a studio audience. We all know, and the internet will tell you, that only hacks who had no confidence in their comedy would ever use a laugh track from a machine. You know, hacks like the guys who made \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02m7devejKI\">\u003cem>M*A*S*H.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes I like \u003cem>The Big Bang Theory\u003c/em>. Sometimes I just watch it. That, at least, should be uncontroversial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bazinga!\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Confessions+Of+A+%27Big+Bang%27+Watcher%2C+11+Seasons+In&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Television is intractable in the story of Donald Trump, with his run on reality TV serving as the lead-in to his political rise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And television's 69th Emmy Awards seemed all about Trump Sunday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tone of the award show was set from host Stephen Colbert's opening monologue, in which he noted, \"However you feel about the president, and you do feel about the president, you can't deny that every show was influenced by Donald Trump in some way. All the late-night shows, obviously.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Colbert went on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>We all know the Emmys mean a lot to Donald Trump. Because he was nominated multiple times for \u003cem>Celebrity Apprentice\u003c/em> but he never won. Why didn't you give him an Emmy? I tell you this. If he had won an Emmy, I bet he wouldn't have run for president. So in a way this is all your fault.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>And Colbert's biggest zinger: \"Unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon after, who should appear on stage, pushing out a lectern but former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, joking about the size of the Emmy audience. It was both a reference to his much-lampooned statement about the size of Trump's inauguration crowd and a shout-out to actress Melissa McCarthy's stinging portrayal of \"Spicey\" on \u003cem>Saturday Night Live\u003c/em>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=SLoQoYi3P5U\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several of the award winners also delivered political one liners. Alec Baldwin won a supporting actor Emmy for his impression of Trump on \u003cem>SNL\u003c/em>. Holding the award Baldwin said, \"At long last Mr. President, here is your Emmy.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQm6jxRrksM\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After receiving her Emmy for best comedy actress, Julia Louis-Dreyfus of HBO's \u003cem>Veep\u003c/em>, said the show had prepared \"a whole story line about impeachment, but we abandoned it because we were worried that someone else might get to it first.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA7fKhQnlKs\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And Donald Glover, who won as star and director of the FX show \u003cem>Atlanta\u003c/em> thanked the president for his award, saying he had made \"black people number one on the most oppressed list.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9u3QiyfqMU\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of Monday morning, Trump had not weighed in on the show with any tweets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=The+Real+%27Spicey%27+Crashes+The+Emmys%2C+As+Stars+Mock+Trump&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Television is intractable in the story of Donald Trump, with his run on reality TV serving as the lead-in to his political rise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And television's 69th Emmy Awards seemed all about Trump Sunday night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tone of the award show was set from host Stephen Colbert's opening monologue, in which he noted, \"However you feel about the president, and you do feel about the president, you can't deny that every show was influenced by Donald Trump in some way. All the late-night shows, obviously.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Colbert went on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>We all know the Emmys mean a lot to Donald Trump. Because he was nominated multiple times for \u003cem>Celebrity Apprentice\u003c/em> but he never won. Why didn't you give him an Emmy? I tell you this. If he had won an Emmy, I bet he wouldn't have run for president. So in a way this is all your fault.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>And Colbert's biggest zinger: \"Unlike the presidency, Emmys go to the winner of the popular vote.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon after, who should appear on stage, pushing out a lectern but former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, joking about the size of the Emmy audience. It was both a reference to his much-lampooned statement about the size of Trump's inauguration crowd and a shout-out to actress Melissa McCarthy's stinging portrayal of \"Spicey\" on \u003cem>Saturday Night Live\u003c/em>:\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/SLoQoYi3P5U'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/SLoQoYi3P5U'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Several of the award winners also delivered political one liners. Alec Baldwin won a supporting actor Emmy for his impression of Trump on \u003cem>SNL\u003c/em>. Holding the award Baldwin said, \"At long last Mr. President, here is your Emmy.\"\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/ZQm6jxRrksM'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/ZQm6jxRrksM'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>After receiving her Emmy for best comedy actress, Julia Louis-Dreyfus of HBO's \u003cem>Veep\u003c/em>, said the show had prepared \"a whole story line about impeachment, but we abandoned it because we were worried that someone else might get to it first.\"\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/TA7fKhQnlKs'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/TA7fKhQnlKs'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>And Donald Glover, who won as star and director of the FX show \u003cem>Atlanta\u003c/em> thanked the president for his award, saying he had made \"black people number one on the most oppressed list.\"\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/F9u3QiyfqMU'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/F9u3QiyfqMU'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As of Monday morning, Trump had not weighed in on the show with any tweets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=The+Real+%27Spicey%27+Crashes+The+Emmys%2C+As+Stars+Mock+Trump&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "All the Crazy Crap That Never Would've Made It to TV Without 'Broad City'",
"headTitle": "All the Crazy Crap That Never Would’ve Made It to TV Without ‘Broad City’ | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Comedy Central did the world a solid yesterday and finally unleashed the Season 4 premiere of \u003cem>Broad City\u003c/em>. Titled \u003ca href=\"http://www.cc.com/episodes/d6d9q8/broad-city-sliding-doors-season-4-ep-401\">“Sliding Doors,”\u003c/a> the episode explores what might happen in a parallel universe where Ilana and Abbi don’t become friends. Just pondering the idea for half an hour got us seriously shook, for without these two comedy virtuosos teaming up, we’d have been deprived of a multitude of television firsts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Let’s look at all of the ways Abbi and Ilana have changed the rules of television and enriched our lives. Without these two, we probably never would have seen the following things occurring on a basic cable show about lady BFFs:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Feminine Marijuana-Storage Units\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>Broad City’\u003c/em>s second-ever episode, Ilana introduced Abbi to the type of concealed weed transportation ladies might wish to employ in states that haven’t yet legalized the devil’s lettuce. Words of wisdom:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96172 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/tenor.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"278\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Poo Burritos\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WavVwnEFhw\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As we learned last week, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2017/09/06/think-youve-had-bad-tinder-dates-this-one-poops-all-over-them-literally/\">concealing the fact that you poop\u003c/a> from a new romantic partner is no joke. In “Hurricane Wanda,” Abbi does the dirty deed just as her hot neighbor comes by, and needs to find a way to rid her bathroom of the offending item. Demonstrating her deep love for Abbi, Ilana steps up to be a “doo-doo ninja” and comes up with a solution involving a shower cap, duct tape, and a perfectly executed cartwheel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Kelly Ripa as a Maniac\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHLn70Phwnw\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4227570/?ref_=ttep_ep9\">“Coat Check,”\u003c/a> Kelly Ripa keeps an S&M dungeon in her kitchen, drinks moonshine, smokes weed, hires male sex workers, throws heavy things out of very high windows, and declares “I literally don’t give any f–ks.” In the end, Abbi leaves her hero because she can’t keep up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. This Perfect Response to Street Harassment\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96188 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Xdyxd-.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"403\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iconic. Just … iconic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Dating Your Doppelgänger\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9zOrIAWQOs\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In “Coat Check,” Ilana starts a steamy, hickey-fueled love affair with her doppelgänger, Adele, played by (the always fantastic) \u003cspan class=\"itemprop\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790057/?ref_=tt_cl_t4\">Alia Shawkat\u003c/a>. Adele is the kind of lover who smells her fingers halfway through sex — in other words, perfect for Ilana. That is until she announces that she doesn’t smoke weed and Ilana has to throw her out. We still miss you, Adele — please do a cameo soon. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>6. Pegging\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK2XbcwMf7E\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sixteen years ago, readers of Dan Savage’s legendary \u003ca href=\"http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=7730\">\u003cem>Savage Love\u003c/em>\u003c/a> column came up with a “commonly accepted slang” term for the act of “a woman f–king a man in the ass with a strap-on dildo.” Pegging won with 43% of the vote, but didn’t become a part of the mainstream lexicon until “Knockoffs,” a \u003cem>Broad City\u003c/em> episode in which Abbi obliges her hot neighbor the very first time they sleep together.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>7. Rape-y Locksmiths\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPW_lwU_Hwc\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Locksmiths provide a vital service to humanity: getting us into the places where all of our belongings live when we’re too stupid to not lose our keys. “The Lockout” in Season 1, however, asked what life would be like if locksmiths were the kind of people you definitely wouldn’t want to have lock-picking abilities. It also handily highlighted the kinds of ridiculous things women who live alone are forced to think about every day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>8. Women With Zero Physical or Sexual Insecurities\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96192 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/seq2cgy1t3yrxse1ksof.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"234\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ilana Wexler is the most confident human being on Earth. In addition to being the most sexually comfortable woman on TV since \u003cem>Sex & the City\u003c/em>‘s Samantha (who Ilana even impersonates in Season 3), she fears public nudity about as much as Beyoncé fears leotards. At the start of the “Wisdom Teeth” episode, Ilana acts as a nude model for Abbi’s art class, and does gymnastics and a variety of other sexually explicit poses for the duration of the class. It is, of course, completely hilarious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>9. A Truly Honest Approach to Bathroom Activities\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pooping, peeing, puking, pregnancy tests with a side of sex, smoking, and shaving:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppIo696m24c\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>10. Using Period Blood to Throw Off Sniffer Dogs\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember the nature’s pocket we mentioned at the start of this? In Season 3’s “Getting There,” Ilana is using hers to smuggle weed abroad to Israel and wears jeans that are stained with menstrual blood as the ultimate decoy to get through security. “We should \u003cem>Sharktank\u003c/em> period pants,” Abbi says when the ploy works.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And just think back to the 1950s, when you couldn’t even say the word “pregnant” on television…\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_96196\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-96196 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-800x440.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-800x440.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-160x88.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-768x422.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-1020x560.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-960x528.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-240x132.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-375x206.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-520x286.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants.jpg 1172w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Comedy Central\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roll on, \u003cem>Broad City\u003c/em>. We can’t wait to see what comes next.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Comedy Central did the world a solid yesterday and finally unleashed the Season 4 premiere of \u003cem>Broad City\u003c/em>. Titled \u003ca href=\"http://www.cc.com/episodes/d6d9q8/broad-city-sliding-doors-season-4-ep-401\">“Sliding Doors,”\u003c/a> the episode explores what might happen in a parallel universe where Ilana and Abbi don’t become friends. Just pondering the idea for half an hour got us seriously shook, for without these two comedy virtuosos teaming up, we’d have been deprived of a multitude of television firsts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Let’s look at all of the ways Abbi and Ilana have changed the rules of television and enriched our lives. Without these two, we probably never would have seen the following things occurring on a basic cable show about lady BFFs:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Feminine Marijuana-Storage Units\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>Broad City’\u003c/em>s second-ever episode, Ilana introduced Abbi to the type of concealed weed transportation ladies might wish to employ in states that haven’t yet legalized the devil’s lettuce. Words of wisdom:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96172 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/tenor.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"278\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Poo Burritos\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/1WavVwnEFhw'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/1WavVwnEFhw'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>As we learned last week, \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2017/09/06/think-youve-had-bad-tinder-dates-this-one-poops-all-over-them-literally/\">concealing the fact that you poop\u003c/a> from a new romantic partner is no joke. In “Hurricane Wanda,” Abbi does the dirty deed just as her hot neighbor comes by, and needs to find a way to rid her bathroom of the offending item. Demonstrating her deep love for Abbi, Ilana steps up to be a “doo-doo ninja” and comes up with a solution involving a shower cap, duct tape, and a perfectly executed cartwheel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Kelly Ripa as a Maniac\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/lHLn70Phwnw'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/lHLn70Phwnw'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4227570/?ref_=ttep_ep9\">“Coat Check,”\u003c/a> Kelly Ripa keeps an S&M dungeon in her kitchen, drinks moonshine, smokes weed, hires male sex workers, throws heavy things out of very high windows, and declares “I literally don’t give any f–ks.” In the end, Abbi leaves her hero because she can’t keep up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. This Perfect Response to Street Harassment\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96188 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Xdyxd-.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"403\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Iconic. Just … iconic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Dating Your Doppelgänger\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/Z9zOrIAWQOs'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/Z9zOrIAWQOs'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>In “Coat Check,” Ilana starts a steamy, hickey-fueled love affair with her doppelgänger, Adele, played by (the always fantastic) \u003cspan class=\"itemprop\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0790057/?ref_=tt_cl_t4\">Alia Shawkat\u003c/a>. Adele is the kind of lover who smells her fingers halfway through sex — in other words, perfect for Ilana. That is until she announces that she doesn’t smoke weed and Ilana has to throw her out. We still miss you, Adele — please do a cameo soon. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>6. Pegging\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/NK2XbcwMf7E'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/NK2XbcwMf7E'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Sixteen years ago, readers of Dan Savage’s legendary \u003ca href=\"http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=7730\">\u003cem>Savage Love\u003c/em>\u003c/a> column came up with a “commonly accepted slang” term for the act of “a woman f–king a man in the ass with a strap-on dildo.” Pegging won with 43% of the vote, but didn’t become a part of the mainstream lexicon until “Knockoffs,” a \u003cem>Broad City\u003c/em> episode in which Abbi obliges her hot neighbor the very first time they sleep together.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>7. Rape-y Locksmiths\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/PPW_lwU_Hwc'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/PPW_lwU_Hwc'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Locksmiths provide a vital service to humanity: getting us into the places where all of our belongings live when we’re too stupid to not lose our keys. “The Lockout” in Season 1, however, asked what life would be like if locksmiths were the kind of people you definitely wouldn’t want to have lock-picking abilities. It also handily highlighted the kinds of ridiculous things women who live alone are forced to think about every day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>8. Women With Zero Physical or Sexual Insecurities\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96192 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/seq2cgy1t3yrxse1ksof.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"475\" height=\"234\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ilana Wexler is the most confident human being on Earth. In addition to being the most sexually comfortable woman on TV since \u003cem>Sex & the City\u003c/em>‘s Samantha (who Ilana even impersonates in Season 3), she fears public nudity about as much as Beyoncé fears leotards. At the start of the “Wisdom Teeth” episode, Ilana acts as a nude model for Abbi’s art class, and does gymnastics and a variety of other sexually explicit poses for the duration of the class. It is, of course, completely hilarious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>9. A Truly Honest Approach to Bathroom Activities\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pooping, peeing, puking, pregnancy tests with a side of sex, smoking, and shaving:\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/ppIo696m24c'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/ppIo696m24c'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>10. Using Period Blood to Throw Off Sniffer Dogs\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember the nature’s pocket we mentioned at the start of this? In Season 3’s “Getting There,” Ilana is using hers to smuggle weed abroad to Israel and wears jeans that are stained with menstrual blood as the ultimate decoy to get through security. “We should \u003cem>Sharktank\u003c/em> period pants,” Abbi says when the ploy works.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And just think back to the 1950s, when you couldn’t even say the word “pregnant” on television…\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_96196\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-96196 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-800x440.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-800x440.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-160x88.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-768x422.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-1020x560.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-960x528.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-240x132.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-375x206.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants-520x286.jpg 520w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/PeriodPants.jpg 1172w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Comedy Central\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Roll on, \u003cem>Broad City\u003c/em>. We can’t wait to see what comes next.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Last month, our country put differences aside and unified to declare with one voice: \u003cem>That new Taylor Swift song is not great! \u003c/em>Since then, \u003ca href=\"https://nylon.com/articles/taylor-swift-look-what-you-made-me-do-good-bad\">some are walking back\u003c/a> that knee-jerk assessment. Whatever you think of \"Look What You Made Me Do,\" we can all agree that this bizarre re-imagination of the song, performed by \u003cem>Game of Thrones\u003c/em> characters, makes it 100% better. Jon Snow came back from the dead, boinked his aunt, and now has transformed a musical turd into gold. Is there anything he can't do? (The answer is no.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CayHgjP1YNQ\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"disqusTitle": "Who Tries Out for 'American Idol' in 2017? I Went to the Oakland Auditions to Find Out",
