Desperate Are We?

In this recent season of Desperate Housewives, there has been an addition to the cast, Vanessa Williams.  After Williams’ axe on Ugly Betty, she quickly came into another on-going job, and from what I’ve seen, she fits.  I don’t watch the show very often, I snag a view or two if my roommates are watching it, but what do these shows mean?  And, what does it mean when a television show adds on a black actress after 7 seasons?

I watched Desperate Housewives when it first came out, when I was 13?  A time before feminism, women’s, racial minorities issues came into my head and heart.  Now this plague has expanded to films, “reality” television shows, and satires.  What does it all mean? We are taking a 1950s house mom, sexing her up, strapping some high heels on her and walking into an economic frenzy that feeds patriarchy’s wallet.  This is not a new issue, however, it sure lingers.  What do viewers take from this television show?  That women should be desperate with our money, men, women, friends, children, and occupations.

When I do catch a glimpse or two of this show, I see a mother hiding snacks from her overweight daughter not because of her health, but for her attractiveness.  I see a wife being once again black mailed by her estranged husband.  A single woman staging an attempted suicide because a man does not love her.  Cat fights breaking out because of another woman stole an internet bit of a vacuum sucking off her night gown.

I see why I no longer watch it…

Now, why the addition of a black actress?  I do commend Desperate for placing a Hispanic woman on its show, and have made it long lasting.  Correct me if I am wrong, but has there been a long-lasting black woman or family, other than that black family who locked one of their sons in the basement?  And, if that is not enough, placing stereotypes on certain racial group, then I don’t know what is.  I do like Vanessa Williams, she brings in some sass.  But is the network expanding to more viewers of different ethnicities?  I think so.   Though the show is horrific on displaying values of women, I am glad they have some color.  Now, we just need an Asian, American Indian, Indian, Hawaiian, etc. etc.

BUT maybe we don’t need to.  Maybe its best to keep it to a full white cast.  Why do I say that?  To not have this fucking plague affect anymore groups.  White dumb asses have placed this on themselves, lets not bring others down in shame with it.

And The Real Housewives of (insert city) are no better, and display horrible representations of women.  These Bravo, money-making shows have hit both the white and black population from Atlanta and DC to Orange County and NY.  A mockery of women who some have made their fortune while others mooch.  As soon as women can make it to television on their own, with the entire show focused on women, we fuck it up.  Television shows for women, about women, predominately about women leaves us, after every hour of viewing, desperate.