CSI Rant
I promised kaylyne I'd post this. It's due to the fact that CSI/CBS let go of Liz Vassey. One of the smartest females on TV. Or at least IMO.
So here is the rant that I have been thinking about since last week...
CSI, a show about forensic scientists and police who solve crimes. They rely on forensic evidence to find out the who, what, how and sometimes why of crime solving. The show has been on for 10 years. Has delved into pretty seedy subjects; death of prostitutes, the elderly, people used as art, and most disturbing to me, death of children. These scientists have to be on their game, go toe to toe with some people and to be strong enough to deal with suspects, other scientists and even the police. And to have women doing it, proving that police/science is not just mans work is a plus.
So when a show has someone like Catherine Willows. Now CSI Supervisor since her boss Gil Grissom left the show last year, what a better way to prove that police/science isn't a man's job. That a woman can do it all, be a mother, a lover and a strong female lead. Well unfortunately, in the 10th season of CSI, Catherine Willows sort of fell into one of two categories, the bitch or the babe.
Don't get me wrong, Catherine is one of my now ALL TIME favorite characters on the show. She was proving she could do it all. Be a mother to a stubborn young teenager, have a job that her boss knew he could depend on her. Be a leader to the team when he left. Stand toe to toe with the police, the Undersheriff or even her own mother. And more recently, be an equal in a relationship with a detective. What better way to portray women in today's society?
But again, unfortunately, she fell into the 'babe' category. Yea, it's possible for a woman to be in a loving, committed relationship and still be good at her job. She doesn't have to flaunt the fact that she's having sex or not having sex with everyone around her. I'm really surprised that a show like CSI did that to a very strong female character. It's not like Marg isn't capable, because we all know (thanks to David Rambo, one of the show's producers, to point out that Marg Helgenberger is very capable of portraying a woman who can do it all) but she's been way to sultry to prove that she can do it all.
And when she is not sultry, she's bitchy. Which actually I haven't seen that much of. Yea, being the supervisor means making tough decisions. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to ponder the options, you just DO. Something Catherine is very capable of. And and being a good supervisor doesn't mean being a bitch either. Again, I don't see the bitch part as much as the very sultry, sexual part of her being portrayed. To me, that's showing that all Catherine is, is a lover or a bed buddy to the detective. We all know she's more than that. I wish they would show that more often.
The show does also have more than one female. Wendy Simms played by Liz Vassey who was recently let go. A fact that most people don' t like. Wendy was another strong female character. She could hold her own against the M.E. Doc. Robbins, against Grissom, Catherine and more recently against the very snarky but adorable Trace Tech, David Hodges. Yes these two were destined for a romance of sorts. A fact that Wendy didn't have to pull out the sultry card, if you will to do. He liked her for who she was. (Not to say that Vartann doesn't like Catherine for who she is, he said so himself about liking her guts...)
Wendy isn't like Catherine, she's sort of the balance in between the bitch and the babe. She is smart, and funny and can take all the snarking and give it right back. Why CSI would want to get rid of a character like that, it's beyond me.
To leave the show with one female (depending on whether Jorja Fox returns, I haven't heard yet) that CSI has put into one of two categories is just beyond me.
People tune in for a myriad of reasons. Yea, the show is about crime solving. As of late, it's also delved into the characters person lives more. Not that I mind, it just needs to stay low key. But a show like CSI had very strong female character. One's that, like I said, could stand their own, be a mother, a divorcee, a scientist, a supervisor and now a lover.
I'm questioning CSI's motives. I wonder if they think that the female viewers would rather see Catherine make eyes at her handsome detective or would they rather see her show how she is effectively doing her job?Or to see Wendy Simms do her job?I personally want to see both ladies do their jobs. THEN see each lady be a mother and a committed partner in a relationship. Or perhaps that's left to fanfiction?
So my long ramble is about finished. I'm just sort of put off by the fact that CBS/CSI has such little faith in TV viewing females. It sort of makes me sad. I'm hoping that the next season, which with be Marg's last, proves that CBS/CSI can make Catherine the effective leader and woman we want her to be. And that although they got rid of another strong female, they can show the remaining women on CSI that they too, can be a woman in a man's world.