"title": "Who Tries Out for 'American Idol' in 2017? I Went to the Oakland Auditions to Find Out",
"headTitle": "KQED Pop | KQED Arts",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This piece was inspired by an episode of \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cooler/id1041117499?mt=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Cooler\u003c/a>, KQED’s weekly pop culture podcast. Give it a listen!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[audio src=\"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.kqed.org/.stream/mp3splice/radio/thecooler/2017/09/Idol.mp3\" title=\"Is It Too Late to Say Sorry for Eating So Much Avocado?\" program=\"The Cooler\" image=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/03/clo.jpg\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jack London Square in Oakland is overcast and chilly at 7:30 am on the morning of open auditions for the \u003ca href=\"http://deadline.com/2017/05/american-idol-revival-abc-1202087368/\">newly-resurrected \u003cem>American Idol\u003c/em>\u003c/a> -- but of course, those in this open-air line have been here for hours already. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Several members of the Oakland Police Department are on hand in the background, standing by their squad car and not doing much at all. “This is exciting, huh?” one officer said to me, and he was being serious.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95975 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"440\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM.png 440w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM-160x111.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM-240x166.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM-375x260.png 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s the first time that \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> has held auditions in Oakland, rather than San Francisco just across the bay, but the audition rules remain the same: Per the \u003ca href=\"http://abc.go.com/shows/american-idol/auditions\">online registration form\u003c/a>, applicants must be aged between 15 and 28. The atmosphere is, therefore, as excitable and jittery as you’d expect a gathering of hundreds of 15 to 28-year-olds waiting to appear on television to be. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s a diverse crowd, and the dress code ranges from casual sweats right up to groomed, glossy Instagram Model. Every time the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> cameras appear to pick out interview subjects in line, there’s a palpable surge of energy. People suddenly strike up a song in line and everyone joins in. Every so often, you hear someone yelling out their social media handles, to nobody in particular. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">No matter how many times you’ve seen footage of the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> juggernaut coming to a particular city -- the big blue tour bus, the triple-speed footage gliding down the long, snaking line of hopefuls -- it’s still odd seeing it in the flesh. As with all peeks behind the TV curtain, there’s an element of anticlimax, of diminished scale, which the outdoor setting does nothing to assuage. The line is long, yes, but not the crazy mass I’d been anticipating. (Later, an \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> representative will politely decline my emailed request to know just how many people showed up for the Oakland auditions, saying that’s not information they give out.)\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95976\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 713px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95976\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"713\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM.png 713w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-160x112.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-240x168.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-375x262.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-520x363.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An American Idol hopeful is interviewed on-camera by members of the production staff. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQEDD)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The biggest surprise, however, comes half an hour in, as I’m chatting with a gaggle of hopefuls and a very loud sound suddenly interrupts us. It’s the clatter of the Amtrak train, passing through on the tracks that are only steps from where we’re standing in Jack London Square. It’s so loud that I have to ask the girl I'm interviewing to pause a moment while it passes, and then I realize: \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">American Idol is filming its audition show next to a busy train track.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">2016 was meant to be \u003cem>American Idol\u003c/em>’s last year, after 15 seasons on Fox. No less than Barack Obama \u003ca href=\"http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7326314/president-obama-american-idol-finale-watch\">appeared on what was billed as the farewell finale\u003c/a>, praising the show for having “transformed television.” Goodbyes were said, Trent Harmon was crowned the new Idol, and that was that... until barely a month later, ABC announced it would be resurrecting the show on its network. In a statement, ABC President Channing Dungey called the show a \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"pop-culture staple that left the air too soon.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The second part may be up for debate, but there's no disputing the first. For many, it feels like \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> has always been on TV, but it's easy to forget just how all-pervasive and influential it really was and is, in the way that it normalized this kind of competition on TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95985\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 769px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95985\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"769\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM.png 769w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-160x105.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-768x503.png 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-240x157.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-375x246.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-520x341.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Robert, who came to support his girlfriend, stands in front of the line to audition for American Idol in Jack London Square \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Towards the end, \u003cem>Idol’\u003c/em>s ratings were a shadow of what they were in the show’s heyday. Even the young people now standing in line in Oakland to pin their fortune on the show stopped watching. So often, when I asked a hopeful if they liked \u003cem>Idol,\u003c/em> they'd say, \"Yeah, I used to watch it when I was a kid.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“So, like, last month then?”, I want to tease them every time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A show like \u003cem>American\u003c/em> \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> has a set recipe, and a key ingredient is a person’s story. Talent is powerful, but even more so when its owner has something that makes them different. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The unifying theme of these stories is, usually, struggle: A difficult past, a family breakup, a tragedy lived through and overcome, with music almost always as the medicine. These folks in the line know this, and they’ve come ready to tell the world -- the producers, the cameras, me. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When the auditionees I speak to quickly volunteer details of the traumatic events in their lives, it's with readiness, a degree of preparedness, and a total lack of self-consciousness. They know this honesty, or the TV version of it, is part of the deal. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In any other context, if people leaped straight to emotional third base in this way, it would be startling. But in that line -- with the big blue \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> bus bearing down on us -- revealing one's story and a difficult past straight away, with virtually no prompting, is par for the course. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95958\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 504px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95958\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"504\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1.png 504w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-160x160.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-240x240.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-375x375.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-32x32.png 32w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-50x50.png 50w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-64x64.png 64w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-96x96.png 96w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-128x128.png 128w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol hopeful Gabriel Flores \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>I get to chatting with Gabriel, a young man with aviator sunglasses and a guitar on his back, while he’s taking a smoking break from the intensity of the line. He’s road-tripped here from Vancouver, and my questions about his \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> motivations are met with an answer that delves immediately into a troubled past. He reached, he tells me, “a point where I was about to commit suicide” -- struggles which halted his previous foray into reality TV. He got through to the second round of \u003cem>The Voice\u003c/em>, but “some things I was going through” meant he couldn’t continue. Winning \u003ci>Idol\u003c/i>, he says, “would change my life because I have a daughter, and I want to give her everything I could give her. The best future I can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95959\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 767px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95959\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"767\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM.png 767w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-160x105.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-240x158.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-375x247.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-520x342.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol try-out Courtney and mother Alisha. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s not just potential Idols who were prepared to share their backstories, but their families and supporters too. Standing in line, Alisha from Pittsburg told me how her \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> hopeful daughter Courtney’s “really low, raspy kind of voice” would set her apart (“you don’t see that too much”). Then, she spoke of her husband’s death. Courtney appearing on the show, she said, would be “a tribute to him too -- showing her daddy in heaven that ‘I’m still doing it, daddy. This is for you.’ Life is so precious and so short.” In the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">American Idol \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">line, emotion and history are always right near the surface. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The audition hashtag, as proclaimed on the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> bus, is #thennextidol -- a phrase that practically encourages those in line to forget about the journey and skip straight to the destination. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Talking to\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> waiting hopefuls, it becomes clear that years of watching \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and shows like it has trained people to already see themselves as others will: As a package, a product even, to be viewed and assessed. When they talk about themselves and their dream, they're already seeing themselves as they imagine an audience -- and their intermediaries, the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> producers -- might. It’s like the male gaze, rewritten as the reality TV gaze.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95961\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 508px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95961\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"508\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM.png 508w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM-160x119.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM-240x178.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM-375x278.png 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol hopefuls Elena and Jace. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elena, 19, from Gilroy, already had an on-screen analogue for herself in mind. “I always think I am literally [\u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hairspray\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s] Tracey Turnblad. So everyone would think ‘Oh, it’s that big girl from high school that no-one really looked at, but she’s a star now!’” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Her friend Jace, 20, a psychology student from Fairfield, was imagining herself cast on the show in the role of the quirky outlier. “I’m a little bit weird so they’d look at it, like, who’s this strange human?” She then added: “It’s pretty much the expected reaction when people see me in general.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95962\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 747px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95962\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"747\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM.png 747w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-240x154.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-375x240.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-520x333.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol audionee Adriana and her mother. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This hyper-self-awareness is brought into sharp relief when a woman actively approaches me as I'm typing notes on my phone, telling me that if I'm looking for a good story, her 16-year-old daughter Adriana is \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">it\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. They're a military family, she explains, and have overcome the struggles that entails: “I just thought it was a good story to tell. She’s traveled all over the United States with us and she’s a military child and she’s got a story to tell.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When I ask Adriana herself, she tells me her background has “made me who I am,” but that she feels like “I haven’t heard the ‘military brat’ story. I haven’t heard the struggles that me and my friends go through. I feel like a lot of people should know.\"\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It's becoming clear that adjacent to the fame and the acclaim and the record deal, the young people here genuinely view \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> as their opportunity to become an \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">ambassador\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for something. Whenever I ask how they predict the audience at home might perceive them, \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">the response is always in these terms: \"I want to be seen as an \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">example\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\" It’s like mere talent is not enough -- to truly be #thenextidol, one needs an almost remedial power to reach out through the television screen and touch the viewer’s very life in some meaningful way. They don’t want to just be some kid’s new favorite singer. They really do want to be their \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">idol\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95978\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 748px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95978\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"748\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM.png 748w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-160x104.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-240x156.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-375x244.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-520x338.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People waiting to audition for American Idol \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This drive is most striking in Tito, the 27-year-old successful auditionee who I've noticed several times earlier today owing to the viola he's carrying with him everywhere. Like everyone else I spoke to, Tito was disarmingly frank about his past struggles. Upon moving to LA from San Francisco to pursue his entertainment dreams -- against the wishes of his evangelical Christian parents, immigrants from El Salvador -- he wound up “homeless for a little bit.” Jobless, he \"started doing some dancing gigs, a little bit of go-go dancing -- nothing wrong with that, but I had to live in my car for a little bit, and I picked myself up and here I am.” (The entire time Tito is telling me this, a woman is singing very soulfully and incredibly loudly for a producer behind us.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95963\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 716px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95963\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"716\" height=\"494\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM.png 716w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-160x110.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-240x166.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-375x259.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-520x359.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 716px) 100vw, 716px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tito Herrera and viola \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tito tells me he wants his hoped-for appearance on Idol to be as an advocate for homeless youth. “To be a Latin male, an ex-homeless person, I think that would be a good representation of what you can do it you really set your mind to it.” He hopes that “my voice and my story can be a voice for those who don’t have one. There’s a lot of Latin immigrants that don’t have that confidence to speak out for themselves, especially with our President in office,” he says. When I ask him if he sees any potential appearance on Idol as a political act, he tells me that “it's almost like a ‘f*ck you’ to Donald Trump. I’m Latino, I’m reaching for my dreams in this country.\"\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aren't you concerned that the reality TV juggernaut will edit out -- or at least gloss over -- all your politics and your passion, I ask? Like everyone I ask this question, Tito is sunnily pragmatic. “If I sign a contract, I sign a contract… As long as I get my message across, I’ve done my job, as a performer and as a citizen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>23-year-old professional musician Mandy, who was visibly vibrating with adrenaline after making it to the next round, was similarly bullish. “[I’ll] be me and if they don’t like it, then it’s okay. It’s not gonna stop me playing music.” Being edited, she said, was “not the end of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>Back in the line, I flag down Robert, who, despite the guitar he's holding, isn’t here to audition but to support his girlfriend Desiry. (“She sings really great, she’s versatile, and yeah -- she’s gorgeous.”) Robert foresaw some startlingly logistical improvements to their life together coming from \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em>. With him working graveyard shifts at a bank, and her working retail all day, their day/night jobs afforded them little time to collaborate musically. “But if we were to actually win this, it would be a lot easier to connect and do things we love together.” (He also, of course, saw potential ambassadorship in Desiry, predicting that viewers might “want to follow in her footsteps and be a better them.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95965\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 745px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95965\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM.png 745w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-160x95.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-240x143.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-375x223.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-520x309.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol hopeful Desiry and her boyfriend Robert \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Nobody I spoke with had any problems with the idea of leaving their hometown and their community if they were to become #thenextidol. In fact, it seemed part of the appeal for many like Courtney, the young woman auditioning in memory of her father, who said she was “definitely ready to bounce” from Pittsburg. “I think everybody there is ready to get out,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It struck me how this seeming familiarity with the machinery of reality TV, and a person's place in it, was paired with a startling lack of concern \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">about\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that machinery. I repeatedly ask auditionees how this show could alter their life, and the answer is always the same: It would be amazing, positive, incredible. Nobody seems to perceive any downsides to that level of public scrutiny -- or if they do, they’re not talking to me about them.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95977\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 721px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95977\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"721\" height=\"446\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM.png 721w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-160x99.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-240x148.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-375x232.