Fairy Godmothers.

I'm fairly certain modern dramas can't have happy endings.

Or happy middles, and definitely not happy beginnings--though the beginnings are probably the closest. Where are the smiles? Where's the feel-good? Why is it that when I watch a TV drama, I get to see a slow, steady slide into a sewer of bad relationships, addiction, insanity and death? Are there no freaking heroes?

Okay, setting today's minor rant off is Rescue Me, with Denis Leary. I like Hulu.com--it's great. I don't have normal TV service or cable, so it's nice to be able to actually watch TV with the good ole' 'net. I know know I probably shouldn't expect shiny happiness from Leary--that's not his style, it never really was, and that's fine--he's good at what he does, which is pretty much make regular guys feel good about their lives. That has to be the draw for the show. I like the show--at least, I keep clicking on the next episode. Maybe I don't like the show, and I keep hoping for something good to happen to one of (God forbid) more of the main characters. Or supporting cast. Or bit characters. Or extras. Or animals. Please, anything but a Nine-Inch -Nails perfect downward spiral.

Maybe I need happy endings. I know I tend to empathize too much with main characters of shows. I'm that guy who can barely stay in the room if he knows the lead is about to do somethings embarrassingly stupid, even in comedies, where that's the gag. I don't know, maybe I should start watching older shows--buddy cop shows, something with little to no continuity and where all the problems get wrapped up in around 22 minutes. It just seems that -those- shows are too simple, don't portray anything like real people...

I know real people can have happy moments. Maybe someone should inform some writers.

~j