I saw a preview for this TV show — “Modern Family” on ABC — at the movies last night. (Yes, they show TV previews alongside movie previews now.) It looked funny and light, and best of all very diverse. It’s about three different families, one of which includes a Colombian immigrant (acclaimed Colombian actress Sofia Vergara) and one with two gay dads and their newly adopted baby. Can’t wait to see the show when it premieres Wed., Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
This week I finally render my verdict on Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse”: Sadly, I judge the new sci-fi series to be Misogynist with a capital “M.”
As fellow fans of TV writer/director Joss Whedon will understand, I wanted to believe in his ability to handle this sensitive material. Whedon created “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” that touchstone of ’90s Girl Power. Buffy’s best friend came out as a lesbian and had a lovely relationship with a fellow wiccan. Whedon has since written a series of comic books in which Buffy makes love to another woman herself. Whedon seemed like the best straight male friend a woman or gay man ever had.
Then came “Dollhouse.” It’s about a secret company that coerces people into letting evil scientists suck out their personalities and change them into whatever clients want, using computer implants. These human “dolls” can work as soldiers or spies or whatever. Mostly, though, they’re programmed to have sex with rich men, some of whom are into sadomasochism or outright snuff (killing their partner after sex). Either way, the dolls get beat up a lot and are often confused about the whole thing.
“We really wanted to hit (sexual exploitation) in the face and say, well, what does it mean? Is it wrong to pay somebody to have sex? How wrong is it to try to create your own perfect experience? When is it appalling? And when is it a part of people becoming increasingly incapable of dealing with other people and living these incredibly insular lives?”
Noble goals from a man I deeply respect. But he just couldn’t pull it off this time. “Dollhouse” spends far more energy recreating sexism and misogyny than critiquing it. It’s offensive.
In one episode, star doll Echo (played by “Buffy” veteran Eliza Dushku, pictured left) is set up on a camping trip with a man who will first have sex with her, then hunt her to the death with a crossbow. Yes, we get that it’s wrong to send out a woman as a mindless sexual plaything, then let her be surprised when her partner stands up and and says, “Thanks for the sex, now I’m gonna kill you.” How exactly does this show illuminate the ugliness of abuse? Both Echo and the depraved hunter are gorgeous, young and hip. Thanks for glorifying snuff films, Joss.
Still, I held out hope for “Dollhouse” because I loved “Buffy” so much. (I also enjoyed Whedon’s series “Serenity.”) But this week’s show ended my hope. A doll named Sierra (pictured at top) freaks out when a man innocently puts his hand on her shoulder, setting off some repressed memories. Turns out, Sierra’s handler has been raping her. See, each beautiful doll (most are women) is assigned a partner who hasn’t been brainwashed (presumably; you never know), and that man (so far they’re all men) can basically make the doll do whatever he wants, like a puppeteer. Do I have to spell out just how sick this all is?
BTW, the man who innocently touches Sierra is a doll himself, Victor. Victor approaches Sierra because he simply can’t control his sex drive, maybe because his work never involves his prostitution. Yes, the one male doll we’ve met is the one doll who can’t be controlled, and who is not used as a sex toy. Score another point for the guys.
Oh, and there’s another male doll who’s beaten the programming: Adam. He’s on the loose entirely, a dangerous rogue who can’t be controlled (as all the women can). Adam’s most visible handiwork is the criss-crossing of scars he cut into the face of a lady scientist who works in the Dollhouse. Need I go on?
Where there’s sexism there are usually other forms of prejudice, too. Sierra isn’t just beautiful and brain-dead, she’s also “exotic.” Played by a woman of Tibetan and Australian background (Dichen Lachman), Sierra is so Eurasian she even has blond hair. My, how avant garde! Sierra’s first mission was as unwitting, unarmed bait for a psycho killer. Is this what it takes for Asians to get on American TV?
African-Americans have it tough in Hollywood, too, of course. The new episode reveals that the only woman who doesn’t work for the Dollhouse is a smart FBI secretary with a good heart called simply “Loomis” (played by Aisha Hinds, pictured at right). Loomis helps an agent who’s trying to expose the Dollhouse. Naturally, the heroic agent is a strapping white man and Loomis is an African-American woman who’s not conventionally beautiful. Not to say Loomis isn’t charming and gorgeous in real-world terms, just not standard Hollywood pretty. While the dolls are mostly thin, light-skinned and have flowing hair, Loomis is sturdy, dark-skinned and bald, and also a slightly older mom (Hinds is 34, geriatric in Hollywood women’s terms). So “Dollhouse” offers women this choice: Be a beautiful, mindless sex slave or a minor supporting player who’s never loved.
