Emily Nussbaum has a Pulitzer Prize for writing about television and why shouldnt she?
(Nussbaum creditsBuffy the Vampire Slayerfor inspiring her to become a TV critic.)
(I Like to Watchis available now.)
Credit: Thos Robinson/Getty Images; Random House
The main thing is they had to serve the argument the book is making.
Its an anthology, but its also structured around this particular argument and idea that Im making about television.
Some TV showsarenovelistic, but being novelistic doesnt make it a better TV show.
I want to talk to you a little bit about series finales.
You write about two very polarizing finales in your book LostandThe Sopranos.
How come?Even a takedown is a way of saying, I expect more from TV.
Its a pretty harsh review.
I also cant think its a little unusual.
I think the tricky thing about TV as a critic in general is, what are you judging?
The last season ofDexterdoes not alter the first four seasons ofDexter.
But Im not still mad aboutLost.
In the fullness of time, I have a lot of affection forLost.
Why do you think TV loves to kill women?
[Laughs] What a crazy question to answer!
I dont think its just TV.
I think this culture and certain kinds of art love to kill women.
And I write about this a little bit in the [books]SVUpiece.
And yet I think theres something to the junkiness that is actually what makes it interesting.
Im not against violent television.
Ive long told people thatBig Brotheris my sports.
Youre also aBig Brotherfan, right?I was watching the first season ofBig Brotheras a web watcher.
After that [season], they sensibly changed it so that people would vote one another out.
I thinkThe Bacheloris pretty messed-up, misogynist show.
Its not that I find it unwatchable, but I do see what you mean.
And I guess that there is.
I personally loveThe Bachelor, Ive watched every season and every spin-off.
And by the way, Im not a person whos never watchedThe Bachelor.
Jesus, I watchedJoe Millionairewhen it was on.
I like a lot of the parodies of those shows.
[laughs] I cant really explain my response toThe Bachelor…
This actually makes me want to re-engage with it.
That was created byCosby.
Its a real example of a hit show that understandably people feel disgusted and distressed by.
I write in that piece about [Louis C.K.s series]Louie.
It would be extremely dishonest for me to act like it wasnt true.
Thats why I wrote it.
I wouldve written three to four other shorter essays had that not been the case.
I dont like the chiding quality, and it seems simplistic to me.
I learned a lot from that conversation on Twitter, which got a little fiery at times.
It had lesbian characters on it, that was a rarity.
It showed a lesbian wedding.
It showed two women raising a kid together.
And that makes complete sense to me.
I miss that show, Emily.
Has any good-bad show filled theNashville-sized hole in your heart?Awwww,Nashville!
I used to talk aboutNashvilleonline specifically as an addiction, like, ImNashvilleclean.
And I was like, Its happening!
My favorite genres are all merging with one another!
The glory time has arrived!
Do you have a [good-bad] show that you would recommend?
Thats the one with, um, whats her name, Renee Zellweger?
I dont know if you ever watchedRevengeOh, I watchedRevenge!
It was perpetually on my Revengenda!
[laughs]
Its from that creator.
So it can just burn rubber through the absolutely crazy, fast-paced, high-concept soap stuff.
Its also really weirdly cheap-looking.
There are just all these contradictions about it that are just fascinating.Now Im excited.
Help Renee Zellweger get a new porch.
