I am a HUGE fan of Shonda Rimes. Ever since I got seasons 1 and 2 of Grey's Anatomy as a Christmas present, I've been hooked. I was even able to follow along as Private Practice was created. Both are staples of my Thursday night drinkfests. So when I heard about Rimes making a new show called Off the Map, I was totally on board. I tuned in last night to see the premiere episode with the highest of expectations.
Oh.
So.
WRONG.
It's like this show catered to the least educated, least traveled of
White America. Seriously. I mean, the folks there are bustling around an
oasis of a hospital "somewhere in South America" (clearly Hawaii).
The newbie doesn't even know what gringo means. It's all very
privileged, and the episode is "Saved by the Great White Hope", because
clearly your life can only be saved by a white American (although a
differently-colored American may, in some cases, do).
It drives me nuts. I'm not the most well-traveled person, but even I
know when producers/writes/whatever are catering to the lowest common
denominator. You know you've seen that. Scenes in movies so fantastical,
you know someone is playing to a stereotype. If you don't know? See the
opening scene in Transformers. I mean really. If you think the military
base is open to have some local kid just hanging around is just
ridiculous. Especially if you've been there. And thank God no one has
ever forced me to see Sex in the City 2. Because I know I would have had
words. I mean, they went to Dubai of all places. I've never been there,
but I know it's fucking amazing.
I think the idea that pissed me off the most was that Americans would go
out into a foreign country to get away from their problems, ignorant of
the culture and language. I mean seriously. As much as I like to go
around thinking people who are in American should speak Ah-mrrrr-ican,
it doesn't happen. Almost everyone knows some rudimentary Spanish. Plus,
there are plenty of folks doing the same thing in real life who take this shit seriously (even they do hate the military).
So please. Do yourself a favor and ignore this crapfest of a show. Or don't. Revel in the white man's awesomeness. Your choice.