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-520x322.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People waiting in line to audition for American Idol \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But why would they? They're in line to be #thenextidol, and #thenextidol is relentlessly, almost oppressively positive about everyone and everything. Music is amazing, this opportunity is amazing, the fellow auditionees are amazing. Even the rejected performers stay upbeat: “I absolutely sang my heart out. I felt so much release,” 16-year-old Hayley told me, moments after being turned down by the producers after her performance of \"Hallelujah.\" She was smiling, even though she'd obviously been crying earlier. \"There’s always next year.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95966\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 762px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95966\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"762\" height=\"488\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM.png 762w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-240x154.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-375x240.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-520x333.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hayley, who tried out for American Idol but ultimately didn't make the cut \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Given it’s a large crowd of teens and young adults -- a large portion of whom are destined to be told that their talent just isn't evident enough -- this lack of visible despondency at rejection is startling. The auditions themselves -- performed for one of several \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> producers sitting at a row of desks beneath the palm trees of Jack London Square -- are all conducted in full view of not only the line of waiting auditionees but also an assembled crowd of supporters, onlookers, and random folks stopping to rubberneck. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The “no” is, therefore, very evident and crazily public, yet these young people simply smile tightly and briskly walk back to the barriers. Because of their age, most of them are going into the arms of their waiting family. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">People here see my camera and beam at me, like a switch has been flipped -- they're being seen and that's great. That, after all, is what they're here for. Later that night, going through my photos, I’m struck by just how many of the people in the background, behind the actual subject, are posing too.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But why, in the age of YouTube, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">would\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> any young person see such a relic of the reality TV era as their preferred ticket to stardom? Hayley, the teen who didn’t make the cut, explains that it’s “just a lot easier to go through \u003cem>American Idol.\u003c/em> If you make it, you automatically know these producers, and record labels will look at you. With YouTube, it’s a little bit slower; you really have to promote yourself.\" She might, she said, now try out for \u003cem>The X Factor\u003c/em>, or \u003cem>America’s Got Talent\u003c/em>.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95979\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 512px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95979\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM.png 512w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM-160x149.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM-240x224.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM-375x350.png 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The American Idol tour bus, parked in Jack London Square, Oakland \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On shows like \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol,\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> you’ll often hear auditionees say it's their “last chance” to make it in this business, or their “only hope.” But honestly, watching them seem to shrug off rejection, it became evident that most of those in attendance were very aware of their other options in life. When I asked the hopefuls in the line about their plan B if \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> didn't work out, they were always breezy -- they'd keep on hustling, continue with school, keep putting their stuff on YouTube, audition for another reality show. When I caught up with Robert’s girlfriend Desiry -- the one who was actually here to audition -- her attitude to the possibility of rejection was so calmly pragmatic, and (at the risk of sounding condescending here) \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">mature\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. “[I’ll just] continue to get better!”, she said. “Constructive criticism is the only way forward. If you can’t take that, there’s no way that you can really improve in this world.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95967\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 755px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95967\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"755\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM.png 755w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-160x96.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-240x144.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-375x225.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-520x311.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monica from Richmond, in the American Idol audition line \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For many others I spoke with, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was just a moonshot while they were pursuing various other paths. Monica, 19, from Richmond, who says she’d be “shocked and surprised” if she made the cut today, is about to start her junior year at medical school in a couple of days. (“I come from a city that doesn’t have the best reputation, but I heard a quote once that said ‘diamonds are created through pressure,” she tells me, giggling.) \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95968\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 765px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95968\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"765\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM.png 765w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-240x152.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-375x238.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-520x330.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kirsten, from Benicia, and her keyboard \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Further down the line, 15-year-old Kirsten from Benicia -- pink skirt suit, bright blue contact lenses, not much taller than the chunky free-standing keyboard she’s brought along -- talks to me about her dreams of becoming a software engineer with as much passion as she does about her desire to feature on \u003cem>American Idol\u003c/em>. She doesn’t think appearing on -- or even winning -- the show will affect that part of her life. Kirsten performs a yowling version of ‘Great Balls of Fire’ for my microphone, while people around fall silent and listen, but is even more excitable when we discuss her ambitions to attend UC Irvine and work for Disney. (“I hear that Disney and other tech companies hire straight out of schools around the area,” she informs me with authority.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Asking Kirsten whether she sees a contradiction in her twin dreams of coding excellence and reality TV fame is a telling moment. She says she doesn’t understand the question, so I think I’ve expressed myself badly and repeat myself, this time also asking her if one seems more “shallow” than the other. She tells me confidently that “if you’re in it for the right reasons, there’s no \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">reason\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for it to be shallow.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95980\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 767px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95980\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"767\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM.png 767w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-240x153.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-375x239.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-520x332.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kristen performs for the American Idol cameras \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I realize suddenly that the question only really makes sense to someone my age or older, who can remember a time before \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and its ilk. We’re the ones who tsk-tsk about “short cuts to fame,” and roll our eyes at this new way of making it big. For people Kirsten’s age, reality TV and YouTube stardom have always \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">been\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> an option. It’s been on the table -- close for some, tantalizingly out of reach for others -- and physically on their screens for as long as they can remember. So why would there be any contradiction between the things they want, when they’re all dreams in the same life? ”There’s a lot of great artists I look up to like Aretha Franklin or Bruno Mars,” she tells me. There’s no contradiction.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>These open-air auditions are so transparent -- at least in terms of what you can see and hear -- that you can see auditionees in the line for the producer’s desk getting visibly psyched out by a particularly proficient performance ahead. Yet the jittery enthusiasm is infectious, and makes cynicism hard to maintain, even for uninvolved onlookers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95982\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 771px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95982\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"771\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM.png 771w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-160x100.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-768x481.png 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-240x150.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-375x235.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-520x326.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People waiting to audition for American Idol in Jack London Square \u003ccite>(Carly Severn)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hillary, a trained classical singer in her late twenties who's stopped to watch the scene, is far from dismissive -- or even just a little skeptical -- of this parade of mostly-untrained young singers. She talks with an unexpected pride about what she sees as their openness and their creative ambition. “They’re so happy and so open to express themselves and their talent and what they truly believe to be true. And I think that’s just a marvelous thing.” Doesn’t the professionally-trained part of her rankle at amateur singers thinking they’re good enough to vault straight to the big leagues, I ask? Not at all, she replies. “They’re pop singers so they sing with a pop sound. They move their jaws around a lot… it’s a different type of singing. It’s people letting their souls out and singing popular songs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95981\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 762px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95981\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"762\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM.png 762w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-240x153.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-375x240.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-520x332.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two young women handing their registration papers to a member of the American Idol team \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Watching a frighteningly good-looking young man singing Hozier's \"Take Me to Church\" for the producers’ cameras with a stop-start phrasing that's entirely absent from the original, I think of how it’s become a tired cliche to point out that voices like Janis Joplin's or Tom Waits’ would never make it through the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">gates. But witnessing the auditions as an unedited procession, it’s staggering to see and hear just \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">how\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> homogenized the sound actually is. Everybody really does sound the same: soulful, soaring, emotive, vibrato-ing wildly. This is Good Singing, and the general idea, it seems, is to opt for these big songs that allow an opportunity to glide up the octave. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the set, I ask one of \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em>’s casting producers -- Nancy Yearing, who’s worked on the show for nine seasons -- about these audition trends. Yes, everyone basically sings the same songs, she says. “Lot of Alicia Keys; \"At Last\"; \"House of the Rising Sun\" -- amazing songs, but they’ve just been overdone. It seems like \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">everyone\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> comes in with the same 50.” She wonders whether they’re getting them “from their vocal coaches.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95969\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 741px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95969\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"741\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM.png 741w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-160x101.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-240x152.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-375x237.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-520x328.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nancy Yearing, casting producer for American Idol \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I then ask Nancy if they were aware their Oakland set was essentially on top of an Amtrak route. She tells me no, they only found out the morning they arrived to set up, but that she’s finding workarounds. “I try and time it. I have a good view of when the gates come down.” It might also be an unexpected bonus, she suggests, for assessing an auditionee’s mettle. “If it happens in the middle of someone singing, in some way it’s a good test -- what can you sing through?” \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">She also tells me she doesn’t “really know” the reasoning for the show’s upper age limit (28), and is firm when I ask if she’s concerned she’s missing out on some really top-notch 29-year-old talent. There are, Nancy says, “lots of avenues for talent. If someone’s going to be successful, they’re going to be successful.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nancy tells me the show's producers are excited to be auditioning in Oakland this year rather than San Francisco. Not just because of the “coolness” of this “up-and-coming city,” and “trying to change up where we normally go,” but also because of the new variety of try-outs she thinks will now be able to participate -- as if those cities were hundreds of miles from each other, rather than a Bay Bridge ride or a 10 minute BART train. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And the lack of familiarity shows. I keep thinking: This is a tightly-controlled, multi-million-dollar television juggernaut, now in its 15th year. \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And they didn't know their open air film set was next to a busy railway line. \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Was the City of Oakland just so thrilled to have \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> in town that it never came up? Did nobody scout out what is an entirely new location for this roadshow? I can't help but wonder how much cheaper hiring out Jack London Square is for \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s new network ABC than a similar venue in New York City, or L.A. or San Francisco (none of which are on the 19-city tour list).\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95984\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 569px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95984\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"569\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM.png 569w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-160x122.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-240x183.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-375x287.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-520x398.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A line of waiting hopefuls at the American Idol auditions \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But if anybody here shares my suspicions, they’re not telling me. Everyone in line seems thrilled that the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> bus has chosen Oakland today, almost always citing the diversity they see in the cohort. (Tito, with his viola, tells me he actually sees way more diversity today than he did when auditioning for \u003cem>The Voice\u003c/em>. “It’s a different crowd of people.”) \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On my way out, I ask one teenager dressed in a Wonder Woman costume about the strategy behind her outfit. Anything to stand out, she replied -- already seeing herself as the producers, and the viewers would -- and indeed, she got past the producer’s audition desk. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Walking back past the line, which is now dwindling, I think of the young woman I heard earlier in a nearby coffee shop, telling someone on the other end of the phone that \"I don't know whether to chose something that shows off my talent or something that they \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">want.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\" \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2017, the American Idol hopefuls here in Oakland truly know the difference.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>To hear the actual voices of the auditionees I talked to and more, give this episode of The Cooler a listen:\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[audio src=\"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.kqed.org/.stream/mp3splice/radio/thecooler/2017/09/Idol.mp3\" title=\"Is It Too Late to Say Sorry for Eating So Much Avocado?\" program=\"The Cooler\" image=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/03/clo.jpg\"]\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Auditionees waiting in line shared traumatic events in their lives and their social media handles with equal ease. Here are some of their stories. ",
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"description": "Auditionees waiting in line shared traumatic events in their lives and their social media handles with equal ease. Here are some of their stories. ",
"title": "Who Tries Out for 'American Idol' in 2017? I Went to the Oakland Auditions to Find Out | KQED",
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"headline": "Who Tries Out for 'American Idol' in 2017? I Went to the Oakland Auditions to Find Out",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jack London Square in Oakland is overcast and chilly at 7:30 am on the morning of open auditions for the \u003ca href=\"http://deadline.com/2017/05/american-idol-revival-abc-1202087368/\">newly-resurrected \u003cem>American Idol\u003c/em>\u003c/a> -- but of course, those in this open-air line have been here for hours already. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Several members of the Oakland Police Department are on hand in the background, standing by their squad car and not doing much at all. “This is exciting, huh?” one officer said to me, and he was being serious.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95975 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"440\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM.png 440w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM-160x111.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM-240x166.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.16.19-PM-375x260.png 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 440px) 100vw, 440px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s the first time that \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> has held auditions in Oakland, rather than San Francisco just across the bay, but the audition rules remain the same: Per the \u003ca href=\"http://abc.go.com/shows/american-idol/auditions\">online registration form\u003c/a>, applicants must be aged between 15 and 28. The atmosphere is, therefore, as excitable and jittery as you’d expect a gathering of hundreds of 15 to 28-year-olds waiting to appear on television to be. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s a diverse crowd, and the dress code ranges from casual sweats right up to groomed, glossy Instagram Model. Every time the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> cameras appear to pick out interview subjects in line, there’s a palpable surge of energy. People suddenly strike up a song in line and everyone joins in. Every so often, you hear someone yelling out their social media handles, to nobody in particular. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">No matter how many times you’ve seen footage of the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> juggernaut coming to a particular city -- the big blue tour bus, the triple-speed footage gliding down the long, snaking line of hopefuls -- it’s still odd seeing it in the flesh. As with all peeks behind the TV curtain, there’s an element of anticlimax, of diminished scale, which the outdoor setting does nothing to assuage. The line is long, yes, but not the crazy mass I’d been anticipating. (Later, an \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> representative will politely decline my emailed request to know just how many people showed up for the Oakland auditions, saying that’s not information they give out.)\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95976\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 713px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95976\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"713\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM.png 713w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-160x112.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-240x168.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-375x262.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.15.30-PM-520x363.