Won't You Take Me To (Or Away From) Cougar Town?

Day 33: Everybody's working for the weekend...

I have been following a discussion on Facebook about the tv show "Cougar Town," starring Courtney Cox. (With a particular nod to Lovey for her very insightful thoughts.) After commenting on the subject on FB, it struck me that "Cougar Town" might be a good topic for today's post...

Without getting too repetitive for those who may have seen my earlier comment, I will admit to having found it amusing. Is it great literature? Will it be remembered for ages to come? Will Courtney even list it on her resume? A resounding and emphatic "hell, no" to all three. It's a fun little diversion best served with a couple of drinks and some popcorn.

Probing deeper, however, I do completely understand how it could be off-putting and even offensive to women, particularly those in the age group represented by the main character. From a male perspective, however, my main argument is with the completely erroneous image it projects about 40-something women. To portray them as desperate, grasping hags-on-the-rise who are so starved for affection they resort to chasing high school students is absurd. Unless I have been injected with some sort of sight-altering potion, there are about a bajillion extremely sexy, desirable, any-man-would-be-lucky-to-have-them 40-and-older women out there. Courtney Cox, for example, is (in my opinion) infinitely more attractive than she was in the "Friends" era.

Our national obsession with youth is creating a culture which blindly accepts 40 as "old." Nothing could be farther from the truth. I do not pretend to speak for my gender, but I would be very shocked if most men with the brains God gave a turnip would disagree. Yes, the 22-year-old cupcake in Maxim is pretty, but would you REALLY be attracted to her in person? Wouldn't a grown woman with life experience and an IQ be much sexier? I certainly think so.

Sexy, like so many other qualities is completely subjective. The writers of "Cougar Town" could accept this and open up the storyline to include a much broader base of experiences, while still staying true to the show's title. Sure, have the occasional fling with a boy toy, if it works for the character. Why not, however, add a plotline with a couple-of-a-certain-age working well and loving each other? I know that isn't as exciting to some, but it would add some much-needed texture to the show. Retread "Sex And The City" jokes are only going to carry them so far.

Yes, it's completely off-base and insular with respect (or lack thereof) to adult women who can actually buy alcohol and vote. That view will eventually wreck the show if a broader vision is not included soon. A one-trick pony show won't run after everyone in town has seen the trick, especially if the trick isn't remotely accurate. (OK, the metaphor broke down, but you get the point...)

I did find the libidinous teenager stealing the signs hysterical.

In today's News From The Motherland...an impromptu drive in window.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8274635.stm

Cheers!
FLT3