We Love Our TV Sociopaths
My new favorite show is "Lie to Me" on Fox. I know Tim Roth has done a lot of stuff in his career, most notably "Reservoir Dogs", but I seriously cannot recall seeing him in anything else. Anyway, I think his character, Dr. Lightman is awesome, mostly because he is yet another eccentric genius who in theory should really piss you off but you can't help loving the guy. There's been a LOT of these guys on television lately. Their acerbic, slashing wit makes their fictional co-workers cringe and you the viewer laugh your ass off. You enjoy how he plucks the answer to the mystery out of thin air but you still can't help but question his sanity.
Welcome to the Age of the Sociopathic Genius on TV.
Dr. Lightman is just the latest example. He has devoted his life to studying the science of body language and can spot someone lying from 50 paces if they rub their neck or commit a "facial shrug". And he's not ashamed to rub it in your face that he got it right. This guy told his teenage daughter he wouldn't be sneaky and try to find out if her date wanted to sleep with her... then he answered the door and ASKED HIM DIRECTLY.
Fox is the home of the sociopathic genius, both fictional and real-life. Let's run down the Fox lineup and look at the similarities:
Dr. Lightman: Presumably British since he speaks with a British accent. Renowned expert when it comes to people who are lying. Can't stand his co-workers or people who understand body language naturally. Drives his co-workers batty but (at least so far) always gets his man.
Gordon Ramsey ("Hell's Kitchen"/"Kitchen Nightmares"): British. Renowned expert chef/restauranteur. Can't stand ANYONE. Drives everyone batty but viewers love him for it.
Dr. House: Not British (but played by a British actor). Renowned expert in all things medical (at least in his own mind, anyway). Can't stand anyone. Drives his co-workers batty but manages to more often than not save the patient's life.
Simon Cowell ("American Idol"): British. Renowned music expert. Can't stand bad singers, Ryan Seacrest, and Paula Abdul most of the time. Drives his fellow judges batty, gets booed at least once a show, but people respect his star-making ability (just ask Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks).
Dr. Walter Bishop ("Fringe"): Not British (but played by an Aussie). Renowned expert in all things weird. Nice enough fella, really doesn't get bothered by anyone. Still manages to drive his co-workers batty (ESPECIALLY his son), but always finds the reason for the weird phenomena that for whatever reason seems to only happen around Boston.
Jack Bauer ("24"): Definitely not British. Renowned expert in all things anti-terrorism and kicking ass. Can't stand pretty much anyone who gets in his way. Drives any and all authority figures batty but always saves the country.
OK, maybe that last one was a stretch but close enough. For good measure, throw in the numerical experts on CBS' "Numbers" and our favorite serial killer turned crime-fighter, "Dexter". In recent years, we the viewing public (and critics as well) have proven that we enjoy the "flawed hero", the best examples being Tony Soprano and "Mad Men"'s Don Draper. But this goes beyond "flawed hero" and goes straight to "lovable wackjob". I don't know if anyone else has isolated this pop culture trend, but I just find it interesting. It may be getting close to becoming cliched, but let's hope that for now, these shows continue to pump out quality episodes.
That's really what it comes down to, the fact that these shows that feature heroes who live outside societal norms draw great writers and producers. These guys are able to mine these lead characters and find ways to develop them as people as they continue to save the day week after week. The mere fact that some of these people are real people makes them more lovable, but even the fictional dramas retain just enough of a kernel of possibility that even though we couldn't believe people like House, Bishop, and Lightman would exist in real life, we know that if they were needed in real life, we'd wish they did exist.
And now, apropos of nothing, but the Big Game is tomorrow and I have to drop a prediction on you all, so I will remind you that I am 13-8 lifetime with my S**** B*** picks (13-4 if you don't count the 4 Buffalo Bills losses), and I will tell you that Pittsburgh will win, 27-24.
Welcome to the Age of the Sociopathic Genius on TV.
Dr. Lightman is just the latest example. He has devoted his life to studying the science of body language and can spot someone lying from 50 paces if they rub their neck or commit a "facial shrug". And he's not ashamed to rub it in your face that he got it right. This guy told his teenage daughter he wouldn't be sneaky and try to find out if her date wanted to sleep with her... then he answered the door and ASKED HIM DIRECTLY.
Fox is the home of the sociopathic genius, both fictional and real-life. Let's run down the Fox lineup and look at the similarities:
Dr. Lightman: Presumably British since he speaks with a British accent. Renowned expert when it comes to people who are lying. Can't stand his co-workers or people who understand body language naturally. Drives his co-workers batty but (at least so far) always gets his man.
Gordon Ramsey ("Hell's Kitchen"/"Kitchen Nightmares"): British. Renowned expert chef/restauranteur. Can't stand ANYONE. Drives everyone batty but viewers love him for it.
Dr. House: Not British (but played by a British actor). Renowned expert in all things medical (at least in his own mind, anyway). Can't stand anyone. Drives his co-workers batty but manages to more often than not save the patient's life.
Simon Cowell ("American Idol"): British. Renowned music expert. Can't stand bad singers, Ryan Seacrest, and Paula Abdul most of the time. Drives his fellow judges batty, gets booed at least once a show, but people respect his star-making ability (just ask Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks).
Dr. Walter Bishop ("Fringe"): Not British (but played by an Aussie). Renowned expert in all things weird. Nice enough fella, really doesn't get bothered by anyone. Still manages to drive his co-workers batty (ESPECIALLY his son), but always finds the reason for the weird phenomena that for whatever reason seems to only happen around Boston.
Jack Bauer ("24"): Definitely not British. Renowned expert in all things anti-terrorism and kicking ass. Can't stand pretty much anyone who gets in his way. Drives any and all authority figures batty but always saves the country.
OK, maybe that last one was a stretch but close enough. For good measure, throw in the numerical experts on CBS' "Numbers" and our favorite serial killer turned crime-fighter, "Dexter". In recent years, we the viewing public (and critics as well) have proven that we enjoy the "flawed hero", the best examples being Tony Soprano and "Mad Men"'s Don Draper. But this goes beyond "flawed hero" and goes straight to "lovable wackjob". I don't know if anyone else has isolated this pop culture trend, but I just find it interesting. It may be getting close to becoming cliched, but let's hope that for now, these shows continue to pump out quality episodes.
That's really what it comes down to, the fact that these shows that feature heroes who live outside societal norms draw great writers and producers. These guys are able to mine these lead characters and find ways to develop them as people as they continue to save the day week after week. The mere fact that some of these people are real people makes them more lovable, but even the fictional dramas retain just enough of a kernel of possibility that even though we couldn't believe people like House, Bishop, and Lightman would exist in real life, we know that if they were needed in real life, we'd wish they did exist.
And now, apropos of nothing, but the Big Game is tomorrow and I have to drop a prediction on you all, so I will remind you that I am 13-8 lifetime with my S**** B*** picks (13-4 if you don't count the 4 Buffalo Bills losses), and I will tell you that Pittsburgh will win, 27-24.
Labels: television
posted by Dave | 7:56 PM
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