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An American Idol hopeful is interviewed on-camera by members of the production staff. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQEDD)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The biggest surprise, however, comes half an hour in, as I’m chatting with a gaggle of hopefuls and a very loud sound suddenly interrupts us. It’s the clatter of the Amtrak train, passing through on the tracks that are only steps from where we’re standing in Jack London Square. It’s so loud that I have to ask the girl I'm interviewing to pause a moment while it passes, and then I realize: \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">American Idol is filming its audition show next to a busy train track.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">2016 was meant to be \u003cem>American Idol\u003c/em>’s last year, after 15 seasons on Fox. No less than Barack Obama \u003ca href=\"http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7326314/president-obama-american-idol-finale-watch\">appeared on what was billed as the farewell finale\u003c/a>, praising the show for having “transformed television.” Goodbyes were said, Trent Harmon was crowned the new Idol, and that was that... until barely a month later, ABC announced it would be resurrecting the show on its network. In a statement, ABC President Channing Dungey called the show a \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"pop-culture staple that left the air too soon.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The second part may be up for debate, but there's no disputing the first. For many, it feels like \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> has always been on TV, but it's easy to forget just how all-pervasive and influential it really was and is, in the way that it normalized this kind of competition on TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95985\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 769px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95985\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"769\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM.png 769w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-160x105.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-768x503.png 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-240x157.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-375x246.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.00-PM-520x341.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Robert, who came to support his girlfriend, stands in front of the line to audition for American Idol in Jack London Square \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Towards the end, \u003cem>Idol’\u003c/em>s ratings were a shadow of what they were in the show’s heyday. Even the young people now standing in line in Oakland to pin their fortune on the show stopped watching. So often, when I asked a hopeful if they liked \u003cem>Idol,\u003c/em> they'd say, \"Yeah, I used to watch it when I was a kid.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“So, like, last month then?”, I want to tease them every time.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A show like \u003cem>American\u003c/em> \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> has a set recipe, and a key ingredient is a person’s story. Talent is powerful, but even more so when its owner has something that makes them different. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The unifying theme of these stories is, usually, struggle: A difficult past, a family breakup, a tragedy lived through and overcome, with music almost always as the medicine. These folks in the line know this, and they’ve come ready to tell the world -- the producers, the cameras, me. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When the auditionees I speak to quickly volunteer details of the traumatic events in their lives, it's with readiness, a degree of preparedness, and a total lack of self-consciousness. They know this honesty, or the TV version of it, is part of the deal. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In any other context, if people leaped straight to emotional third base in this way, it would be startling. But in that line -- with the big blue \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> bus bearing down on us -- revealing one's story and a difficult past straight away, with virtually no prompting, is par for the course. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95958\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 504px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95958\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"504\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1.png 504w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-160x160.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-240x240.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-375x375.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-32x32.png 32w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-50x50.png 50w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-64x64.png 64w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-96x96.png 96w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-128x128.png 128w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.40-PM-1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol hopeful Gabriel Flores \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>I get to chatting with Gabriel, a young man with aviator sunglasses and a guitar on his back, while he’s taking a smoking break from the intensity of the line. He’s road-tripped here from Vancouver, and my questions about his \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> motivations are met with an answer that delves immediately into a troubled past. He reached, he tells me, “a point where I was about to commit suicide” -- struggles which halted his previous foray into reality TV. He got through to the second round of \u003cem>The Voice\u003c/em>, but “some things I was going through” meant he couldn’t continue. Winning \u003ci>Idol\u003c/i>, he says, “would change my life because I have a daughter, and I want to give her everything I could give her. The best future I can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95959\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 767px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95959\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"767\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM.png 767w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-160x105.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-240x158.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-375x247.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.11-PM-520x342.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol try-out Courtney and mother Alisha. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It’s not just potential Idols who were prepared to share their backstories, but their families and supporters too. Standing in line, Alisha from Pittsburg told me how her \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> hopeful daughter Courtney’s “really low, raspy kind of voice” would set her apart (“you don’t see that too much”). Then, she spoke of her husband’s death. Courtney appearing on the show, she said, would be “a tribute to him too -- showing her daddy in heaven that ‘I’m still doing it, daddy. This is for you.’ Life is so precious and so short.” In the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">American Idol \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">line, emotion and history are always right near the surface. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The audition hashtag, as proclaimed on the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> bus, is #thennextidol -- a phrase that practically encourages those in line to forget about the journey and skip straight to the destination. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Talking to\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> waiting hopefuls, it becomes clear that years of watching \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and shows like it has trained people to already see themselves as others will: As a package, a product even, to be viewed and assessed. When they talk about themselves and their dream, they're already seeing themselves as they imagine an audience -- and their intermediaries, the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> producers -- might. It’s like the male gaze, rewritten as the reality TV gaze.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95961\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 508px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95961\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"508\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM.png 508w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM-160x119.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM-240x178.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.14.31-PM-375x278.png 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol hopefuls Elena and Jace. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elena, 19, from Gilroy, already had an on-screen analogue for herself in mind. “I always think I am literally [\u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hairspray\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s] Tracey Turnblad. So everyone would think ‘Oh, it’s that big girl from high school that no-one really looked at, but she’s a star now!’” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Her friend Jace, 20, a psychology student from Fairfield, was imagining herself cast on the show in the role of the quirky outlier. “I’m a little bit weird so they’d look at it, like, who’s this strange human?” She then added: “It’s pretty much the expected reaction when people see me in general.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95962\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 747px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95962\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"747\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM.png 747w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-240x154.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-375x240.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.13.17-PM-520x333.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol audionee Adriana and her mother. \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This hyper-self-awareness is brought into sharp relief when a woman actively approaches me as I'm typing notes on my phone, telling me that if I'm looking for a good story, her 16-year-old daughter Adriana is \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">it\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. They're a military family, she explains, and have overcome the struggles that entails: “I just thought it was a good story to tell. She’s traveled all over the United States with us and she’s a military child and she’s got a story to tell.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">When I ask Adriana herself, she tells me her background has “made me who I am,” but that she feels like “I haven’t heard the ‘military brat’ story. I haven’t heard the struggles that me and my friends go through. I feel like a lot of people should know.\"\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It's becoming clear that adjacent to the fame and the acclaim and the record deal, the young people here genuinely view \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> as their opportunity to become an \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">ambassador\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for something. Whenever I ask how they predict the audience at home might perceive them, \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">the response is always in these terms: \"I want to be seen as an \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">example\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\" It’s like mere talent is not enough -- to truly be #thenextidol, one needs an almost remedial power to reach out through the television screen and touch the viewer’s very life in some meaningful way. They don’t want to just be some kid’s new favorite singer. They really do want to be their \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">idol\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95978\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 748px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95978\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"748\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM.png 748w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-160x104.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-240x156.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-375x244.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.49-PM-520x338.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People waiting to audition for American Idol \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This drive is most striking in Tito, the 27-year-old successful auditionee who I've noticed several times earlier today owing to the viola he's carrying with him everywhere. Like everyone else I spoke to, Tito was disarmingly frank about his past struggles. Upon moving to LA from San Francisco to pursue his entertainment dreams -- against the wishes of his evangelical Christian parents, immigrants from El Salvador -- he wound up “homeless for a little bit.” Jobless, he \"started doing some dancing gigs, a little bit of go-go dancing -- nothing wrong with that, but I had to live in my car for a little bit, and I picked myself up and here I am.” (The entire time Tito is telling me this, a woman is singing very soulfully and incredibly loudly for a producer behind us.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95963\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 716px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95963\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"716\" height=\"494\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM.png 716w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-160x110.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-240x166.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-375x259.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.09.04-PM-520x359.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 716px) 100vw, 716px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tito Herrera and viola \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tito tells me he wants his hoped-for appearance on Idol to be as an advocate for homeless youth. “To be a Latin male, an ex-homeless person, I think that would be a good representation of what you can do it you really set your mind to it.” He hopes that “my voice and my story can be a voice for those who don’t have one. There’s a lot of Latin immigrants that don’t have that confidence to speak out for themselves, especially with our President in office,” he says. When I ask him if he sees any potential appearance on Idol as a political act, he tells me that “it's almost like a ‘f*ck you’ to Donald Trump. I’m Latino, I’m reaching for my dreams in this country.\"\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aren't you concerned that the reality TV juggernaut will edit out -- or at least gloss over -- all your politics and your passion, I ask? Like everyone I ask this question, Tito is sunnily pragmatic. “If I sign a contract, I sign a contract… As long as I get my message across, I’ve done my job, as a performer and as a citizen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>23-year-old professional musician Mandy, who was visibly vibrating with adrenaline after making it to the next round, was similarly bullish. “[I’ll] be me and if they don’t like it, then it’s okay. It’s not gonna stop me playing music.” Being edited, she said, was “not the end of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>Back in the line, I flag down Robert, who, despite the guitar he's holding, isn’t here to audition but to support his girlfriend Desiry. (“She sings really great, she’s versatile, and yeah -- she’s gorgeous.”) Robert foresaw some startlingly logistical improvements to their life together coming from \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em>. With him working graveyard shifts at a bank, and her working retail all day, their day/night jobs afforded them little time to collaborate musically. “But if we were to actually win this, it would be a lot easier to connect and do things we love together.” (He also, of course, saw potential ambassadorship in Desiry, predicting that viewers might “want to follow in her footsteps and be a better them.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95965\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 745px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95965\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM.png 745w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-160x95.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-240x143.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-375x223.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.09-PM-520x309.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">American Idol hopeful Desiry and her boyfriend Robert \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Nobody I spoke with had any problems with the idea of leaving their hometown and their community if they were to become #thenextidol. In fact, it seemed part of the appeal for many like Courtney, the young woman auditioning in memory of her father, who said she was “definitely ready to bounce” from Pittsburg. “I think everybody there is ready to get out,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">It struck me how this seeming familiarity with the machinery of reality TV, and a person's place in it, was paired with a startling lack of concern \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">about\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that machinery. I repeatedly ask auditionees how this show could alter their life, and the answer is always the same: It would be amazing, positive, incredible. Nobody seems to perceive any downsides to that level of public scrutiny -- or if they do, they’re not talking to me about them.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95977\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 721px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95977\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"721\" height=\"446\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM.png 721w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-160x99.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-240x148.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-375x232.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.15-PM-520x322.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People waiting in line to audition for American Idol \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But why would they? They're in line to be #thenextidol, and #thenextidol is relentlessly, almost oppressively positive about everyone and everything. Music is amazing, this opportunity is amazing, the fellow auditionees are amazing. Even the rejected performers stay upbeat: “I absolutely sang my heart out. I felt so much release,” 16-year-old Hayley told me, moments after being turned down by the producers after her performance of \"Hallelujah.\" She was smiling, even though she'd obviously been crying earlier. \"There’s always next year.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95966\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 762px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95966\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"762\" height=\"488\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM.png 762w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-240x154.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-375x240.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.39-PM-520x333.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hayley, who tried out for American Idol but ultimately didn't make the cut \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Given it’s a large crowd of teens and young adults -- a large portion of whom are destined to be told that their talent just isn't evident enough -- this lack of visible despondency at rejection is startling. The auditions themselves -- performed for one of several \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> producers sitting at a row of desks beneath the palm trees of Jack London Square -- are all conducted in full view of not only the line of waiting auditionees but also an assembled crowd of supporters, onlookers, and random folks stopping to rubberneck. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The “no” is, therefore, very evident and crazily public, yet these young people simply smile tightly and briskly walk back to the barriers. Because of their age, most of them are going into the arms of their waiting family. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">People here see my camera and beam at me, like a switch has been flipped -- they're being seen and that's great. That, after all, is what they're here for. Later that night, going through my photos, I’m struck by just how many of the people in the background, behind the actual subject, are posing too.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But why, in the age of YouTube, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">would\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> any young person see such a relic of the reality TV era as their preferred ticket to stardom? Hayley, the teen who didn’t make the cut, explains that it’s “just a lot easier to go through \u003cem>American Idol.\u003c/em> If you make it, you automatically know these producers, and record labels will look at you. With YouTube, it’s a little bit slower; you really have to promote yourself.\" She might, she said, now try out for \u003cem>The X Factor\u003c/em>, or \u003cem>America’s Got Talent\u003c/em>.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95979\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 512px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95979\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM.png 512w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM-160x149.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM-240x224.