Addictions

Illustrates how today’s society can be addicted to television, particularly the WB’s television show “Charmed.”

Drugs seem to occupy the American conscience. Hardly a day passes without some notice of drugs in newspapers and on TV. Addictions are uncontrollable actions. There are good addictions and bad addictions. A person can be addicted to nicotine or alcohol. People are addicted to learning and helping people. A common American addiction is television. Americans have their favorite shows, so they keep time-slots clear so they do not miss anything. Television seems to be a base of American society. Not a day goes by that all Americans pull themselves away from the television, not even Christmas. Family time in America consists of the family sitting down in front of the television. Is that quality time? American industries have caught on to this, and have started to advertise through television. Today’s advertisements are so intricate, that they have sequels. The company keeps the viewer in suspense, waiting to see what will happen next. Therefore, the viewer watches more television to see when the ending comes out. Viewers even have favorite commercials, ones they just have to see. If a certain commercial comes on, viewers just sit there and watch it, no matter what else is going on. The same is with television shows. If a favorite television show comes on while a person is on the phone, they will usually end the conversation till the show is over. Many shows today are not worth breaking plans with someone. There is not much quality television anymore. Older shows, such as “The Brady Bunch”, “Three’s Company”, “Charles in Charge”, and “Full House”, these were shows that had substance. Older television shows always have a reason for a story. Now, television has become so cheap and commercialize, with all the reality and game shows, “Survivor”, and “The Bachelor/Bachelorette” for example. Shows such as these are not worth the time-slot. Not all television shows are bad though. The television show “Charmed” brings back substance and quality to television. “Charmed” brings back the reason behind the story. The show “Charmed” keeps the attention of the audience: viewers watch it once and are hooked. What attracts viewers to the show “Charmed” is the way it teaches history, life, and role models in a way that viewers can relate.
“Charmed” is considered a good addiction because it is a learning experience about historical events. One episode went back to the Salem witch trials; another went to the 1920s. When the Halliwell sisters went back to the witch trials, they taught the viewers about the burnings: the reason that they happened and whom did they affect. Also, the show teaches the real meaning of Halloween; why carve pumpkins, the meaning behind bobbing for apples, even the significance of broomsticks. Also, the girls went back to the 1920s, to a speakeasy run by their ancestors. This episode taught about: flappers, fashion, music, and even the prohibition: what it was the prohibition and why did it happen? The characters let the viewers have an inside look of what it would have been like to live in that era. With this show, learning is made easy and enjoyable.

“Charmed” deals with the lives of the girls and talk about topics that everyday women go through. One-episode talks about ‘Phoebe’s’ divorce from and evil ex-husband. There was even an episode that dealt with the death of ‘Paige’s’ parents. The topic of divorce and death happen in real life, but not many shows deal with these issues. Death and divorce are unexpected trials that people do not know what to expect: “Charmed” gives some look as to what is to be expected in dark situations. The girls handle grave situations with a light and breezy sort of air. When something bad happens, ‘Piper’ says something witty; ‘Paige’ does something exotic; and ‘Phoebe’ goes on a date. The sisters make horrible events, like a divorce, seem as though it were a walk in the park.

Many shows deal with role models, people who are looked up to, being portrayed as a parental figure or relative. “Charmed” gives people who are adopted or lost parents the chance to see a role model. The women of “Charmed” grew up with their grandmother, and did not really know their parents. The girls’ mother died when they were really young and their father left once he knew that his daughters would grow up to be witches. The only “real” role model these girls had was a 60-year-old woman, with arthritis. Who was there to play catch with the girls? Did the sisters have anyone to play with in the backyard, like many children do? No, but these girls grew up in a loving home and made it on their own. This shows the people in America the same idea, that they can still be successful without “the ideal family” life. Topics, such as death and divorce, are things that other shows do not give audiences.

“Charmed” deals with topics that many shows would not normally deal with. The way the show deals with history, life and role models, it is a triple threat for people who are looking for substance in today’s media. These are things that make it unique. The creators made a show that can withstand the harsh critics of today’s society. The producers gave a show that girls, not guys for a change, are able to show what females can really do. “Charmed” is an educational experience every Sunday night.