— This week in the New York Times, TV critic Alessandra Stanley writes that both Grey's Anatomy and its new spinoff starring Kate Walsh are silly and "sex-obsessed" shows in which "even the most successful women are left behind in life."
Blaming Ally McBeal for starting a trend for female characters on TV, she says the show "marked a turning point in the devolution of women's roles in television comedy — the moment when competent-but-flaky hardened into basket case."
Grey's Anatomy, Stanley says, is "admittedly over-the-top escapist fantasy for women, except that it is troubling that even in escapist fantasies, today's heroines have to be weak, needy and oversexed to be liked by women and desired by men."
Stanley writes that the new series looks to be even worse. "On Grey's Anatomy at least two female characters, Christina (Sandra Oh) and Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) have confidence, big egos and an ability to keep their sorrows to themselves most of the time. The female leads on the new series are fragile and pitiable, and it's a worrisome imbalance."
She also says that "Sex isn't the problem with the new series; it's the subjugation. Addison looks up her old friend from medical school whose perfect marriage has just ended and finds herself enmeshed with two other mature, reputable professionals: a fertility specialist and a psychotherapist. All three women are lovelorn, sex-starved and prone to public displays of disaffection."
But Grey's Anatomy, and the new spinoff were both created by a woman. Does that make a difference? No, says Stanley. "Somehow, even in the hands of a woman, a show about female doctors finds humor and solace in their distress. Self-deprecation has been replaced with self-denigration."
What do you think? Is Grey's Anatomy setting a bad example for women, or is it just an escapist fantasy show? Does any of it really matter? Comment to share your opinions.
-Mel, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: New York Times
Photo credit: ABC
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Original article at http://www.buddytv.com/articles/greys-anatomy/new_york_times_says_greys_anat-6354.aspx