Men Of A Certain Age versus Cougartown
I watched Men of A Certain Age last night for the first time. That may be because last night was the first night it was on. Or maybe I’m just a late bloomer, being all involved with reality shows and the like. I love, liked, and immediately bookmarked for future showing MOACA. I even tweeted about it, which if you’ve been following me on Twitter, you know is a rare event. Men of A Certain Age is for people of a certain intelligence. Those who admire complexity (this seems to be a recent theme in my latest posts) and nuance and, dare I say it, characterization on their sitcoms. These guys are definitely midlifers and I want each and every one of them to guest post on MidLifeBloggers.
I’ve tried watching Cougar Town several times. I can never make it through the whole entire thirty minutes without being amazed at what a clusterfuck of inanities it is. I like Courtney Cox, really I do. But–just the title makes my fillings hurt. The whole cougar thing is so–so last decade, so some guy’s fantasy of what he wishes midlife women were like even though they are far too old for him (no matter how old he is).
What I want to know is: why is a series about midlife men so rich and why is a series about midlife women so impoverished? Is this something that we ought to be picketing about?
All Top Stories 
Karl has been watching MOACA and really likes it. I haven’t seen it, but my hubby rarely likes anything on tv, so it must be good.
The whole treatment of men vs women in Hollywood has always irritated me. Over the summer (or coulda been Fall) I went with friends to see the Vince Vaughn movie “Couples Retreat”. I almost walked out. All the women were skinny twigs with heads while the men were of varying size. It was really distracting and that is what I remember from the movie, nothing else.
byjane reply on February 3rd, 2010 4:12 pm:
Let’s talk about the twigs with heads…why is it that female celebrities seem to have such huge heads in relation to their bodies? I mean, they really look out of proportion.
I’ve wanted to watch Men of A Certain Age but have yet to get to it, with Jane’s review I’m more determined now.
As I watch TV with the eye of a middle-aged woman, always angling for a post possibility, I find the treatment of women in the media to be totally irritating at times. If you look at “us” in advertising we’re either constipated, have leaky bladders, arthritis or bad bones. Women aren’t portrayed as sexy things.. unless we’re promoting cars or beer and then only as young nubile things. .
Of course I’m exaggerating but if you look at ads you’ll see a definite slant towards men… no news there. Women do housework and worry about the streaks on the kitchen floors, or the odors in the house. Men do all the financially related ads and are shown enhancing their virility-or lack thereof. I’m not sure what we do to change the mindset that continues to produce shows like Cougar Town or ads that reflect women as pharmaceutical targets.
I want to see the likes of Jamie Curtis doing something sexier than advising women on digestive problems!
Oh, James–so cynical. Yeah, well, you’re probably right. Mediocrity seems much easier to do.
Deirdre, Leslie, Maggie annnnnndddd James (who is the demographic of MOACA)–
I read somewhere (you know, that great ‘somewhere’ in the sky) that the cable stations are making out like bandits since NBC gave up the 10 pm time slot. I don’t know if it’s me or them (you know, the great ‘them’) but I’m liking more scripted TV these days. Of course, I also watched Bank of Hollywood last night (you know, Ryan Seacrest’s new show)…..
James McDonald reply on January 6th, 2010 4:51 pm:
I think we’re starting to come full circle. Frankly, the quality of scripted shows declined to the point that the “unscripted” reality-type shows were a breath of fresh air. It got us away from the stale formulas and tired dialog that was recycled in show after show.
Now, the reality shows are anything but, and are re-using formulas and even personalities to the point that most of them blur together. Fortunately, the major networks are so heavily invested in this format that some of the smaller cable networks have had to redefine their programming and take chances on original shows that intentionally break the mold and actually challenge the viewer. I give it another year or so before the majors take their cue from the small networks and start producing new shows that emulate some of what USA and TNT are now doing. Most of it will be utter crap that completely misses the point. A few will be solid enough to get us watching them.
A few years later, we’ll see the Reality shows re-imagined again and the cycle will continue.
Haven’t seen the Cougar show, but I agree 100% about MOACA. I stumbled across it and my first thought was “Hmm.. Fourtysomething.” Halfway through, I was hooked. Why is it such a rare and noteworthy event when the television industry produces a show that offers interesting characters, insightful storylines and actors who actually put some depth and thought into their portrayals?
I need to watch MOACA but I have to agree with Deirdre (as usual!)–Cougar Town can be momentarily entertaining but mostly it’s just depressing and/or boring.
I recommend United States of Tara on Showtime–Toni Collette is awesome and the show is hilarious.
Jane, I wholeheartedly agree re: both shows. Men Of A Certain Age raises the bar for TV!
I agree, although I’ve only seen one episode of the guys, Cougar Town comes on after Modern Family (which I love!) and we end up watching parts of it. There are moments of humor but the main character is so pathetic and shallow. I’m hoping she’s meant to be that way — that it’s all part of the comedy, but I sadly doubt it. Ugh.