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Melissa Crawley

Melissa Crawley writes about popular culture with a special interest in television. Her published work includes articles on CSI and The O'Reilly Factor for the online journal Flow as well as a chapter on reality television for The Great American Makeover: Television, History and Nation. Her book, Mr. Sorkin Goes to Washington: Shaping the President on Television's

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Television

Better Living Through Therapy: Six Feet Under's “The Plan”

In the episode "The Plan", Ruth's humorous attempt at self-actualization and self-discovery at a self-help seminar reflects television's ingestion of and obsession with society's therapeutic culture.

Melissa Crawley

Television

Character Assassination: 'Game of Thrones' Urge to Kill

Is the story told on our favorite show bigger than any one character? Or is it characters who make the story?

Television

What's the Appeal of 'Dancing With the Stars'?

I've tried to appreciate the courage it takes for non-dancing D-lister's to perform outside their comfort zone. Really, I have.

Television

'America's Next Great Restaurant' Is the Next Great American Dream

Reality shows that promise the American Dream keep contestants lining up and audiences tuning in.

Television

Let's Sing About Sex, Baby

Glee's episode "Sexy" demonstrates how far television has come in its attempts to be culturally relevant.

Television

Put a Ring on It: Women on 'The Bachelor'

The Bachelor does little more than advance silly notions about single women and their approach to relationships.

Television

Divorce: Housewives Style

The desire to hold on to fame has driven some housewives in The Real Housewives of Atlanta to behave shamelessly.

Television

Why the Parents Television Council Is Wrong About 'Skins'

Yes, Skins is a raw depiction of what teenagers get up to when their parents aren't paying attention, but what exactly makes it a broadcast version of the Apocalypse?

Television

Dear TV Executives: A Few New Years Resolutions Notes for 2011

Television executives should resolve to do a few things for me this year.

Television

Top 10 TV Shows of 2010

In 2010, television brought us cops in Hawaii, bikers in California, British investigators and a different kind of situation at the Jersey shore.

Television

'Sons of Anarchy: Season Three': SAMCRO Takes Belfast

Sons of Anarchy took a trip to Ireland this season for a biker version of Banged Up Abroad.

Melissa Crawley

Television

Patti Stanger Takes a Bite Out of the Big Apple and Her Clients

The appeal of The Millionaire Matchmaker is that instead of just watching crash and burn date moments, you also get to watch Patti verbally lay out her clients.

Melissa Crawley

Television

How to Look Good Naked: Shedding Clothes, Gaining a BFF

The value of How to Look Good Naked is not in its attempt at a populist therapeutic cure to negative self-perception or a quick ‘before and after’ transformation.

Television

Back to the Future with 'The Event' and 'The Real Housewives of D.C.'

If The Event wants to successfully take license with its time line, it would do well to learn a lesson from the recent D.C. installment of The Real Housewives.

Television

'Caprica' Season Premiere: Better Grieving Through Technology

While part one of Caprica established the series' conflict between science and faith, part two explores the far more frightening idea of what happens when technology and faith start to work together.

Melissa Crawley

Television

It's Technology, My Dear Watson: Sherlock for the 21st Century

The famous detective now texts and surfs the net while Watson writes a blog. This is not your mother's Sherlock Holmes.

Television

Let's Get Physical: Casting Choices on 'Nikita'

Actors often talk about bringing an emotional authenticity to the characters they play. A physical authenticity should also be required if the part involves a weekly round of fighting off scary Russian operatives or shady government spies who know jiu jitsu.

Television

'Spartacus': There Will Be Blood, Lots of It

With all the slicing and cutting and loss of bodily fluids, Spartacus would seem to be a prime candidate for criticism about its excessive violence, but its stylized approach to violence makes for unconventional, provocative programming.

Television

Why I'm Not Watching Jersey Shore (Anymore)

The predictability of the cast is their Achilles' heel. Ronnie and Sammi’s weekly dysfunctional hour of make-up/break-up is as expected as Snooki’s alcohol soaked antics and the Situation’s Sunday dinner of sausage and peppers.

Television

Extreme Makeover: Hoarding Edition

The clean room at the end of the show is my visual cue that the hoarder is cured simply because order beat chaos. Any thoughts I might have about what it means to overcome a mental illness are overshadowed by the pleasure I feel at seeing the before and after ‘reveal’.

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