Despite observations that we are currently experiencing the ‘death of TV’, television shows no sign of giving up the ghost to newer media. The ubiquitous presence of TV—in our living rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens—demands critical attention. This class will use a variety of approaches to assess the material, rhetorical, and cultural impact of a medium that many people seem eager to dismiss. But is it? Why do people continue to tune in? How has television adapted to the new media environment? What does the future of TV look like? This blog will consider all these questions and more.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Not Hard


Have you ever had the burden and embarrassment of everyone around you knowing you had an enormous dick? Yeah, neither have I, but RJ Berger has.

MTV's newest program, the Hard Times of RJ Berger, chronicles the life of a classically nerdy guy that goes through an unfortunate accident that reveals his GIANT secret. The show brought in an astonishing 4.3 million viewers Sunday night following the MTV Movie Awards. Although the network is more known for the shows we love to hate, this show is kinda, maybe, a little cute. And by cute I mean full of vulgar language I haven't heard since the summer I lived next door to a select few CU football athletes. This particular show takes the network in another direction that we have become accustomed to (and grew up on).

The series premier has scenes that I'm sure my mother would get mad at me for talking about. Getting caught masturbating, hearing parents talk sexual innuendos, hearing parents have sex and an anime sex scene involving the giant dick and the Heimlich maneuver are a few things that make the premier episode something you can't stop watching. RJ is someone the viewers either want to cheer on or someone they can relate to themselves. The final narrated line of the show pretty much sums up the upcoming series; "Nature made me awkward, scrawny and pale. But it also gave me a gift, and I'm going to use it." The previews for the next few episodes involve RJ and a Bible study group as well as the continuation of being study partners with the hottest (and newly single) girl at the small high school.

The question coming to my mind (and I'll just assume your mind too) is why I, especially as a female, would be interested in watching a show about how to deal with a giant dick. Well, I don't really have an answer to that. The show was a little funny, but mostly it was mundane and uncreative. How many other shows (or movies) have you seen about the underdog pulling through in the end? Too many, even too many on the same network. Sure the language was funny (when I caught it) but we don't want another hamburger phone on our hands since that got old quick.
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2 comments:

  1. GZabkaJune 11, 2010 at 5:36 PM

    While I wasn't one of the viewers, this sounds like pure MTV/VH1 classiness. I suppose I should be surprised about what people talk about on TV these days, but I'm not. The trend was probably started by MTV and with this show it sounds like they keep that trend going strong.

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  2. MeghanJune 14, 2010 at 9:08 AM

    I (accidentally) caught part of this show when it premiered. I completely agree with your review -- the show is based on a somewhat interesting idea, but it's nothing special. Unless they come up with a more substantial plot line and some original humor, this show is going to get old very fast.

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