Why Hollywood pisses me off
I'm a big fan of the show NUMB3RS, but every now and then they do something that completely destroys my ability to give my suspension of disbelief. The pilot show started off with one such example. The FBI was trying to figure out a series of murders, so out of nowhere the investigator's brother suggests using mathematics to determine if there are a series of connections between murders. Why this bothered me back then was because the FBI already does this. So does every police department that isn't run by Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason in the greatest role of his life).
But what bothered me was a plot point that has been growing this season. Charlie, the mathematician, submitted his old work (when he was young...um, how old is this guy anyway, as he still seems like he's about 25) on relationship dynamics involving game theory. Fine. I can live with that. Then the story decides that out of nowhere he gets a publisher (on the first try). Then it gets published, and he's already becoming a rock star of the literary world with his ground breaking mathematics that involves...(wait for it)...taking a cost benefit analysis using game theory to decide if your future mate is worthy of continuing your attention. Or something trite like that.
But what bugs me is that he's already got rock star groupies showing up to his book signings, and the very first book he ever wrote has JUST hit the shelves. While this is fiction, it drives some people completely nuts, specifically people like me who have been struggling to be a successful author for MANY years, where selling a few books is a challenge, and I have yet to run into a groupie at a book signing, nor any book signings where people actually showed up.
When they do these sorts of stories, they give the impression that success is really that easy, which immediately causes those around me to ask me why I'm still taking so long to be successful. We're held to standards that aren't real, and it drives me nuts. Especially when it happens on shows that I really like.
Stumble It!
But what bothered me was a plot point that has been growing this season. Charlie, the mathematician, submitted his old work (when he was young...um, how old is this guy anyway, as he still seems like he's about 25) on relationship dynamics involving game theory. Fine. I can live with that. Then the story decides that out of nowhere he gets a publisher (on the first try). Then it gets published, and he's already becoming a rock star of the literary world with his ground breaking mathematics that involves...(wait for it)...taking a cost benefit analysis using game theory to decide if your future mate is worthy of continuing your attention. Or something trite like that.
But what bugs me is that he's already got rock star groupies showing up to his book signings, and the very first book he ever wrote has JUST hit the shelves. While this is fiction, it drives some people completely nuts, specifically people like me who have been struggling to be a successful author for MANY years, where selling a few books is a challenge, and I have yet to run into a groupie at a book signing, nor any book signings where people actually showed up.
When they do these sorts of stories, they give the impression that success is really that easy, which immediately causes those around me to ask me why I'm still taking so long to be successful. We're held to standards that aren't real, and it drives me nuts. Especially when it happens on shows that I really like.
Labels: Game Theory, Television, Writing
Stumble It!
posted by Duane @ 8:44 AM
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