PHEW, that took a while.
Rant over.. goodnight! or GOOD DAY!
So here is the rant that I have been thinking about since last week...
CSI, a show about forensic scientists and police who solve crimes. They rely on forensic evidence to find out the who, what, how and sometimes why of crime solving. The show has been on for 10 years. Has delved into pretty seedy subjects; death of prostitutes, the elderly, people used as art, and most disturbing to me, death of children. These scientists have to be on their game, go toe to toe with some people and to be strong enough to deal with suspects, other scientists and even the police. And to have women doing it, proving that police/science is not just mans work is a plus.
So when a show has someone like Catherine Willows. Now CSI Supervisor since her boss Gil Grissom left the show last year, what a better way to prove that police/science isn't a man's job. That a woman can do it all, be a mother, a lover and a strong female lead. Well unfortunately, in the 10th season of CSI, Catherine Willows sort of fell into one of two categories, the bitch or the babe.
Don't get me wrong, Catherine is one of my now ALL TIME favorite characters on the show. She was proving she could do it all. Be a mother to a stubborn young teenager, have a job that her boss knew he could depend on her. Be a leader to the team when he left. Stand toe to toe with the police, the Undersheriff or even her own mother. And more recently, be an equal in a relationship with a detective. What better way to portray women in today's society?
But again, unfortunately, she fell into the 'babe' category. Yea, it's possible for a woman to be in a loving, committed relationship and still be good at her job. She doesn't have to flaunt the fact that she's having sex or not having sex with everyone around her. I'm really surprised that a show like CSI did that to a very strong female character. It's not like Marg isn't capable, because we all know (thanks to David Rambo, one of the show's producers, to point out that Marg Helgenberger is very capable of portraying a woman who can do it all) but she's been way to sultry to prove that she can do it all.
And when she is not sultry, she's bitchy. Which actually I haven't seen that much of. Yea, being the supervisor means making tough decisions. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to ponder the options, you just DO. Something Catherine is very capable of. And and being a good supervisor doesn't mean being a bitch either. Again, I don't see the bitch part as much as the very sultry, sexual part of her being portrayed. To me, that's showing that all Catherine is, is a lover or a bed buddy to the detective. We all know she's more than that. I wish they would show that more often.
The show does also have more than one female. Wendy Simms played by Liz Vassey who was recently let go. A fact that most people don' t like. Wendy was another strong female character. She could hold her own against the M.E. Doc. Robbins, against Grissom, Catherine and more recently against the very snarky but adorable Trace Tech, David Hodges. Yes these two were destined for a romance of sorts. A fact that Wendy didn't have to pull out the sultry card, if you will to do. He liked her for who she was. (Not to say that Vartann doesn't like Catherine for who she is, he said so himself about liking her guts...)
Wendy isn't like Catherine, she's sort of the balance in between the bitch and the babe. She is smart, and funny and can take all the snarking and give it right back. Why CSI would want to get rid of a character like that, it's beyond me.
To leave the show with one female (depending on whether Jorja Fox returns, I haven't heard yet) that CSI has put into one of two categories is just beyond me.
People tune in for a myriad of reasons. Yea, the show is about crime solving. As of late, it's also delved into the characters person lives more. Not that I mind, it just needs to stay low key. But a show like CSI had very strong female character. One's that, like I said, could stand their own, be a mother, a divorcee, a scientist, a supervisor and now a lover.
I'm questioning CSI's motives. I wonder if they think that the female viewers would rather see Catherine make eyes at her handsome detective or would they rather see her show how she is effectively doing her job?Or to see Wendy Simms do her job?I personally want to see both ladies do their jobs. THEN see each lady be a mother and a committed partner in a relationship. Or perhaps that's left to fanfiction?
So my long ramble is about finished. I'm just sort of put off by the fact that CBS/CSI has such little faith in TV viewing females. It sort of makes me sad. I'm hoping that the next season, which with be Marg's last, proves that CBS/CSI can make Catherine the effective leader and woman we want her to be. And that although they got rid of another strong female, they can show the remaining women on CSI that they too, can be a woman in a man's world.
PHEW, that took a while.
Rant over.. goodnight! or GOOD DAY!