Author:  John McInnes <[log in to unmask]>
Date:    12/15/94 7:24 PM
 
[Editor's note:  This message was submitted to SCREEN-L by the "Author" noted
above, and not by Jeremy Butler ([log in to unmask]).]
 
Perhaps the reason MSCL is failing in the ratings is that viewers cannot
relate to any of the show's characters.  Who could?  Adult viewers cringe
when faced with Angela's parents; they aren't merely detached parents,
but often come across as simply inept *people*.  Angela herself holds no
charm for younger viewers:  how could any teen help but be irritated by
an obviously attractive young lady who spends the majority of each
episode *sulking*?  I concur that these characters are probably more
"realistic" than others appearing in network fare, at least in the sense
that they are more representative of the "average" family than, say, the
characters on FULL HOUSE.  They certainly are superior to the figures
offered by John Hughes (who appeared to be working under the impression
that all American teenagers in the 1980s were upper-class teens from
Glenview, Illinois).  But does this "realism" matter when the characters
apparently fail to resonate with the viewers?  Does the presence of
slightly more complex characters necessitate MSCL's largely unwarranted
critical praise?  As previous posters have mentioned, the
"thirtysomething" narrative continues to dominate the program--and there
is only so much whining a critical viewer can endure, let alone the
general public.  MSCL may be a notch above the rest of the drek in this
especially poor season, but its passing is hardly a tragedy.
 
I wouldn't necessarily classify Angela as the Molly Ringwald of
"Generation X" (a term best left to marketing consultants), simply
because *Molly Ringwald* was the Molly Ringwald of that generation.  One
must keep in mind that those who are currently 20 years old are at the
tail end of the generation in question.  Angela more properly belongs to
the following generation, who I'm sure will be discussed soon in a
NEWSWEEK cover story ("Generation Y--What Can They Moan About?").