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.12.21-PM-375x350.png 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The American Idol tour bus, parked in Jack London Square, Oakland \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On shows like \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol,\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> you’ll often hear auditionees say it's their “last chance” to make it in this business, or their “only hope.” But honestly, watching them seem to shrug off rejection, it became evident that most of those in attendance were very aware of their other options in life. When I asked the hopefuls in the line about their plan B if \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> didn't work out, they were always breezy -- they'd keep on hustling, continue with school, keep putting their stuff on YouTube, audition for another reality show. When I caught up with Robert’s girlfriend Desiry -- the one who was actually here to audition -- her attitude to the possibility of rejection was so calmly pragmatic, and (at the risk of sounding condescending here) \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">mature\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">. “[I’ll just] continue to get better!”, she said. “Constructive criticism is the only way forward. If you can’t take that, there’s no way that you can really improve in this world.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95967\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 755px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95967\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"755\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM.png 755w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-160x96.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-240x144.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-375x225.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.32-PM-520x311.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Monica from Richmond, in the American Idol audition line \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For many others I spoke with, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was just a moonshot while they were pursuing various other paths. Monica, 19, from Richmond, who says she’d be “shocked and surprised” if she made the cut today, is about to start her junior year at medical school in a couple of days. (“I come from a city that doesn’t have the best reputation, but I heard a quote once that said ‘diamonds are created through pressure,” she tells me, giggling.) \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95968\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 765px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95968\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"765\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM.png 765w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-240x152.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-375x238.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.57-PM-520x330.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kirsten, from Benicia, and her keyboard \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Further down the line, 15-year-old Kirsten from Benicia -- pink skirt suit, bright blue contact lenses, not much taller than the chunky free-standing keyboard she’s brought along -- talks to me about her dreams of becoming a software engineer with as much passion as she does about her desire to feature on \u003cem>American Idol\u003c/em>. She doesn’t think appearing on -- or even winning -- the show will affect that part of her life. Kirsten performs a yowling version of ‘Great Balls of Fire’ for my microphone, while people around fall silent and listen, but is even more excitable when we discuss her ambitions to attend UC Irvine and work for Disney. (“I hear that Disney and other tech companies hire straight out of schools around the area,” she informs me with authority.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Asking Kirsten whether she sees a contradiction in her twin dreams of coding excellence and reality TV fame is a telling moment. She says she doesn’t understand the question, so I think I’ve expressed myself badly and repeat myself, this time also asking her if one seems more “shallow” than the other. She tells me confidently that “if you’re in it for the right reasons, there’s no \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">reason\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for it to be shallow.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95980\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 767px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95980\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"767\" height=\"489\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM.png 767w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-240x153.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-375x239.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.11.32-PM-520x332.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kristen performs for the American Idol cameras \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I realize suddenly that the question only really makes sense to someone my age or older, who can remember a time before \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and its ilk. We’re the ones who tsk-tsk about “short cuts to fame,” and roll our eyes at this new way of making it big. For people Kirsten’s age, reality TV and YouTube stardom have always \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">been\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> an option. It’s been on the table -- close for some, tantalizingly out of reach for others -- and physically on their screens for as long as they can remember. So why would there be any contradiction between the things they want, when they’re all dreams in the same life? ”There’s a lot of great artists I look up to like Aretha Franklin or Bruno Mars,” she tells me. There’s no contradiction.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>These open-air auditions are so transparent -- at least in terms of what you can see and hear -- that you can see auditionees in the line for the producer’s desk getting visibly psyched out by a particularly proficient performance ahead. Yet the jittery enthusiasm is infectious, and makes cynicism hard to maintain, even for uninvolved onlookers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95982\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 771px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95982\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"771\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM.png 771w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-160x100.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-768x481.png 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-240x150.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-375x235.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.08.13-PM-520x326.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People waiting to audition for American Idol in Jack London Square \u003ccite>(Carly Severn)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hillary, a trained classical singer in her late twenties who's stopped to watch the scene, is far from dismissive -- or even just a little skeptical -- of this parade of mostly-untrained young singers. She talks with an unexpected pride about what she sees as their openness and their creative ambition. “They’re so happy and so open to express themselves and their talent and what they truly believe to be true. And I think that’s just a marvelous thing.” Doesn’t the professionally-trained part of her rankle at amateur singers thinking they’re good enough to vault straight to the big leagues, I ask? Not at all, she replies. “They’re pop singers so they sing with a pop sound. They move their jaws around a lot… it’s a different type of singing. It’s people letting their souls out and singing popular songs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95981\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 762px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95981\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"762\" height=\"487\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM.png 762w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-160x102.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-240x153.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-375x240.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-8.18.03-PM-520x332.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two young women handing their registration papers to a member of the American Idol team \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Watching a frighteningly good-looking young man singing Hozier's \"Take Me to Church\" for the producers’ cameras with a stop-start phrasing that's entirely absent from the original, I think of how it’s become a tired cliche to point out that voices like Janis Joplin's or Tom Waits’ would never make it through the \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">gates. But witnessing the auditions as an unedited procession, it’s staggering to see and hear just \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">how\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> homogenized the sound actually is. Everybody really does sound the same: soulful, soaring, emotive, vibrato-ing wildly. This is Good Singing, and the general idea, it seems, is to opt for these big songs that allow an opportunity to glide up the octave. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the set, I ask one of \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em>’s casting producers -- Nancy Yearing, who’s worked on the show for nine seasons -- about these audition trends. Yes, everyone basically sings the same songs, she says. “Lot of Alicia Keys; \"At Last\"; \"House of the Rising Sun\" -- amazing songs, but they’ve just been overdone. It seems like \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">everyone\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> comes in with the same 50.” She wonders whether they’re getting them “from their vocal coaches.”\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95969\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 741px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95969\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"741\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM.png 741w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-160x101.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-240x152.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-375x237.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.10.51-PM-520x328.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nancy Yearing, casting producer for American Idol \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">I then ask Nancy if they were aware their Oakland set was essentially on top of an Amtrak route. She tells me no, they only found out the morning they arrived to set up, but that she’s finding workarounds. “I try and time it. I have a good view of when the gates come down.” It might also be an unexpected bonus, she suggests, for assessing an auditionee’s mettle. “If it happens in the middle of someone singing, in some way it’s a good test -- what can you sing through?” \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">She also tells me she doesn’t “really know” the reasoning for the show’s upper age limit (28), and is firm when I ask if she’s concerned she’s missing out on some really top-notch 29-year-old talent. There are, Nancy says, “lots of avenues for talent. If someone’s going to be successful, they’re going to be successful.” \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nancy tells me the show's producers are excited to be auditioning in Oakland this year rather than San Francisco. Not just because of the “coolness” of this “up-and-coming city,” and “trying to change up where we normally go,” but also because of the new variety of try-outs she thinks will now be able to participate -- as if those cities were hundreds of miles from each other, rather than a Bay Bridge ride or a 10 minute BART train. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And the lack of familiarity shows. I keep thinking: This is a tightly-controlled, multi-million-dollar television juggernaut, now in its 15th year. \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">And they didn't know their open air film set was next to a busy railway line. \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Was the City of Oakland just so thrilled to have \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> in town that it never came up? Did nobody scout out what is an entirely new location for this roadshow? I can't help but wonder how much cheaper hiring out Jack London Square is for \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Idol\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s new network ABC than a similar venue in New York City, or L.A. or San Francisco (none of which are on the 19-city tour list).\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95984\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 569px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95984\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"569\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM.png 569w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-160x122.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-240x183.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-375x287.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/09/Screenshot-2017-09-03-at-7.06.01-PM-520x398.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A line of waiting hopefuls at the American Idol auditions \u003ccite>(Carly Severn/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">But if anybody here shares my suspicions, they’re not telling me. Everyone in line seems thrilled that the \u003cem>Idol\u003c/em> bus has chosen Oakland today, almost always citing the diversity they see in the cohort. (Tito, with his viola, tells me he actually sees way more diversity today than he did when auditioning for \u003cem>The Voice\u003c/em>. “It’s a different crowd of people.”) \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On my way out, I ask one teenager dressed in a Wonder Woman costume about the strategy behind her outfit. Anything to stand out, she replied -- already seeing herself as the producers, and the viewers would -- and indeed, she got past the producer’s audition desk. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Walking back past the line, which is now dwindling, I think of the young woman I heard earlier in a nearby coffee shop, telling someone on the other end of the phone that \"I don't know whether to chose something that shows off my talent or something that they \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">want.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\" \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2017, the American Idol hopefuls here in Oakland truly know the difference.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>To hear the actual voices of the auditionees I talked to and more, give this episode of The Cooler a listen:\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"disqusTitle": "CeeLo Green and Fall Out Boy Just Covered a Song from 'Teen Titans Go!' (Because it's Awesome)",
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"content": "\u003cp>Scan the Billboard rock charts for the week of August 26 and you'll find the usual suspects: Imagine Dragons, \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/17000138/foo-fighters\">Foo Fighters\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/95828705/portugal-the-man\">Portugal. The Man\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But snuggled in at No. 23 is a new entry to the field: a song called \"The Night Begins to Shine\" by a band called B.E.R.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How'd this unknown song, written more than a decade ago, break into the charts? The answer: the cartoon \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5yIE2g0_4E\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While 'toon-based singles often get onto the charts only because of corporate overlord plotting, the success of \"The Night Begins to Shine\" was actually unplanned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A snippet of the song first appeared on the cartoon in 2014. Peter Michail, a director and producer on \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em>, was directing an episode called \"Slumber Party\" when he came up 10 seconds short.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's important to note that \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em> does not have its own composer. There's no person on the Warner Brothers lot conducting an orchestra along to the cartoon. Instead, directors have to score their own stuff using whatever they can find in their in-house music library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That whole episode, I was scoring it with an '80s vibe,\" says Michail. \"So I literally went into the '80s rock genre and [was] rummaging through these albums and found [\"The Night Begins to Shine\"]. I was like, 'Aw dude, this song's awesome!'\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that's how you get Cyborg — one of the Teen Titans — singing along to B.E.R. in the beginning of the episode. He sings a few lines — and then promptly turns out the lights and goes to bed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=ShYaJkmYR3I\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That was it. It was, the producers admit, a throwaway joke to fill time. But fans heard it differently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Off that episode, people started saying, 'What's this song? Is this a song I've heard before?'\" says \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em> executive producer Michael Jelenic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the show's producers decided: \u003cem>You know what? This song rules. B.E.R. rules.\u003c/em> In the next season, it became Cyborg's favorite song — even if fellow Titans didn't agree with his taste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gmt7JsraPw&feature=youtu.be&t=1m8s\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The song's popularity grew online. On YouTube, fans started playing the song over \u003cem>other\u003c/em> cartoons. Next came remixes, and that sure-sign symbol of an online hit: \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WE4LlgVWOM\">hour-long loops\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This month — and here's where that corporate overlord plotting starts to kick in — Cartoon Network decided to go all-in and air a four-part series about the song. They released an EP. They commissioned covers from musicians like \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BmodXNBEEY\">CeeLo Green\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/16699158/fall-out-boy\">Fall Out Boy\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=52&v=vriYd6tVq1s\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that's how B.E.R ended up on the rock charts, beating out radio rock bands \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/151867086/the-lumineers\">The Lumineers\u003c/a> and Muse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carl Burnett, the \"B\" in B.E.R., helped write and produce the song. He's the one who got the assignment in 2005 to write an '80s-style song for a music library. And he's as surprised as anyone by its success. \"Who would think it from a song that has its roots as a music library track?\" he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I asked him what it was like to have an accidental hit — which, admittedly, is probably not the best way to phrase a question to a songwriter. Luckily, Burnett wasn't offended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Hmm, accidental,\" he says. \"I would say that it's miraculous.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=An+Accidental+Hit+%27Begins+To+Shine%27+%E2%80%94+And+Only+Because+Of+%27Teen+Titans+Go%21%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Scan the Billboard rock charts for the week of August 26 and you'll find the usual suspects: Imagine Dragons, \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/17000138/foo-fighters\">Foo Fighters\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/95828705/portugal-the-man\">Portugal. The Man\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But snuggled in at No. 23 is a new entry to the field: a song called \"The Night Begins to Shine\" by a band called B.E.R.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How'd this unknown song, written more than a decade ago, break into the charts? The answer: the cartoon \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/x5yIE2g0_4E'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/x5yIE2g0_4E'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>While 'toon-based singles often get onto the charts only because of corporate overlord plotting, the success of \"The Night Begins to Shine\" was actually unplanned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A snippet of the song first appeared on the cartoon in 2014. Peter Michail, a director and producer on \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em>, was directing an episode called \"Slumber Party\" when he came up 10 seconds short.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's important to note that \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em> does not have its own composer. There's no person on the Warner Brothers lot conducting an orchestra along to the cartoon. Instead, directors have to score their own stuff using whatever they can find in their in-house music library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That whole episode, I was scoring it with an '80s vibe,\" says Michail. \"So I literally went into the '80s rock genre and [was] rummaging through these albums and found [\"The Night Begins to Shine\"]. I was like, 'Aw dude, this song's awesome!'\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And that's how you get Cyborg — one of the Teen Titans — singing along to B.E.R. in the beginning of the episode. He sings a few lines — and then promptly turns out the lights and goes to bed.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/ShYaJkmYR3I'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/ShYaJkmYR3I'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>That was it. It was, the producers admit, a throwaway joke to fill time. But fans heard it differently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Off that episode, people started saying, 'What's this song? Is this a song I've heard before?'\" says \u003cem>Teen Titans Go!\u003c/em> executive producer Michael Jelenic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So the show's producers decided: \u003cem>You know what? This song rules. B.E.R. rules.\u003c/em> In the next season, it became Cyborg's favorite song — even if fellow Titans didn't agree with his taste.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/4Gmt7JsraPw'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/4Gmt7JsraPw'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>The song's popularity grew online. On YouTube, fans started playing the song over \u003cem>other\u003c/em> cartoons. Next came remixes, and that sure-sign symbol of an online hit: \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WE4LlgVWOM\">hour-long loops\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This month — and here's where that corporate overlord plotting starts to kick in — Cartoon Network decided to go all-in and air a four-part series about the song. They released an EP. They commissioned covers from musicians like \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BmodXNBEEY\">CeeLo Green\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/16699158/fall-out-boy\">Fall Out Boy\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/vriYd6tVq1s'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/vriYd6tVq1s'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>And that's how B.E.R ended up on the rock charts, beating out radio rock bands \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/artists/151867086/the-lumineers\">The Lumineers\u003c/a> and Muse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carl Burnett, the \"B\" in B.E.R., helped write and produce the song. He's the one who got the assignment in 2005 to write an '80s-style song for a music library. And he's as surprised as anyone by its success. \"Who would think it from a song that has its roots as a music library track?\" he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I asked him what it was like to have an accidental hit — which, admittedly, is probably not the best way to phrase a question to a songwriter. Luckily, Burnett wasn't offended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Hmm, accidental,\" he says. \"I would say that it's miraculous.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=An+Accidental+Hit+%27Begins+To+Shine%27+%E2%80%94+And+Only+Because+Of+%27Teen+Titans+Go%21%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "The Musical Guests in 'Twin Peaks' Ruin Almost Every Episode",