Joss Whedon badly needs some consciousness raising. As sensitive as he’s shown himself to be in the past, I believe he’ll get it — but only after his “Dollhouse” is put away.
Broadway musical “West Side Story” has made its triumphant return after more than 50 years. As mentioned here before, this time the Puerto Rican characters actually speak Spanish — How exciting is that!
New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley has a lot to say about the show, most of it positive. Sadly, Brantley seems a little weirded out about the Spanish. Sounds like he’s missing out on the new spirit:
“Having the Sharks speak to one another in Spanish effectively underscores the sense of cultural estrangement that the show demands. But since music is supposedly a universal language (and since the Jets and Sharks often sing the same melodies), do we have to have key, plot-propelling songs translated (by Lin-Manuel Miranda) into Spanish as well? It’s fine for those of us who know the show inside out, but English-speaking newcomers may have difficulty following the second act. On the other hand, the deliciously girly body language in ‘Siento Hermosa’ (’I Feel Pretty’), performed by Maria and a giggly set of friends, requires no bilingual dictionary.”
“West Side Story” is one of Broadway’s — and America’s — greatest works of art. Now that it’s fully embracing the true cultural diversity of our nation, I believe it’s more American than ever.
America is ready for a new Movie Star: Daniel Henney! He’s young, handsome and he already has an international fan base (remember, half your profits come from overseas these days). Best of all, he’s homegrown — from the heartland haven of Carson City, Michigan.
Here’s our new hero in a commercial with Academy Award-winner Gwyneth Paltrow:
He’s the perfect successor to Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Brad Pitt and George Clooney, right? I don’t know if he can act, but you can always fix that with CGI. Daniel Henney has “It,” and “It” is what counts in a movie star — just ask Jake Gyllenhaal.
You may have noticed one thing: Daniel Henney is Asian-American, half-Korean on his mother’s side. I hope that won’t hold you up. If you can get past your fear of those racist movie audiences (don’t you hate them?), you’ll see this guy is box office magic!
DH has already taken the first step for you: He took his act to South Korea and made it over there after striking out in his U.S. homeland (natch). He hit it big in Seoul on a TV drama. So he’s been “vetted,” as the Clinton people would say.
Now DH has come home to his first Hollywood blockbuster. He plays Agent Zero in the upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” movie. Agent Zero has been altered by the government, made into a human weapon to kill Wolverine. So he’s not exactly the hero of the piece. In fact, you could say his role is an extension of the old Asian martial arts villain stereotype we’ve seen over and over again. But he’s on screen! You can even see a couple seconds of him in the trailer; he’s dressed up as an evil scientist in the Weapon X program, wearing a white shirt and tie. Hm, another stereotype. But he’s there.
Next step is up to you, Hollywood. You’ve got a lot of movies to make, and a lot of leading male roles to fill. You want a romantic hunk? Daniel Henney’s your man. Action hero? Daniel Henney! Comic cut-up or family man? Call DH now! He’s only 29 years old, so you’ve got decades to spin his star power into Hollywood gold.
In one episode, star doll Echo (played by “Buffy” veteran Eliza Dushku, pictured left) is set up on a camping trip with a man who will first have sex with her, then hunt her to the death with a crossbow. Yes, we get that it’s wrong to send out a woman as a mindless sexual plaything, then let her be surprised when her partner stands up and and says, “Thanks for the sex, now I’m gonna kill you.” How exactly does this show illuminate the ugliness of abuse? Both Echo and the depraved hunter are gorgeous, young and hip. Thanks for glorifying snuff films, Joss.
African-Americans have it tough in Hollywood, too, of course. The new episode reveals that the only woman who doesn’t work for the Dollhouse is a smart FBI secretary with a good heart called simply “Loomis” (played by Aisha Hinds, pictured at right). Loomis helps an agent who’s trying to expose the Dollhouse. Naturally, the heroic agent is a strapping white man and Loomis is an African-American woman who’s not conventionally beautiful. Not to say Loomis isn’t charming and gorgeous in real-world terms, just not standard Hollywood pretty. While the dolls are mostly thin, light-skinned and have flowing hair, Loomis is sturdy, dark-skinned and bald, and also a slightly older mom (Hinds is 34, geriatric in Hollywood women’s terms). So “Dollhouse” offers women this choice: Be a beautiful, mindless sex slave or a minor supporting player who’s never loved.
Dear Hollywood,
Next step is up to you, Hollywood. You’ve got a lot of movies to make, and a lot of leading male roles to fill. You want a romantic hunk? Daniel Henney’s your man. Action hero? Daniel Henney! Comic cut-up or family man? Call DH now! He’s only 29 years old, so you’ve got decades to spin his star power into Hollywood gold.
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