An Outsider's Look at "A Man From The Inside,"

 

1.       Just how much TV needs to be made to convince boomer fixtures like Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer, they’ve still got it? (Even if I thought they did, which, not exactly. I’ve seen a lot of Cheers for not really liking it, though, and it doesn’t really hold up once you’re old enough that hearing the word “horny” doesn’t make you feel naughty.) It’s not really about them, so much as the sense from the industry that there are, tops, maybe 100 people that America still wants to look at. It’s frustrating, even when you didn’t really have the hope of being one of them or seeing yourself in one of them…who’s better out there that we’re not seeing to give him this?

2.      Even at his best, Danson isn’t exactly one of those chameleon actors like David Straithairn or Toni Collette. I mean, to me, he’s just “Kind Of” guy. Kind of attractive, got decent timing, doesn’t make you feel things that are too intense for you to get your full eight hours…which, okay, I’m too much of a sitcom junkie not to occasionally understand this appeal (or watch Danson crab on “Becker” repeats) but maybe he’s too famous to pull off some other character who’s grief-stricken and adorably befuddled. I’m not sure if it’s Danson or the writing, but somebody is reaching *so hard* for adorable that  instead of my feeling touched, I’m more irritated.

3.      Is there assisted-living out there that’s really that free and fun? I kind of hope so, but I don’t really believe it (Or think maybe to get that kind of respect and attention, you’d have to be richer than God.  Which, I’m sorry, is an issue for someone like me watching this.  Let’s not trivialize exploiting elders to make everything madcap, all right? I mean, I wish it could be fun for everybody, but I doubt it. Also, they are never short-staffed?  I call bullshit.)

4.      I know this thing has a good heart in the right place (sincerely loving the NorCal locations) and maybe it’s some contrarian-bitch instinct that makes me resent this show so much. But I don’t feel as bad about that, even if it’s true.   America’s general instincts…aren’t making me feel all that great, right now. Also, as any troll might tell you, nothing like a bit of disgust to make a lady’s keyboard start tapping, much as I wish love did the same.

5.      A doctor that tells you to be positive, that you have a lot to live for? Another fantasy element.

6.      Corporate ownership and consolidation in medical facilities is a real issue—the answer isn’t staff going into their pockets for salt shakers.