"title": "The Musical Guests in 'Twin Peaks' Ruin Almost Every Episode",
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"content": "\u003cp>As we rapidly approach the much-anticipated finale of \u003cem>Twin Peaks: The Return\u003c/em> this Sunday, it's amazing to look back on a season that has been full of jaw-dropping surprises. It feels like, 16 episodes in, we really have seen it all: evil box monsters, Agent Cooper in space, sky vortexes, \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulpa\">tulpas\u003c/a>, face-removal, a talky tree, head-crushing, \u003ca href=\"https://1k95i3bqziq3bboq03r87f8x-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/twin-peaks-woodsman-960x640.jpg\">terrifying woodsmen\u003c/a> (#gotalight?), a superhuman gardening glove, the inside of an atom bomb, \u003ca href=\"https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/twinpeaks/images/5/59/Phillip_Jeffries_%282010s%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20170821104433\">teapot David Bowie\u003c/a>, too much vomit, an eyeless woman, and -- oh yes -- bands out the wazoo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there has been any flaw at all in this magnificent and mind-bending return to one of the '90s' greatest TV shows, it absolutely has to be the jarring insertion of a musical guest into almost every episode. It's not that the bands have been bad. On the contrary, across the board, the artistry on display has been incredible and very well curated. The problem isn't the music itself; the problem is how it's being dropped into the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the original seasons of \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em>, music was a dominant force, thanks to Angelo Badalamenti's extraordinary score. Prominent though it was, the soundtrack was weaved seamlessly into each episode; a character in and of itself, the score was as memorable as the Log Lady and as essential as Agent Cooper. In addition, when Julee Cruise performed, it was within a context that made sense to the storyline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXS46EtKlbE\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not so in \u003cem>Twin Peaks: The Return. \u003c/em>The Bang Bang Bar itself has played almost no role at all in this series, save for James Hurley's fight, Audrey Horne's (amazing) dance, and some peripheral character introductions, and yet, up it pops most weeks (episodes 1, 7, and 11 being exceptions) totally out of the blue, forcing us to sit through a band that bears no relevance to actual plot or proceedings. (The other exception to the rule here is James Hurley's performance of \"Just You\" in episode 13, though that did carry a whiff of David Lynch trolling the viewer because of how much that song was mocked the first time around.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The forced musical outros started in episode 2, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGUboLZx3Tk\">The Chromatics' \u003c/a>appearance that time wasn't quite so jarring, because Shelly and James were present and conversation partially took place over the music. A similar set up helped Trouble and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO0tBgYM5Vg\">Au Revoir Simone\u003c/a> in episodes 5 and 9 respectively. In fact, Trouble, performing the sleazy, retro, instrumental \"Snake Eyes,\" while Richard Horne assaults an unsuspecting young woman, is the only time a live performance has felt truly appropriate all season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfDnT8FvjFA\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the most part, the segues between plot points and musical breaks can feel all kinds of awkward. In episode 3, for example, we see Gordon Cole get the news that Cooper has finally emerged, only for the viewer to get needlessly launched in the direction of \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K_47fSG5HM\">The Cactus Blossoms\u003c/a>. Episode 10 ends with one of the Log Lady's deep and cryptic messages to Hawk, but rather than giving the viewer a minute to digest and analyze, we go straight to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfRPLbSyiSM\">Rebekah del Rio\u003c/a> on stage instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What this means is, each time that flashing red neon Bang Bang Bar sign appears, it's a jolt signifying \"The End\" to the viewer. And most consistently, instead of being able to enjoy the performances, most of them have felt little more than tacked on. Which is why, every time the sign for the Bang Bang Bar pops up on my TV screen now, I feel like doing this:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95885 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"583\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2.jpg 583w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-240x180.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-375x281.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And also this:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95881 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/303-coop-sucked-in.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"240\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To make matters worse, the bookings at that tiny rural venue are one of the least plausible elements of the entire show, which, given that \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em> has been consistently, unfailingly batshit crazy forever, is saying an awful lot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the \"Welcome to Twin Peaks\" sign at the beginning of Season 1 and 2 notes, this is a town with a population of little more than 50,000 people. The Bang Bang Bar is a venue for a couple of hundred patrons. And yet in the last few weeks, it has had visits from both Nine Inch Nails \u003cem>and\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJHM4w_TD28\">Eddie Vedder\u003c/a>, as if driving into obscure towns in the mountains to perform for not many people is something that massive rock stars do all the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, the worst offender of all the musical interludes was undoubtedly the appearance of \"\u003cem>The\u003c/em> Nine Inch Nails\" that occurred partway through episode 8. Sticking a disembodied performance in the middle of any episode would be bad enough, but to do it in the middle of this one -- which just happened to be the most breathtaking hour of surrealist television in history -- was criminal. I like Trent Reznor as much as the next guy, but cutting away from this incredibly important episode (the origins of Bob!) for a full five minutes wasn't just annoying, it felt totally gratuitous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QczxCxFRUf0\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Season 3 of \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em> has certainly demonstrated that David Lynch has excellent taste in music, but the truth is, all of these bands could have been featured on the soundtrack without the need for a cut to a live performance. Perhaps Lynch would be better served creating a film or series that's specifically about music than trying to insert it into a show with a tone this specific and unique.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the live sets in \u003cem>Twin Peaks: The Return\u003c/em> simply don't fit, in what has been an otherwise fantastic season. And that, unfortunately, doesn't do justice to either \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em> \u003cem>or\u003c/em> the musicians involved.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Musicians like Nine Inch Nails and Eddie Vedder are cool and all, but did they really need to continually interrupt this season of 'Twin Peaks'?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As we rapidly approach the much-anticipated finale of \u003cem>Twin Peaks: The Return\u003c/em> this Sunday, it's amazing to look back on a season that has been full of jaw-dropping surprises. It feels like, 16 episodes in, we really have seen it all: evil box monsters, Agent Cooper in space, sky vortexes, \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulpa\">tulpas\u003c/a>, face-removal, a talky tree, head-crushing, \u003ca href=\"https://1k95i3bqziq3bboq03r87f8x-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/twin-peaks-woodsman-960x640.jpg\">terrifying woodsmen\u003c/a> (#gotalight?), a superhuman gardening glove, the inside of an atom bomb, \u003ca href=\"https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/twinpeaks/images/5/59/Phillip_Jeffries_%282010s%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20170821104433\">teapot David Bowie\u003c/a>, too much vomit, an eyeless woman, and -- oh yes -- bands out the wazoo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there has been any flaw at all in this magnificent and mind-bending return to one of the '90s' greatest TV shows, it absolutely has to be the jarring insertion of a musical guest into almost every episode. It's not that the bands have been bad. On the contrary, across the board, the artistry on display has been incredible and very well curated. The problem isn't the music itself; the problem is how it's being dropped into the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the original seasons of \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em>, music was a dominant force, thanks to Angelo Badalamenti's extraordinary score. Prominent though it was, the soundtrack was weaved seamlessly into each episode; a character in and of itself, the score was as memorable as the Log Lady and as essential as Agent Cooper. In addition, when Julee Cruise performed, it was within a context that made sense to the storyline.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/fXS46EtKlbE'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/fXS46EtKlbE'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Not so in \u003cem>Twin Peaks: The Return. \u003c/em>The Bang Bang Bar itself has played almost no role at all in this series, save for James Hurley's fight, Audrey Horne's (amazing) dance, and some peripheral character introductions, and yet, up it pops most weeks (episodes 1, 7, and 11 being exceptions) totally out of the blue, forcing us to sit through a band that bears no relevance to actual plot or proceedings. (The other exception to the rule here is James Hurley's performance of \"Just You\" in episode 13, though that did carry a whiff of David Lynch trolling the viewer because of how much that song was mocked the first time around.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The forced musical outros started in episode 2, but \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGUboLZx3Tk\">The Chromatics' \u003c/a>appearance that time wasn't quite so jarring, because Shelly and James were present and conversation partially took place over the music. A similar set up helped Trouble and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO0tBgYM5Vg\">Au Revoir Simone\u003c/a> in episodes 5 and 9 respectively. In fact, Trouble, performing the sleazy, retro, instrumental \"Snake Eyes,\" while Richard Horne assaults an unsuspecting young woman, is the only time a live performance has felt truly appropriate all season.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/LfDnT8FvjFA'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/LfDnT8FvjFA'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>For the most part, the segues between plot points and musical breaks can feel all kinds of awkward. In episode 3, for example, we see Gordon Cole get the news that Cooper has finally emerged, only for the viewer to get needlessly launched in the direction of \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K_47fSG5HM\">The Cactus Blossoms\u003c/a>. Episode 10 ends with one of the Log Lady's deep and cryptic messages to Hawk, but rather than giving the viewer a minute to digest and analyze, we go straight to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfRPLbSyiSM\">Rebekah del Rio\u003c/a> on stage instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What this means is, each time that flashing red neon Bang Bang Bar sign appears, it's a jolt signifying \"The End\" to the viewer. And most consistently, instead of being able to enjoy the performances, most of them have felt little more than tacked on. Which is why, every time the sign for the Bang Bang Bar pops up on my TV screen now, I feel like doing this:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95885 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"583\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2.jpg 583w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-240x180.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-375x281.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/twinpeaks2-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And also this:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95881 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/303-coop-sucked-in.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"240\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To make matters worse, the bookings at that tiny rural venue are one of the least plausible elements of the entire show, which, given that \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em> has been consistently, unfailingly batshit crazy forever, is saying an awful lot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the \"Welcome to Twin Peaks\" sign at the beginning of Season 1 and 2 notes, this is a town with a population of little more than 50,000 people. The Bang Bang Bar is a venue for a couple of hundred patrons. And yet in the last few weeks, it has had visits from both Nine Inch Nails \u003cem>and\u003c/em> \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJHM4w_TD28\">Eddie Vedder\u003c/a>, as if driving into obscure towns in the mountains to perform for not many people is something that massive rock stars do all the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In fact, the worst offender of all the musical interludes was undoubtedly the appearance of \"\u003cem>The\u003c/em> Nine Inch Nails\" that occurred partway through episode 8. Sticking a disembodied performance in the middle of any episode would be bad enough, but to do it in the middle of this one -- which just happened to be the most breathtaking hour of surrealist television in history -- was criminal. I like Trent Reznor as much as the next guy, but cutting away from this incredibly important episode (the origins of Bob!) for a full five minutes wasn't just annoying, it felt totally gratuitous.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/QczxCxFRUf0'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/QczxCxFRUf0'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Season 3 of \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em> has certainly demonstrated that David Lynch has excellent taste in music, but the truth is, all of these bands could have been featured on the soundtrack without the need for a cut to a live performance. Perhaps Lynch would be better served creating a film or series that's specifically about music than trying to insert it into a show with a tone this specific and unique.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most of the live sets in \u003cem>Twin Peaks: The Return\u003c/em> simply don't fit, in what has been an otherwise fantastic season. And that, unfortunately, doesn't do justice to either \u003cem>Twin Peaks\u003c/em> \u003cem>or\u003c/em> the musicians involved.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The hidden immunity idol. The U-Turn. The Golden Power Of Veto. Last Chance Kitchen. These phrases may not mean much to you, but to viewers of long-running reality franchises (specifically \u003cem>Survivor\u003c/em>, \u003cem>The Amazing Race, Big Brother \u003c/em>and \u003cem>Top Chef\u003c/em>), they reflect a basic tenet of competition shows: Now and then, you have to throw your competitors a ... curve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The history of these twists is mixed at best. Very often, they overcomplicate what was originally, believe it or not, devilishly simple. \u003cem>Survivor\u003c/em>, for example, wound up with so many idols and advantages and immunities in play at one point this season that there was no vote: Only one person was even eligible to go home. It's like a hockey game in which an entire team is suspended for fighting, so one guy with seven teeth goes out onto the ice and forfeits. \u003cem>The Amazing Race \u003c/em>was originally a show with little focus on personal animus, because there wasn't much to \u003cem>do \u003c/em>with it, but once it became possible to stab people in the back (or the front), the motives to do so became a much bigger part of the storytelling. And ... well, there's never any real point to analyzing \u003cem>Big Brother\u003c/em>, unless you like sobbing or abject despair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95742 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/tim-gunn-fed-up.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Project Runway\u003c/em>, which opened its 16th season on Wednesday night, has fiddled with its structure from time to time: the \"Tim Gunn Save,\" the introduction of quickie mid-runway-show challenges, and various tweaks to the finale have been thrown against the wall to see what sticks. But this season, the producers decided to make a change to the competition itself — to the very design and execution process that forms the backbone of the show. (Or, as it were, the zipper.) Specifically, the collection of models for whom the designers are designing are a variety of sizes. As Tim Gunn says, they range from size 2 to size 22.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Runway \u003c/em>has a long tradition of periodic challenges, roughly once a season, that require the designers to design for what the show typically calls \"real women\" who are not models. (Side note: All women are equally real, provided they are made of living organic material and not, for instance, plastic or Popsicle sticks.) They might be moms or friends or women who want makeovers, but very often, at least some if not all are bigger, moderately or substantially, than the usual runway models. This has led to some \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2012/08/24/159999316/project-runway-and-the-designer-who-looked-even-worse-than-his-unlucky-model\">ugly moments\u003c/a> for designers who think plus-size women are too inconvenient, ungainly or hip-equipped to deserve clothes. (Some of them honestly seem on the verge, at times, of shouting, \"WHO CARES WHAT UGGOS ARE WEARING?\") But even in the best-case scenarios, the \"real women\" episodes have often become stories of how decent and admirable designers are for boosting the self-esteem of women who aren't models. Too often, these \"real women\" are presented as either inspirational or pitiable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxQG7JV3yvc\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This season, though, the women are all apparently models, and they seem to all feel just fine about their bodies, which places a different spin on the whole thing. The show has added an element in which the models have a moment in a room with a mirror where they can give their thoughts on what they're being asked to wear. This seems particularly important in cases in which designers are often working with body sizes they haven't dealt with before (though some have). It also sets up the opportunity for some serious smack talk about hideous clothing, even though that didn't happen in the first episode. A girl can hope.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course, there is a body positivity aspect to all this, because it's sure nice to see a variety of models dress up in nice clothes and be treated as if they deserve to look beautiful just like anyone else does. But more than anything, from a brutally pragmatic perspective, what this introduces is \u003cem>different things\u003c/em> to opine about — because opining from the comfort of your home and the slovenliness of your pajamas (note: might just be me) is what a show like \u003cem>Project Runway \u003c/em>is all about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take, for instance, the outfit that Brandon, a menswear designer who had rarely worked with \u003cem>any \u003c/em>women, let alone plus-size women, made for his model, Liris, in the season premiere Wednesday night. She is one of the plus-size models who says she's \"known for [her] hourglass shape.\" At first, Brandon acted as if he had been asked to make a snug-fitting swimsuit for a lumpy octopus, in terms of the level of difficulty. But he ultimately made a crop top and a skirt that Liris liked and the judges scored highly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95743 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/image.