For HBO non-subscribers like me, FX is a godsend. It's become the basic-cable haven for series that have no problems being weird, profane, misanthropic, and borderline evil. Which is why they've had the most entertaining series on TV for a number of years. Now comes word that the network has picked up a new pilot called 4 oz., which was created by Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy and produced by Brad Pitt.The basic premise is this: it's a drama that traces the life of a sportswriter who is the married father of two teenage boys. He also happens to be a transsexual, and the show will follow the long process he goes through to become a woman. According to Cynopsis, Murphy hopes this storyline to play out over five years.
When I saw this description, my first reaction was "HAHAHAHAHAHA," but then I realized it would be a drama. Knowing how harrowing Nip/Tuck is, I'm sure this will be quite a gripping series. I just think it would have been better as a sitcom. But I'm just a hack blogger (right, Aaron Sorkin?), so what do I know?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-27-2006 @ 2:31PM
mike said...
zzzzzzzzzz
I love nearly all f/x shows but not sure I find this too interesting.
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9-27-2006 @ 4:33PM
aphallatosis said...
Unless they cast a real transsexual there is no way this will work as a drama.
And yes if you're writing for a TV blog and you don't have HBO you are definitely a hack blogger.
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9-27-2006 @ 4:39PM
Joel Keller said...
Wow, aphallatosis, that's pretty rude. I have my reasons to not get HBO. Just because I don't watch one out of the twenty billion channels out there (albeit one with some of the best shows, but still...) doesn't make me a hack. Jeez, not everyone wants to pay $100/month for their cable, know what I mean?
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9-27-2006 @ 5:09PM
Harry said...
Right on, Joel. aphallatosis is very rude.
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9-27-2006 @ 5:24PM
Jeff said...
Actually, I think it's kind of rude to suggest that there's something inherently funny about transsexuals and that this show could only work as a sitcom. You don't see any human drama in the life of a transsexual?
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9-27-2006 @ 5:28PM
Joel Keller said...
I think the way the show's premise was phrased made me laugh. Does that mean I'm making fun of transsexuals? Not at all; there is definitely dramatic potential in the process of conversion. But the situation, done right, could also be a funny and smart sitcom, too (notice the movie Transamerica was both dramatic and funny at the same time).
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10-02-2006 @ 12:09AM
Diane Gaskill said...
I'll get to my comments on the TV show in a minute, but first
let me give you a little bit of information about myself so that
you know where I am coming from.
I am a transsexual who successfully transitioned at home
nearly three years ago (I'm still married) and also at work
(kept my job in the high tech industry). I am supported not
only by my family and my employer, but also by most of my
extended family and (literally) hundreds of non-TS friends
around the world. Last nigh (Sept 30, 2006), I attended
my 45th-year high school class reunion as the new me.
Thanks to some advance help by the women who were
running the reunion, I was accepted with little or no question
by every person there.
And yet, I have read many news articles and emails about people
whose attempts to to transition had just the opposite results.
They were often ostracized by their families, and/or lost their jobs,
homes and friends. This was very puzzling to me and I decided to
find out why my transition was so successful while so many others
are not. I wanted to know what they did differently from what I did.
I moderate two international email lists (TransFamily and VoiceTS)
totalling about 2900 TS people and some of their spouses. From
these lists and other sources, I have learned that there are an estimated
thirteen MILLION TS people in the world, with 50,000 corrective surgeries
having been completed, and 40 more each WEEK in just the USA alone.
The big surprise was that 45% of the surgeries are female-to-male.
Transition is definitly not a "guy thing."
I have studied this medical condition for 18 years, and have learned
a great deal about it and its causes. That, plus my own experience
and that of many of my list members has put me in a good position to
help others. Due to my successful transition, I am often asked to help
those who are just starting their transitions and have little or no knowledge
or guidance. Many of them have reported their progress and successes.
Now, about this new TV show...I certainly hope the writing and production
staff takes the time to do enough research to make the show at least
fairly accurate. I think they will find their audiences more interested and
accepting if they portray it as reality instead of a fictional drama such
as you see on the soap operas. I have some very solid information about
the causes of success and failure of people who transition that the staff of
this TV show might find very helpful when planning and writing it.
Diane.
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10-05-2006 @ 2:21PM
Davina said...
Being a transsexual myself, I can tell you there is tons of drama and laughter in our lives. However, I am glad they are going to do a drama. A SMART sitcom could be nice, but we have been laughted at for way too long. I am sure this show will have a witty moment or two. It is time that a drama takes a serious look at us; It takes some serious BALLS to go through this change.
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12-27-2006 @ 6:29PM
Melissa said...
Being transsexual is no laughing matter. You basically have any normalcy of a life stolen from you just because you were born in a body that is different than your brain expects. It is not a condition to be wished upon anybody. You try to grow up in the body you are given, but live a life of misery constantly knowing your body is wrong and considering suicide as a way to escape the misery. Transitioning is only an attempt to take back what nature robbed you of and what should have been yours from the very beginning. It is far different from the popular misconception that transsexuals suddenly "decide" to change. The revelation is really learning that there is another option besides suicide.
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