Hubba was very much looking forward to watching the new version of the TV Series, Ironside. He was a big fan of the old series and is a fan of Blair Underwood.
I don't think I ever saw the old series and I'm generally not one for Cop Dramas... at least not the CSI/NCIS/Law&Order franchises. I may be the only one who's not a fan of those shows... but I could never watch even one entire episode.... the dialog just drives me nuts.
But Hubba really wanted to watch Ironside. So we did last week. I'm not sure if it was the first or second episode.
I find it interesting because some of the people we know are very upset that an able-bodied person was cast in the role of a wheelchair user. It's not something that either one of us thought about, and certainly don't see any issue with it.
We see it as a positive... a lead role uses a wheelchair, during prime time, on network TV, and is being played by a very, good actor. The chair is part of the story, but it is not THE story.
Mr. Underwood's chair skills are very good. He does not seem awkward... and as he says, the character "wears the chair" just like able-bodied folks wear shoes.
The dialog was better than I expected, the character development is still immature and in my opinion they left some of the cop stuff out in order to spend more time on the "life in and before the chair."
I'm optimistic.
My opinion is that if this show does well, then there will be (1) more awareness of people in chairs, (2) some understanding of the obstacles they face, (3) that most people who use chairs are not invalids or helpless and (4) they are productive members of society.
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5 comments:
Good for you and well said. Both my daughter and her husband are in chairs...I will ask them their opinions on the subject.
My beef with any chair user on TV, Glee, for example, is that it is NEVER mentioned that the Chair User must have get off the chair and onto a water or air bed every few hours in order that pressure sores don't develop. That is most of the concern with chair users. Greer, I am through now😡
Well, I must admit I was intrigued by your post's title and thus read it. I was a big fan of the original series (love those b&w syndicated stuff) but not because he was in a wheelchair, but because I loved the legal stuff when I watched it as a kid.
However, while I too like Blair Underwood, I do not think I can sit through even one episode of the remake ... precisely because it's a remake. :) Oh well.
Btw, have you seen a recent beer ad (I think it's Heinekein, but am not certain) that features a game of basketball among friends with both able-bodied and a wheelchair participant? The focus is on the friendship, not the chair.
@VdV - I had not seen it... very cool.... BTW, it's Guinness. http://youtu.be/xwndLOKQTDs Probably worth it's own post. :-)
@Nancy - it really depends on the level of injury, how much feeling is present and the quality of cushion being used. We have had our "adventures" with Pressure Sores, but don't have to go thru a routine at that level. I'm sure they are, but just in case, are your kids aware of the Roho cushion? Expensive, not very durable, insurance generally doesn't cover a backup, but definitely worth the price.
http://www.therohostore.com/Default.aspx
Kathryn, yes they have Rohos. Both have spina bifida.
Are you in a wheelchair? You are very knowledgable.
Hi Nancy - thank you. :-)
I am able-bodied. My Husband uses a chair, also due to Spina Bifida.
He is a professional Wheelchair Racer, was a top Wheelchair Tennis Player as a Junior and a very good skier and basketball player.
I used to teach Adaptive Skiing at Santa Fe Ski Basin in New Mexico. Also many of our friends or people we know use chairs because of MS, Polio, other diseases or birth defects, various accidents and of course, Spina Bifida.
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