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here's the thing: I \u003cem>haaaated \u003c/em>it. It looked to me like bafflement made flesh — er, fabric — like what he would get if he had said, \"She's somewhere around this big,\" and then just cut out a couple of templates and lashed them together. He got away with it, largely because he put a big slit in the skirt that made it look far less matronly than it would have been otherwise. But Liris said she was known for her hourglass shape, and this looked like paper doll clothes to me. She could have been shaped like an hourglass or a pint glass; you couldn't tell from that outfit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what matters isn't whether you like the outfit or don't — what matters is that this is a new debate. Whether a woman who is perhaps a size 22 and loves her body is better off wearing clothes that emphasize her shape or camouflage it is something people really argue about. It's even something where I've sometimes taken issue with Tim Gunn specifically, when it seems like he is advocating for everyone to try to \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/2016/09/14/493965878/tim-gunn-the-fashion-industry-is-not-making-it-work-for-plus-size-women\">look tall and skinny\u003c/a>, no matter their actual bodies. (Normally, it's best to keep your nose in your own cowl neck when it comes to other people's clothes, but fashion competitions are an exception.) And when you've been talking for 15 seasons about mother-of-the-bride this and costume that, it's nice to get some new material.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to speak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's not the only new element, either. There is a Muslim designer named Ayana who designs clothing she describes as \"modest,\" but who busted out a gorgeous, shimmery, slithery silver frock in the premiere that, as she said herself, defies the idea that modesty has to mean either staleness or playing it safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With these kinds of changes, the show gets beyond just \"I like it\" and \"I don't like it\" and starts engaging with fashion in fresh ways. How \u003cem>do \u003c/em>you combine modesty and edginess? How \u003cem>do \u003c/em>you decide what you want to conceal and what you want to flaunt, and isn't it valid for different people to make different choices?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-95744\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/anigif_original-30892-1440606846-18.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most late-season changes to existing shows are terrible: the hidden immunity idol is the \u003ca href=\"http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CousinOliver\">Cousin Oliver\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Survivor\u003c/em>, and I will never accept it, particularly now that the show \"hide\" it in the same way you \"hide\" the Easter eggs from a bunch of 4-year-olds, meaning \"you won't see it unless you happen to look where it is.\" But giving designers something to do, and audiences something to talk about, besides sleeveless sheath dresses and corset tops and skirts made out of napkins? They've got something there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=%27Project+Runway%27+Grows+New+Curves+In+Its+16th+Season&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The hidden immunity idol. The U-Turn. The Golden Power Of Veto. Last Chance Kitchen. These phrases may not mean much to you, but to viewers of long-running reality franchises (specifically \u003cem>Survivor\u003c/em>, \u003cem>The Amazing Race, Big Brother \u003c/em>and \u003cem>Top Chef\u003c/em>), they reflect a basic tenet of competition shows: Now and then, you have to throw your competitors a ... curve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The history of these twists is mixed at best. Very often, they overcomplicate what was originally, believe it or not, devilishly simple. \u003cem>Survivor\u003c/em>, for example, wound up with so many idols and advantages and immunities in play at one point this season that there was no vote: Only one person was even eligible to go home. It's like a hockey game in which an entire team is suspended for fighting, so one guy with seven teeth goes out onto the ice and forfeits. \u003cem>The Amazing Race \u003c/em>was originally a show with little focus on personal animus, because there wasn't much to \u003cem>do \u003c/em>with it, but once it became possible to stab people in the back (or the front), the motives to do so became a much bigger part of the storytelling. And ... well, there's never any real point to analyzing \u003cem>Big Brother\u003c/em>, unless you like sobbing or abject despair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95742 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/tim-gunn-fed-up.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Project Runway\u003c/em>, which opened its 16th season on Wednesday night, has fiddled with its structure from time to time: the \"Tim Gunn Save,\" the introduction of quickie mid-runway-show challenges, and various tweaks to the finale have been thrown against the wall to see what sticks. But this season, the producers decided to make a change to the competition itself — to the very design and execution process that forms the backbone of the show. (Or, as it were, the zipper.) Specifically, the collection of models for whom the designers are designing are a variety of sizes. As Tim Gunn says, they range from size 2 to size 22.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Runway \u003c/em>has a long tradition of periodic challenges, roughly once a season, that require the designers to design for what the show typically calls \"real women\" who are not models. (Side note: All women are equally real, provided they are made of living organic material and not, for instance, plastic or Popsicle sticks.) They might be moms or friends or women who want makeovers, but very often, at least some if not all are bigger, moderately or substantially, than the usual runway models. This has led to some \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2012/08/24/159999316/project-runway-and-the-designer-who-looked-even-worse-than-his-unlucky-model\">ugly moments\u003c/a> for designers who think plus-size women are too inconvenient, ungainly or hip-equipped to deserve clothes. (Some of them honestly seem on the verge, at times, of shouting, \"WHO CARES WHAT UGGOS ARE WEARING?\") But even in the best-case scenarios, the \"real women\" episodes have often become stories of how decent and admirable designers are for boosting the self-esteem of women who aren't models. Too often, these \"real women\" are presented as either inspirational or pitiable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/HxQG7JV3yvc'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/HxQG7JV3yvc'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>This season, though, the women are all apparently models, and they seem to all feel just fine about their bodies, which places a different spin on the whole thing. The show has added an element in which the models have a moment in a room with a mirror where they can give their thoughts on what they're being asked to wear. This seems particularly important in cases in which designers are often working with body sizes they haven't dealt with before (though some have). It also sets up the opportunity for some serious smack talk about hideous clothing, even though that didn't happen in the first episode. A girl can hope.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course, there is a body positivity aspect to all this, because it's sure nice to see a variety of models dress up in nice clothes and be treated as if they deserve to look beautiful just like anyone else does. But more than anything, from a brutally pragmatic perspective, what this introduces is \u003cem>different things\u003c/em> to opine about — because opining from the comfort of your home and the slovenliness of your pajamas (note: might just be me) is what a show like \u003cem>Project Runway \u003c/em>is all about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take, for instance, the outfit that Brandon, a menswear designer who had rarely worked with \u003cem>any \u003c/em>women, let alone plus-size women, made for his model, Liris, in the season premiere Wednesday night. She is one of the plus-size models who says she's \"known for [her] hourglass shape.\" At first, Brandon acted as if he had been asked to make a snug-fitting swimsuit for a lumpy octopus, in terms of the level of difficulty. But he ultimately made a crop top and a skirt that Liris liked and the judges scored highly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"size-full wp-image-95743 aligncenter\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/image.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here's the thing: I \u003cem>haaaated \u003c/em>it. It looked to me like bafflement made flesh — er, fabric — like what he would get if he had said, \"She's somewhere around this big,\" and then just cut out a couple of templates and lashed them together. He got away with it, largely because he put a big slit in the skirt that made it look far less matronly than it would have been otherwise. But Liris said she was known for her hourglass shape, and this looked like paper doll clothes to me. She could have been shaped like an hourglass or a pint glass; you couldn't tell from that outfit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what matters isn't whether you like the outfit or don't — what matters is that this is a new debate. Whether a woman who is perhaps a size 22 and loves her body is better off wearing clothes that emphasize her shape or camouflage it is something people really argue about. It's even something where I've sometimes taken issue with Tim Gunn specifically, when it seems like he is advocating for everyone to try to \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/2016/09/14/493965878/tim-gunn-the-fashion-industry-is-not-making-it-work-for-plus-size-women\">look tall and skinny\u003c/a>, no matter their actual bodies. (Normally, it's best to keep your nose in your own cowl neck when it comes to other people's clothes, but fashion competitions are an exception.) And when you've been talking for 15 seasons about mother-of-the-bride this and costume that, it's nice to get some new material.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to speak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's not the only new element, either. There is a Muslim designer named Ayana who designs clothing she describes as \"modest,\" but who busted out a gorgeous, shimmery, slithery silver frock in the premiere that, as she said herself, defies the idea that modesty has to mean either staleness or playing it safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With these kinds of changes, the show gets beyond just \"I like it\" and \"I don't like it\" and starts engaging with fashion in fresh ways. How \u003cem>do \u003c/em>you combine modesty and edginess? How \u003cem>do \u003c/em>you decide what you want to conceal and what you want to flaunt, and isn't it valid for different people to make different choices?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-95744\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/anigif_original-30892-1440606846-18.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most late-season changes to existing shows are terrible: the hidden immunity idol is the \u003ca href=\"http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CousinOliver\">Cousin Oliver\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Survivor\u003c/em>, and I will never accept it, particularly now that the show \"hide\" it in the same way you \"hide\" the Easter eggs from a bunch of 4-year-olds, meaning \"you won't see it unless you happen to look where it is.\" But giving designers something to do, and audiences something to talk about, besides sleeveless sheath dresses and corset tops and skirts made out of napkins? They've got something there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=%27Project+Runway%27+Grows+New+Curves+In+Its+16th+Season&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "Beyond ‘Rain Man’: Two New Shows Offer Fresh Takes on Autism",
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"content": "\u003cp>Like a lot of kids in high school, Sam worries that he doesn't fit in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I'm a weirdo. That's what everyone says,\" declares the 18-year-old character at the center of Netflix's new dramatic comedy series \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHh4U-QYwU\">\u003cem>Atypical\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One reason Sam struggles to fit in: He has autism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As his character explains at the start of the first episode, sometimes he doesn't understand what people mean when they say things. And that makes him feel alone, even when he's not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHh4U-QYwU\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sam's family in \u003cem>Atypical \u003c/em>is thrown in all sorts of new directions by his quest to date and find a girlfriend. Creator \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1968720/\">Robia Rashid\u003c/a> says she wanted to tell a different kind of coming-of-age story, inspired by recent increases in autism diagnoses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"There are all these young people now who are on the \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/autismspectrumdisorder.html\">spectrum\u003c/a>, who know ... they're on the spectrum,\" she says. \"And [they] are interested in things that every young person is interested in ... independence and finding connections and finding love.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On-screen depictions of autism have come a long way since Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of Raymond Babbitt in the 1988 Oscar-winning film \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlNwXuHUA8I&list=PLisCa6uoS1slRD9vwNw4I7wqEgmItLzLt&index=134\">Rain Man\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hoffman's Babbitt focused obsessively on watching \u003cem>The People's Court\u003c/em> and getting served maple syrup before his pancakes. He could also memorize half the names in a phone book in one reading and count the number of toothpicks on the floor, moments after they spilled out of the box.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95694\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-95694\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-800x534.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-768x513.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-1920x1282.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-1180x788.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-960x641.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-240x160.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-375x250.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sam sometimes wears headphones to cut down on sensory overload — but critics have taken issue when the show has played the practice for laughs.\u003cbr>Greg Gayne/Netflix\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For \u003cem>Atypical\u003c/em>, Rashid says she researched accounts of adults with autism, has several parents of autistic children working in her crew and hired an actor with autism to play a minor role.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, some critics say \u003cem>Atypical\u003c/em> presents some troubling images despite its good intentions. Mickey Rowe, an actor who has autism, says that because the show doesn't have any writers, producers or actors in major roles with the disorder, it can feel like the series is allowing people without autism to make fun of people with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The motto of the autistic community is 'Nothing about us, without us,' \" Rowe says. \"There is such a long history of other people making decisions of behalf of autistic people and deciding what's best for their well-being and how to represent them to the world.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rowe, who \u003ca href=\"http://www.teenvogue.com/story/netflix-atypical-autism-representation\">has written about the show\u003c/a> for \u003cem>Teen Vogue\u003c/em> magazine, was troubled by a scene played for laughs, where Sam wears headphones in public to cut down on sensory overload. He also criticized another moment when Sam is shown frightening a girl because he doesn't quite know how to smile comfortably.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And he's not the only critic with concerns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The audience is basically laughing at [Sam] being autistic,\" says Elizabeth Bartmess, a writer and editor with autism who has written often about \u003ca href=\"http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2015/04/14/writing-autistic-characters-behaviorizing-vs-humanizing-approaches/\">how autistic characters are depicted in literature\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That's partly a problem because in real life, autistic people ... get laughed at a lot for showing autistic traits,\" she says. \"He's trying to make a facial expression that will look like the facial expressions that other people expect him to have... It's stressful, and it takes up a lot of energy and attention. And you're always at risk of getting it wrong.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another show that Bartmess finds troubling is a new series debuting this fall on ABC called \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlZDTru55g\">\u003cem>The Good Doctor\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. It's centered on a surgical resident named Shawn Murphy who has autism and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677584/\">savant syndrome\u003c/a>. He's highly skilled at medicine but struggles with social skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlZDTru55g\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>West Wing \u003c/em>alum Richard Schiff plays the hospital president, fighting to convince a skeptical hospital board to hire Murphy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We hire Shawn, and we give hope to those people with limitations that those limitations are not what they think they are,\" the character shouts during a board meeting as inspiring music rises in the background. \"They do have a shot!\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, because not all people with autism are savants like the character Hoffman portrayed in \u003cem>Rain Man\u003c/em>, Bartmess takes a different message from that moment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That's basically saying the only way that you can get to have a job and keep a job is to be this incredible, super-powered autistic person that you can't be, because almost no one is,\" she says. \"That's kind of the opposite of inspiring.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Shore, executive producer of \u003cem>The Good Doctor\u003c/em>, says the show argues against attitudes which keep people with disabilities from employment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"People look at them and make judgments,\" Shore says. \"I hope this is part of a dialogue that gives rise to simply reducing prejudices right across the board and [being] open to ... [the question of] what does it mean to be qualified? What does it mean to be a good doctor?\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both Shore and Rashid say their characters aren't meant to be symbols for every person with autism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But with so few autistic characters on TV, the few who do appear on-screen often become symbols, whether the creators intend it or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Netflix%2C+ABC+Portrayals+Of+Autism+Still+Fall+Short%2C+Critics+Say&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Like a lot of kids in high school, Sam worries that he doesn't fit in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I'm a weirdo. That's what everyone says,\" declares the 18-year-old character at the center of Netflix's new dramatic comedy series \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieHh4U-QYwU\">\u003cem>Atypical\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One reason Sam struggles to fit in: He has autism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As his character explains at the start of the first episode, sometimes he doesn't understand what people mean when they say things. And that makes him feel alone, even when he's not.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/ieHh4U-QYwU'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/ieHh4U-QYwU'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sam's family in \u003cem>Atypical \u003c/em>is thrown in all sorts of new directions by his quest to date and find a girlfriend. Creator \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1968720/\">Robia Rashid\u003c/a> says she wanted to tell a different kind of coming-of-age story, inspired by recent increases in autism diagnoses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"There are all these young people now who are on the \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/autismspectrumdisorder.html\">spectrum\u003c/a>, who know ... they're on the spectrum,\" she says. \"And [they] are interested in things that every young person is interested in ... independence and finding connections and finding love.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On-screen depictions of autism have come a long way since Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of Raymond Babbitt in the 1988 Oscar-winning film \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlNwXuHUA8I&list=PLisCa6uoS1slRD9vwNw4I7wqEgmItLzLt&index=134\">Rain Man\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hoffman's Babbitt focused obsessively on watching \u003cem>The People's Court\u003c/em> and getting served maple syrup before his pancakes. He could also memorize half the names in a phone book in one reading and count the number of toothpicks on the floor, moments after they spilled out of the box.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_95694\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-95694\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/pop/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-800x534.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-160x107.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-768x513.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-1920x1282.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-1180x788.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-960x641.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-240x160.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-375x250.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/12/2017/08/downloadasset2_enl-1b6845c2fc89e6cd1318bee8e45d543c7f33f734-520x347.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sam sometimes wears headphones to cut down on sensory overload — but critics have taken issue when the show has played the practice for laughs.\u003cbr>Greg Gayne/Netflix\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For \u003cem>Atypical\u003c/em>, Rashid says she researched accounts of adults with autism, has several parents of autistic children working in her crew and hired an actor with autism to play a minor role.