I watched a new sitcom this week on CBS, called Two Broke Girls. The reasons why I didn’t like this show could fill a book, not the least of which is how it portrays women and how it portrays horses. In my opinion, the show does a great disservice to both.
The story line involves a very rich and privileged perky blonde whose father is in jail due to white collar crime and she loses everything and is suddenly broke and waiting tables. She moves in with another server—a buxom rough-cut brunette. Turns out the rich girl had a show horse, which she could not part with so the horse lives in the back yard of their apartment, hanging his head into the kitchen whenever he wants a cookie, reminiscent of Mr. Ed, although he does not talk.
The show is predictably full of sexual innuendo and while there is some clever writing, I just can’t get past the stupidity of the premise of the show. The women are portrayed as idiots and loose and trashy. I used to wait tables—you actually have to be smart, organized and have good people skills. But my biggest objection is how the horse is portrayed.
For starters, the horse’s name is “Chestnut.” A particularly clever and creative name, since the horse is bay in color. That was my first clue that the writers, producers and actors know absolutely nothing about horses. You’d think maybe they’d hire a consultant. But when it comes to horses, most people don’t know what they don’t know.
So it’s no great surprise that the horse is in the back yard of their tiny apartment and that they think they are doing the horse a big favor keeping him there. Now I seriously doubt that someone will watch this show and rush out and acquire a horse to live in their back yard, without any thought to his physical and emotional needs. But I just hate it when horses are portrayed this way.
These days, with critical numbers of unwanted horses in this country, the last thing we need is for the average person to think of horses as pets. They are not pets and horse ownership involves a higher level of skill, knowledge and responsibility than owning a pet.
While I appreciate a good laugh on TV and I realize that even reality shows do not portray real life, I think I’ll stay away from this show. Have you seen it? What did you think?
Enjoy the ride!
Julie
I haven't seen the show, but TV in general stinks these days. There are too many reality crap shows, and everything is about sex, money, and drama. I am teacher. It's sad that so many children try to imitate the things they see. :(
ReplyDelete...had not heard of it and now with your review, I don't need to. Thanks! One movie I am waiting for and hoping lives up to the hoopla is "War Horse".
ReplyDeleteI have seen the show and have wondered where she purchased a show horse that apparently does not poop nor need to eat.
ReplyDelete-Katrina
Haven't watched the show, sure won't now! It's very hard to get non-horse people to understand there's a big difference between pets and livestock, and that horses are definitely the latter rather than the former! This show sounds like it isn't going to help, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI found the fact that the horse was kept outside of the back door kind of humorous. Chestnut has since gone on to live somewhere suited to horses -- a few episodes back. I enjoy watching the show -- but that's just me -- I like Family Guy too -- mindless, I know, but it makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the show Julie! I tried to give it a chance, but couldn't get past the 2nd episode. It just isn't funny. I also agree with you that owning a horse is a great responsibility. Your post reminds me of the videos on youtube.com about boarding and lessons (they are computer generated). While hysterical, the sad thing is that I have heard almost everything that they parody come out of people's mouths all through my years of working with horses. Owning a horse is a privilege, not a right and those who are truly "horse people" understand this. Thank you for your post Julie! Hope you, your family, your equine friends, and other animals have a great holiday season!
ReplyDelete~ Hillary, SC
Julie, my daughter-in-law told me about this show, but she also said "you probably wouldn't like it" when she told me about the horse in the backyard of the apartment building. She did say she thought they'd gone far enough with that particular storyline and it had become kind of dumb. I haven't watched it,but I'd say you're right on the money.I'm so tired of lame tv shows, there aren't too many I watch anyway. I very much agree with you about people thinking they can just plop a horse in a side yard or a back yard and then go pet it and feed it. I'm always trying to educate people about horses and what it takes to own/care for them. I've realized, most people have no clue.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I agree with you about this TV show- it's terrible! And the portrayal of the horse is unthinkable! Hopefully, the show won't last long. On a related topic, I hope to see the movie War Horse. The trailers look interesting to me and the storyline seems very noble- searching for a special horse that was taken to be used during wartime.
ReplyDelete