On upcoming Grey's Anatomy episodes more patients will be surviving.
Elsewhere in Hollywood, movie directors say they want to make positive thinking the newest trend. And a group of academics, sensing a pattern, has launched a study asking Americans how hopeful they've felt since the presidential election.
Some say that it's all part of a Barack Obama-fueled boom in optimism. And it's a trend that many think could continue in movies and television.
"I think optimism is going to be the new cool," said Rick Cleveland, a veteran television writer who has worked on The West Wing, Six Feet Under and Mad Men. Barack Obama, he said, "can be the torchbearer" for the new positivity.
Feeling good about the future? You're not alone. A New York Times poll conducted last week found that 79 percent of Americans are optimistic about the next four years under Obama. Could "The Audacity of Hope" become a new national motto?
Hollywood seems to think so.
Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of ABC's Grey's Anatomy and its spinoff, Private Practice, says she and the writers - all Obama supporters - are feeling so encouraged by the new president's victory that they're creating more hopeful story lines in which doctors are accomplishing more surgical victories and "more patients are living."
Continue reading this article in the Chicago Tribune ...
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10 Comments
January 26th, 2009 11:04 AM
While Shonda's optimism is great, rather than focusing just on hospital triumphs, perhaps she should show more hope in the relationships on that show. We are invested in the primary characters and she constantly beats down those relationships for the sake of ratings and talk. It doesn't work any more. It would be nice to see the characters we love be able to have a successful balance of work and relationships instead of all the break up/makes ups.
January 26th, 2009 12:11 PM
She is writing true to the life of surgeons. I would imagine relationships and surgeons are just like she portrays is this show. Some relationships are just not meant to be while some are. Some take lots of work and I would imagine that when you are a surgeon life and relationships are hard to work at because it takes so much of your time, thus how she portrays it all....why would we want to watch a show that is all rainbows and happiness and everyone having perfect lives and relationship balances? The show would be so boring! Leave Shonda to do what she does best!!
January 26th, 2009 2:19 PM
I completely agree with you Claire. I hate getting invested in couples only to have them split up 2 epsiodes later. I mean cuples like Sloan and Lexie are there for that sort of thing but MerDer and Cristowen's relationships should be portrayed in better light. It's downright depressing. I'm a huge Cristina and Owen fan and, for me, their relationship represents hope. It'd be nice to see how two very complex people can make it work. I'm not saying everythig should be all roses and sunshine BUT relationships do work. My boyfriend and I have been together 7 years, we're very different but also VERY happy. Not all relationships are doomed.
I think that while fairytales give young people unrealistic expectations about love, these types of shows just create negativity. Bring the love, that's what I say!
January 26th, 2009 2:27 PM
I respect new American president but I think it's little bit exaggeratede. Be more optimistic is a very good idea but not because of new president. I'm optimistic because of every new day. And I would be happy if I could see more Meredith and Derek and their happines. We're not five we don't need to believe that everyone will live forever. So thanks for every new morning a more Mer&Der please :)
January 26th, 2009 3:17 PM
Oh, so 79% of Americans are optimistic about the next 4 years under Obama. Is that so, New York Times (biased, as usual)? I have no idea who was surveyed, but it makes sense only to the point that Obama is a likable person. He hasn't done anything yet! There isn't any reason (unless you are informed and disagree with his politics, as I do) why most people would be pessimistic as of now. Come on, seriously! We shouldn't need a campaign run on the slogan words of "hope" and "change" to start getting optimistic story lines. I agree, Tlouie, that we should be thankful for every day, and come on, this is America! We should be optimistic because of that alone!!
But this is Hollywood, where everyone is liberal. Fine. As long as Izzie doesn't die and MerDer stick together, I can deal with it.
January 26th, 2009 4:30 PM
Completely agree with you, Paddisonluvr.
You know Television is the place I go to escape the real world. To escape from the Obama-mania and the incredibly bias media. I don't want all his "hope" and "change" (ugh gag me. I'm so tired of his meaningless words. Actually do something please.) to be dragged into my fantasy world. I'm all for people living. That's good stuff. I really hate it when they kill people. But seriously, I don't want the politic views of the writers to be expressed in any way shape or form. It's just so annoying.
January 26th, 2009 11:49 PM
while i am happy that things are going great here i think it is ridiculous that the only reason "things are changing" is because obama is the president. serously? i suppose if obama had not gotten the election, derek would die, izzie would confess her love to tyler(the nurse who shows up every now and then), george and callie would finally have that baby and owen would pull out a stick of dynamite and blow up all of seatle grace. i never said i didnt support obama its just ridiculous to me.
January 26th, 2009 11:53 PM
my comment up above^^ and in addition he has my support for the moment even though i wanted McCain, badly i'm going to support him but he does need to do something besides raise funds for his next new years eve bash
January 27th, 2009 1:58 PM
i have no problem with obama.
but this sh!t is ridiculous.
January 28th, 2009 3:59 PM
I absolutely love West Wing and my husband and I are watching the episodes again. Some of the similarities b/w the Bartlet administration and the Obama administration are uncanny. It is great that Rick Cleveland is involved in GA.
Being optimistic is good, but I hope GA also shows the bleak reality b/c that is what is facing Obama and the nation. For instance, what happens to people in a life and death situation when they go to the hospital and they don’t have health insurance? GA showed Meredith helping to build ears for the little boy and Bailey moved the clock so the couple in evening wear had insurance coverage, but these instances were just the tip of the iceberg.
The similarity b/w Obama and GA is trust. I trust Obama as President. He is human. He will make mistakes. But, he will try to do the best that he can. He has surrounded himself with smart people. OK, I know GA has fictional characters, but they exude trust. They are all human, they make mistakes, but, they try to do what is right (even if they are number 12).