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, some critics say \u003cem>Atypical\u003c/em> presents some troubling images despite its good intentions. Mickey Rowe, an actor who has autism, says that because the show doesn't have any writers, producers or actors in major roles with the disorder, it can feel like the series is allowing people without autism to make fun of people with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The motto of the autistic community is 'Nothing about us, without us,' \" Rowe says. \"There is such a long history of other people making decisions of behalf of autistic people and deciding what's best for their well-being and how to represent them to the world.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rowe, who \u003ca href=\"http://www.teenvogue.com/story/netflix-atypical-autism-representation\">has written about the show\u003c/a> for \u003cem>Teen Vogue\u003c/em> magazine, was troubled by a scene played for laughs, where Sam wears headphones in public to cut down on sensory overload. He also criticized another moment when Sam is shown frightening a girl because he doesn't quite know how to smile comfortably.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And he's not the only critic with concerns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The audience is basically laughing at [Sam] being autistic,\" says Elizabeth Bartmess, a writer and editor with autism who has written often about \u003ca href=\"http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2015/04/14/writing-autistic-characters-behaviorizing-vs-humanizing-approaches/\">how autistic characters are depicted in literature\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That's partly a problem because in real life, autistic people ... get laughed at a lot for showing autistic traits,\" she says. \"He's trying to make a facial expression that will look like the facial expressions that other people expect him to have... It's stressful, and it takes up a lot of energy and attention. And you're always at risk of getting it wrong.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another show that Bartmess finds troubling is a new series debuting this fall on ABC called \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlZDTru55g\">\u003cem>The Good Doctor\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. It's centered on a surgical resident named Shawn Murphy who has autism and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677584/\">savant syndrome\u003c/a>. He's highly skilled at medicine but struggles with social skills.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/fYlZDTru55g'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/fYlZDTru55g'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>West Wing \u003c/em>alum Richard Schiff plays the hospital president, fighting to convince a skeptical hospital board to hire Murphy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We hire Shawn, and we give hope to those people with limitations that those limitations are not what they think they are,\" the character shouts during a board meeting as inspiring music rises in the background. \"They do have a shot!\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, because not all people with autism are savants like the character Hoffman portrayed in \u003cem>Rain Man\u003c/em>, Bartmess takes a different message from that moment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That's basically saying the only way that you can get to have a job and keep a job is to be this incredible, super-powered autistic person that you can't be, because almost no one is,\" she says. \"That's kind of the opposite of inspiring.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Shore, executive producer of \u003cem>The Good Doctor\u003c/em>, says the show argues against attitudes which keep people with disabilities from employment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"People look at them and make judgments,\" Shore says. \"I hope this is part of a dialogue that gives rise to simply reducing prejudices right across the board and [being] open to ... [the question of] what does it mean to be qualified? What does it mean to be a good doctor?\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both Shore and Rashid say their characters aren't meant to be symbols for every person with autism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But with so few autistic characters on TV, the few who do appear on-screen often become symbols, whether the creators intend it or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Netflix%2C+ABC+Portrayals+Of+Autism+Still+Fall+Short%2C+Critics+Say&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>A new trailer offers a first taste of the second season of \u003cem>The Crown\u003c/em> — coming to Netflix this December. And that taste is ... so veddy, veddy \u003cem>tasteful\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As one might imagine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first season was all about Elizabeth's first steps into the role of monarch, as she learned to navigate turbid political waters both public and private.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For a time, the only thing she could count on, as the horizon pinwheeled around her, the single sticking-place to which she could screw her courage, had everything to do with the perfect, posh, plumminess of her accent. It seemed to put steel in her spine — and in her jaw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again and again, Claire Foy's expressive eyes showed us the many emotions that buffeted young Liz about, but those emotions never managed to make it down to the set of her iron jaw. Words passed through that jaw, but only barely, their ends bitten neatly off, their passion dutifully strangled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The Crown\u003c/em> isn't the sort of show to employ anything so gauche and \u003cem>déclassé\u003c/em> as a catchphrase, of course. But if anything could be said to have come close in that first season, it would be the way Elizabeth expresses her polite gratitude to those around her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The world of rigid etiquette that surrounds her is fueled by the routine exchange of such tiny pleasantries; family, servants, prime ministers, even the occasional member of the \u003cem>hoi pollo\u003c/em>i routinely find themselves on the receiving end of an Elizabethan \"thank you,\" dry and quiet as a politely muted cough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The accent is what makes it, though. Because it's not so much a \"Thank you.\" Not really.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's more a \"\u003cem>THEHNkyew\u003c/em>.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k15O_eBfUuk\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new trailer, which follows the second decade of Elizabeth's reign, dutifully supplies more of everything that came layered into the first season like a berry trifle:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:12 — Liz clenching that magnificent jaw — this time at the ballet!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:17 — Liz being advised, by a man, yet again, to turn a blind eye to Prince Philip's wandering one!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:29 — Liz picking out a gown!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:35 — Liz expressing disappointment in the men in her life! Again, some more!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(0:37 — Matthew Goode, lookin' goode.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:40 - 1:03 — The show working hard to convince us that petty squabbles between pampered elites who never have to worry about anything more immediate than the correct dispensation of their pudding-spoons could possibly constitute gripping drama!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>1:05 — A Pale Man in a Natty Jumper Offering Passive-Aggressive Support While Standing Stiffly, at a Distance, with his Hands in his Pockets! (This should be a Netflix category.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>1:09 — The money shot! The crux around which season two will surely revolve! The new not-catchphrase! The \"THEHNkew\" of 2017!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elizabeth says ... \"If only.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it's not so much an \"If only.\" Not really.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's more an \"eefOHENlay,\" in fact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And I am \u003cem>here for it\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Let%27s+Rush+To+Judgment%3A+%27The+Crown%2C%27+Season+2&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The Crown\u003c/em> isn't the sort of show to employ anything so gauche and \u003cem>déclassé\u003c/em> as a catchphrase, of course. But if anything could be said to have come close in that first season, it would be the way Elizabeth expresses her polite gratitude to those around her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The world of rigid etiquette that surrounds her is fueled by the routine exchange of such tiny pleasantries; family, servants, prime ministers, even the occasional member of the \u003cem>hoi pollo\u003c/em>i routinely find themselves on the receiving end of an Elizabethan \"thank you,\" dry and quiet as a politely muted cough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The accent is what makes it, though. Because it's not so much a \"Thank you.\" Not really.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's more a \"\u003cem>THEHNkyew\u003c/em>.\"\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/k15O_eBfUuk'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/k15O_eBfUuk'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>The new trailer, which follows the second decade of Elizabeth's reign, dutifully supplies more of everything that came layered into the first season like a berry trifle:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:12 — Liz clenching that magnificent jaw — this time at the ballet!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:17 — Liz being advised, by a man, yet again, to turn a blind eye to Prince Philip's wandering one!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:29 — Liz picking out a gown!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:35 — Liz expressing disappointment in the men in her life! Again, some more!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(0:37 — Matthew Goode, lookin' goode.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>0:40 - 1:03 — The show working hard to convince us that petty squabbles between pampered elites who never have to worry about anything more immediate than the correct dispensation of their pudding-spoons could possibly constitute gripping drama!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>1:05 — A Pale Man in a Natty Jumper Offering Passive-Aggressive Support While Standing Stiffly, at a Distance, with his Hands in his Pockets! (This should be a Netflix category.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>1:09 — The money shot! The crux around which season two will surely revolve! The new not-catchphrase! The \"THEHNkew\" of 2017!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elizabeth says ... \"If only.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it's not so much an \"If only.\" Not really.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's more an \"eefOHENlay,\" in fact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And I am \u003cem>here for it\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Let%27s+Rush+To+Judgment%3A+%27The+Crown%2C%27+Season+2&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>It’s officially summer: that heinous point in the year when so much good television evaporates and we must crawl into the depths of Netflix and Hulu to survive until winter. It is this level of desperation that recently flung me in the unlikely direction of the first season of \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098749/\">\u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I originally decided to revisit Brandon, Brenda, and the gang because I imagined they would unintentionally make me laugh out loud a lot. And they did — any and all scenes involving surfing or dancing are a guaranteed laugh riot. Comedy gold also comes in the kinds of scenes that involve Brenda crashing a driver’s ed vehicle because she sees \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Winkler\">Henry Winkler\u003c/a> (why him?!) and dialogue that regularly leaps in all kinds of absurd directions. (“Janet Jackson has laryngitis! Kenny is drunk and you have to come and get me!”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I had not, however, anticipated falling into a binge-watch situation, but did because — surprise! — \u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em> is, for the most part, entirely un-ironically, a really great TV show. Obviously, we’re not talking\u003cem> Breaking Bad\u003c/em> levels of excellence or anything, but if we can keep \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108872/\">\u003cem>My So-Called Life\u003c/em>\u003c/a> on a pedestal, the first season of \u003cem>90210\u003c/em> deserves a place on the podium as well (even if the rich kid characters \u003cem>are\u003c/em> inherently less likable than \u003ca href=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/vice_asset_uploader/files/1400186550my_so_called_life_noisey_2.jpg\">Rickie Vasquez and Rayanne Graff\u003c/a>).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pm5W1BZOdg\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>90210\u003c/em> was undoubtedly what we looked to in the pre-Kardashian age to find out how rich kids in LA lived, and for millennials, this thing is a goldmine of information about How Teenagers Used to Live. Seeing all of these hot young things trying to organize their lives while tethered to landlines, phone booths, and library desks is moderately heartbreaking in 2017, especially in the episode where the Walsh family’s landline breaks and the telephone company tells them they are “lucky to have a number.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The other remarkable thing to note is that, in 1990, photos were literally never taken unless you were (a) working on the school newspaper (\u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/2013/06/01/187534165/are-high-school-newspapers-an-endangered-species\">those used to exist!\u003c/a>), (b) on vacation, or (c) about to go to a dance. And forget about casually making videos — those puppies required borrowing 25 pounds of equipment. Don’t even get me started on the alarm clock situation, or the fact that both men and women felt okay about wearing vests over absolutely anything, on an almost-daily basis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite all of the nonsense that dates the show, \u003cem>90210\u003c/em> is still masterful at passing on life lessons. There are substance abuse problems (for both parents and teens) peppered throughout the series. Issues of privilege also weave throughout, thanks to Brenda trying to keep up with her super rich friends, and the fact that Andrea is from a poor part of town and committing school district fraud to go to a good high school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Season 1 also tackles date rape, safe sex, AIDS, cancer scares, drunk driving, single parenting, adoption, virginity loss, and, in two separate episodes (“East Side Story” and “Every Dream Has Its Price Tag”), the issue of underpaid immigrants. Not bad for what could’ve just been, essentially, a super long advertisement for rampant capitalism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the downside,\u003cem> 90210\u003c/em> is consistently an overwhelmingly white prospect. People of color are generally reduced to corridor and crowd scenes and, once you notice, it is an aggravating thing to behold every episode. One of the only occasions that affords black characters the opportunity to speak is in “One On One,” an episode that concerns itself with the fact that West Beverly High recruits African American students from outside the school district to populate their basketball team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The premise is problematic on a plethora of levels, but the episode ultimately succeeds in highlighting still-relevant issues around race, education, and white privilege. Furthermore, because the audience is automatically inclined to sympathize with Brandon and Steve, and both characters reveal themselves to be racist in the episode, it ultimately forces viewers to examine their own prejudices — which, if you’re a teen watching a show this incredibly white, is probably pretty necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwx-_SFKU7g\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, even if you only come to \u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em> to see men wearing crop-tops, David Austin Green doing Vanilla Ice dancing, Jason Priestley having an affair with paisley shirts, and a bunch of 25-year-olds pretending to be high school students, it’s worth sticking around for everything else the show offers. Sure, \u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em> is ridiculous — but it’s also surprisingly underrated.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s officially summer: that heinous point in the year when so much good television evaporates and we must crawl into the depths of Netflix and Hulu to survive until winter. It is this level of desperation that recently flung me in the unlikely direction of the first season of \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098749/\">\u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I originally decided to revisit Brandon, Brenda, and the gang because I imagined they would unintentionally make me laugh out loud a lot. And they did — any and all scenes involving surfing or dancing are a guaranteed laugh riot. Comedy gold also comes in the kinds of scenes that involve Brenda crashing a driver’s ed vehicle because she sees \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Winkler\">Henry Winkler\u003c/a> (why him?!) and dialogue that regularly leaps in all kinds of absurd directions. (“Janet Jackson has laryngitis! Kenny is drunk and you have to come and get me!”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I had not, however, anticipated falling into a binge-watch situation, but did because — surprise! — \u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em> is, for the most part, entirely un-ironically, a really great TV show. Obviously, we’re not talking\u003cem> Breaking Bad\u003c/em> levels of excellence or anything, but if we can keep \u003ca href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108872/\">\u003cem>My So-Called Life\u003c/em>\u003c/a> on a pedestal, the first season of \u003cem>90210\u003c/em> deserves a place on the podium as well (even if the rich kid characters \u003cem>are\u003c/em> inherently less likable than \u003ca href=\"https://s3.amazonaws.com/vice_asset_uploader/files/1400186550my_so_called_life_noisey_2.jpg\">Rickie Vasquez and Rayanne Graff\u003c/a>).\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/2pm5W1BZOdg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/2pm5W1BZOdg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>90210\u003c/em> was undoubtedly what we looked to in the pre-Kardashian age to find out how rich kids in LA lived, and for millennials, this thing is a goldmine of information about How Teenagers Used to Live. Seeing all of these hot young things trying to organize their lives while tethered to landlines, phone booths, and library desks is moderately heartbreaking in 2017, especially in the episode where the Walsh family’s landline breaks and the telephone company tells them they are “lucky to have a number.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The other remarkable thing to note is that, in 1990, photos were literally never taken unless you were (a) working on the school newspaper (\u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/2013/06/01/187534165/are-high-school-newspapers-an-endangered-species\">those used to exist!\u003c/a>), (b) on vacation, or (c) about to go to a dance. And forget about casually making videos — those puppies required borrowing 25 pounds of equipment. Don’t even get me started on the alarm clock situation, or the fact that both men and women felt okay about wearing vests over absolutely anything, on an almost-daily basis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite all of the nonsense that dates the show, \u003cem>90210\u003c/em> is still masterful at passing on life lessons. There are substance abuse problems (for both parents and teens) peppered throughout the series. Issues of privilege also weave throughout, thanks to Brenda trying to keep up with her super rich friends, and the fact that Andrea is from a poor part of town and committing school district fraud to go to a good high school.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Season 1 also tackles date rape, safe sex, AIDS, cancer scares, drunk driving, single parenting, adoption, virginity loss, and, in two separate episodes (“East Side Story” and “Every Dream Has Its Price Tag”), the issue of underpaid immigrants. Not bad for what could’ve just been, essentially, a super long advertisement for rampant capitalism.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the downside,\u003cem> 90210\u003c/em> is consistently an overwhelmingly white prospect. People of color are generally reduced to corridor and crowd scenes and, once you notice, it is an aggravating thing to behold every episode. One of the only occasions that affords black characters the opportunity to speak is in “One On One,” an episode that concerns itself with the fact that West Beverly High recruits African American students from outside the school district to populate their basketball team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The premise is problematic on a plethora of levels, but the episode ultimately succeeds in highlighting still-relevant issues around race, education, and white privilege. Furthermore, because the audience is automatically inclined to sympathize with Brandon and Steve, and both characters reveal themselves to be racist in the episode, it ultimately forces viewers to examine their own prejudices — which, if you’re a teen watching a show this incredibly white, is probably pretty necessary.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/Uwx-_SFKU7g'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/Uwx-_SFKU7g'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, even if you only come to \u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em> to see men wearing crop-tops, David Austin Green doing Vanilla Ice dancing, Jason Priestley having an affair with paisley shirts, and a bunch of 25-year-olds pretending to be high school students, it’s worth sticking around for everything else the show offers. Sure, \u003cem>Beverly Hills 90210\u003c/em> is ridiculous — but it’s also surprisingly underrated.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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