Desperate Housewives Upcoming Storyline

[JeffInNYC]

ok, if you did not see last Sundays episode and dont want to know any surprise twists and turns, then stop reading here.
So sorry - this is how I should have presented this topic to begin with and I didnt mean to ruin it for anyone who hadnt viewed the episode yet. 




ok the last we saw on Desperate Housewives, we learned that the character of Lynette may have lymphoma.  Now I know "its just a tv show", but Im hoping the writers use this opportunity to realistically portray what a person in this situation has to endure and the overall impact it has on the family as a whole.  The writers have a good opportunity here to do some good and raise awareness - hope they dont blow it.

[bocker3]

First, I have to say that I love watching Desperate Housewives, but I have to ask this question.

Why would anyone expect this show to reflect any type of reality??  It is a soap opera -- people watch to escape life.  While I agree that it would be great if they decided to educate the public, I think you are expecting way too much.  Fictional TV shows are created to earn marketing dollars (and a little bit to entertain -- but really only so that you keep watching so that the network can get more marketing dollars).  Fictional TV shows are not created to educated the public.

Mike

Edited to add:  By the way -- the title of your post would have really ticked me off if I hadn't just watched Sunday's episode last night -- I usually TiVo the show and watch late in the week -- so try not to give spoilers aways in a post's subject!

[Ann]

Edited to add:  By the way -- the title of your post would have really ticked me off if I hadn't just watched Sunday's episode last night -- I usually TiVo the show and watch late in the week -- so try not to give spoilers aways in a post's subject!

Jeff, I haven't seen this episode so your spoiler title DID piss ME off! We're a season behind the US. 

Ann

[Robert]

Jeff.

I haven't seen the show either.  But that's OK.  Desparate Housewives is one of those shows I miss the first time around.  By the time I get around to watching it this summer during the reruns, I will have completely forgotten what you're talking about.

robert

[JeffInNYC]

Why would anyone expect this show to reflect any type of reality??  It is a soap opera -- people watch to escape life.  While I agree that it would be great if they decided to educate the public, I think you are expecting way too much.  Fictional TV shows are created to earn marketing dollars (and a little bit to entertain -- but really only so that you keep watching so that the network can get more marketing dollars).  Fictional TV shows are not created to educated the public.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Youre right I am expecting too much...its just that Lynette is the most "real" of the housewives...SUsan is becoming a joke and I dont take Gaby seriously.  Bree, though I like her, is almost a caricature. Lynette is real and the actress has good acting chops and can pull a storyling like this off.  I know this show is meant to be entertaining with some comedy in it, but if the writers are great, they can portray somewhat realistically how something like this can either pull a family closer together or tear them apart.  Given the creative slump and the recent ratings decline for this show, Im hoping the show will get back on track.

About 20 years ago, "Dallas", another over the top soap, tackled Downs Syndrome and they did a great job with the storyline and got some critical acclaim.  However, that was the infamous "dream season", so that storyline never actually happened.

By the way, sorry again for the spoiler in the title.