Cross posted at The Smoking Room
Hollywood’s use of marijuana in plot lines seems to be increasing, used regularly in several shows on basic and premium cable, and less so on Fox. There’s a groundswell of opposition from middle America on this issue…er, kinda:
Hollywood’s embellishment of marijuana use is “irresponsible,” says Tom Riley of the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Shows that tacitly approve of pot-smoking, particularly comedies, may exacerbate its use, says Steve Dnistrian of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. “These are trendsetting shows. They affect behavior and attitudes, particularly teens. When glamorization of drugs has climbed, changes in teen attitudes followed.”
I’m trying to think of more than an hour of continuous TV I’ve seen that didn’t contain at least one anti-drug ad. These very well-funded, government-approved groups aren’t hurting for lack of visibility. I think the shows’ producers and actors make a good argument:
But actor Jerry Ferrara, Entourage‘s pot-loving Turtle, says it’s the drug of choice among twentysomethings. “The show doesn’t condone it, but there’s definitely a lot of accuracy in how it’s used,” he says.
Over There co-creator and executive producer Chris Gerolmo says the show’s depiction of pot use is not an endorsement. Still, Gerolmo says “drug use is certainly part of life in the Army.”
Weeds creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan says the series won’t advocate drug use and doubts it will influence marijuana consumption. “We’re presenting this as something that’s everywhere and cuts across political, ethnic and religious lines.”
Critics are also missing a salient factor: All but one or two of these shows are not broadcast, restricted to those paying $35-100 a month for the privilege of watching violence, sex and coarse language, sometimes with their kids. Part of their appeal is surely that it reminds both parents and kids of their real lives. A very traditional but “hip” mother of a friend told me once she didn’t want to see reality in entertainment, preferring the make-believe world of cartoons with her kids. Fine with me. But feds, please don’t assume we’re all like her.
Oh, and how clueless do you have to be to call Bob Saget “squeaky clean,” as some copy editor captioned the story pic? If you’ve ever heard his stand-up or appearances on talk shows – basically, anything not “Full House” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” – you’d know he’s the “filthiest comic in America,” as Penn Jillette of “Penn & Teller” fame told NPR in an interview on the new stand-up documentary “The Aristocrats.”
(By the way, my blog isn’t called “The Smoking Room” because I puff the wacky, or any other kind of, tobaccy. Frankly I can’t stand the smell of pot, which is overpowering at concerts I attend.)
I’m a tech journalist who’s making a TV show about a college newspaper.