DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS
Ah, the wonders of digital technology. As soon as the lines were uttered by Susan, sound-bites started streaming on to cyberspace. Perhaps realizing the many possible repercussions of having a "racist" television show, ABC buckled down from pressure and issued an apology. One would think that was the end of this brouhaha.
I have not seen a single episode of Desperate Housewives and until I saw the clip on YouTube a few days ago I never really understood what the clamor for an apology was about. I guess I was fortunate not to see the show's premiere episode, or I would have been at the receiving end of a knockout punch-line.
It is easy to lose perspective entirely if we don't keep rein on our feelings. Valid points were raised, of course. And why not. The charges weren't entirely unfounded. However, freewheeling emotions obviously had driven a big number out of the 120 thousand to sign the online petition. One only has to read the many off-color comments to realize that the tables have turned and that, more importantly, racism exists in many colors in high definition -- brown even.
Watching the YouTube clip repeatedly had given me a broader understanding how and why things have panned out the way they did -- most of the petitioners never really looked beyond the 3 by 3 screen, nobody clicked the pause.
And so the plot thickens. Not contented with just an apology, demands had since become unrealistic. Infamy must be really inebriating. Meanwhile, the clowns in the Philippines had joined the show.
I'm sure this story -- drama or comedy is a matter of perspective -- won't get past first season. When the credits roll, one lesson will have been learned: The hasty tongue-lashing ABC had received was as much a desperate attempt for every petitioner's and some Philippine official's shot at 15 minutes of fame as Susan's slip-of-the-tongue a desperate attempt for Teri Hatcher's second shot at B-superstardom.