Roush on Jericho
Question: Recently,
Mike L. griped that the creators of the show destroyed
Jericho. I didn't watch
Jericho, but my husband did, so this comment is really for him. He often complains to me that there aren't shows for men any more. He actually liked the fact that they reduced the family drama emphasis, and he would have been very interested in
The Unit except for the heavy emphasis on the home front. He gripes that men in most shows don't even behave like "real men." I'd suggest that he watch
Supernatural with me since I see Dean as a more realistic guy, but my husband really isn't into horror/supernatural.
24 would be good, but he has trouble playing along when they take illogical liberties. Yes, the guy's picky, and he's the first to admit it. I feel lucky that he suspended disbelief enough to watch
Chuck with me. The TV industry is largely run by men, so you'd think there'd be more out there for guys. Or is it just my husband? Could it be that producers are trying so hard to appeal to a broader audience that their action shows start to lose their core audience as they add in family drama elements?
— Mary L.
Matt Roush: Good question, because it hits on the fact that the male audience is traditionally the most fickle and hard to reach, and why any network series that can attract a loyal male fan base — like, say, 24 — is relished by advertisers. (One explanation for why sports rights fees are so high). The reason even most action shows tend to throw in "emotional" elements — which according to the tone of this particular question is somehow unmanly — is because the networks believe a show won't be successful if it can't at least in part attract a female audience as well. This is wildly simplifying the situation, not to mention buying into the notion that "real men" don't like shows with heart as well as muscle. (And that "real women" don't dig action). Personally, I can see why a guy might not want to settle down with a show like Army Wives, but to object to The Unit because it focuses on the domestic as well as military lives of its heroes, I think that misses the point of what makes this particular show even more interesting than your average shoot-em-up.
