In essence, “Mike and Molly” is a captivating as well as nerve-breaking American Sitcom that was created by Mark Roberts. Apparently, the TV series was first aired on CBS from September 20, 2010, to rather May 16, 2016, and ran for about six seasons with a total of 127 episodes. The series features main stars in the name Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy who are portrayed as the eponymous Mike and Molly, who fall in love after meeting in Chicago overeaters which were considered to be an anonymous group. There are certainly various issues that are raised in the series including obesity something that is a contemporary problem. This paper, therefore, proposes to analyze various aspects of the series that make it an upbeat series in contemporary society. The paper will closely focus on six perspectives which include personal perspective, historical, technical, ethical, cultural, and critical perspectives.
Personal Perspective
When “Mike and Molly” first premiered in the fall of 2010, I would not have suspected that it would turn to be a captivating series given the fact that it had been capped with various negative stereotypical sideshows. Although I had had enough of negative portrayals of the series, I took to the characters right away when I first watched it. A schoolteacher Molly Flynn and a police officer Mike Biggs were instantly appealing from the role they played as the couple at the heart of the series (Adler, 2014). Noteworthy, many myopic, as well as rude viewers were quick to label it a show of overweight people, but I later realized it was not that way. It turned out to be a charming piece of a rather life comedy of two distinct individuals who from their first date were meant to be together. It was amazing watching it further and meeting people in their lives who made the story a little bit raunchier. I mean who would not want to be around such a crazy relative's Mike and Molly had throughout the show. To be honest, the series was something I had not anticipated especially when season 4 premiered as it was funnier than what had been showcased in earlier seasons. I am not such a person to laugh at the TV screen, but I do especially when “Mike and Molly” is on and on its game. After watching the series I had no reason to hate and have skepticism towards the show. I just loved it and I would not mind watching it over and over again.
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Historical Perspective
The aspects of fat people create the notion of a deviation from the norm and, therefore, tend to portray fat individuals to feel as if they are an ‘other’. According to the work of Foucault and Linton, fat people are often transformed into ‘other’ in a similar manner that those individuals who are considered homosexual are disabled (Rodan, & Ellis, 2016). In this perspective, disability tends to concentrate on external elements such as social, political, and intellectual behaviors. Moreover, there has been a sense of dominance particularly from a culture that supports thin and on the other hand fat people are often lambasted. It is, however, important to note that the effect of hegemony especially that of normalcy are profound and set in the heart of various cultural production. Cultural representation in the series “Mike and Molly” supports hegemony of normal in the society (Adler, 2014). All characters in this show are considered to fit in the place of the disenfranchised group. Furthermore, the title of the series has the name of a female as well as that of man. However, Molly plays a rather diminished role and Mike takes the center stage. Apparently, the series tries to support the hegemony of men dominance, therefore, representing historical injustices that female have experienced in the last couple of decades. This sort of Patriarchal culture shows that even though both men and women may be fat, female gets to be judged more by their bodies than men.
Technical Perspective
Shooting the series in a rather confined environment was not an easy task. However, the casting team was in a position to use various effects when shooting the show such as the color temperature which is anticipated to be around 3200k and a light blue screen in some part of the episode especially extending the city beyond Mike (Rodan & Ellis, 2016). Some of the shooting locations were makeshifts. Primarily, time can be something challenging to manage but the cinematographer made sure that he had come up with some scene especially when the team was required to move to different areas (Rodan & Ellis, 2016). For instance, he took photographs of pickups that would be required between Mike and the violin player.
Source: https://soundandpicture.com/2013/08/emmys-cinematographer-gary-baum-on-mike-molly/
Furthermore, the series is showcased while there are some soundtracks of people laughing off the jokes that are made by the characters. This was a creative approach that would add some comics to the show in case it had turned out to be less humorous.
Ethical Perspective
There are certainly various ethical issues that have been manifested in the series many times. While the series tries to explore challenges that face the contemporary marriages in the society, it is evident that there are points of concerns that are showcased in the show. For instance, Molly decided to do things on the back of Mike and resume on pills without consulting him (Sander, 2014). This is considered unethical concern since people who are in marriage are supposed to be open to each other particularly before taking decisions that are likely to affect both partners. Additionally, Molly is invited for a cocktail swank and decides to keep it from Mike fearing that he could embarrass her. This was as well not ethical for Molly to do things on the back of Mike. At one point in the show, Mike and Carl had to share a scene in what was to be Samuel’s dinner where Mike was seen questioning the point of adhering to his diet while a healthy yoga instructor could keel over and die (Sander, 2014). While Carl insisted that Mike should take his diet, it was not so ethical for Mike to make such comments. Additionally, in the series, the two couples are at the center stage of every discussion and it is even evidence that there were various senses of humor made upon them by other characters regarding them being fat. On an ethical point of view, such comments ought not to have happened since they tend to undermine the self-esteem of both Mike and Molly.
Cultural Perspective
Society’s perspective on norm particularly in the contemporary culture is designed in making all women fit into a similar type. Apparently, cultural norms tend to create a rather rhetoric perception where fat people are disliked in the society. Fatness was initially considered desirable until the 20th century where fat is taken as a negative trait (Sander, 2014). In fact, the contemporary American culture has made people be invisible as well as an object of ridicule for being fat. The physical portrayal of both Mike and Molly is a representation of the popular culture that although many people are becoming obese in recent years, it is a rather disliked trait, particularly in the United States (Sander, 2014). It is no coincident that the construction of the debate regarding fat people in the American society has been honed through the media that in a huge way helps in defining the social norm that is showcased in this series. In the show “Mike and Molly” the characters are considered to be a rather cultural construction of fat (Rodan & Ellis, 2016). Despite the fact that they are created by the writers, the dialogues, as well as the overall behaviors, assist in the creation of a social problem that the world encounters today.
From the beginning of the series, both Mike and Molly try to lose weight. They even went a step further to attend Overeaters where they met and share their experiences (Rodan & Ellis, 2016). Mike fears that he might fail to find love in case he continuous to overeat. In this light, Mike shares his feelings by making fun of him while struggling to fit into the cultural norm. Through Mike, it is clear that one cannot meet the societal expectations such as marriage as well as traditional marriage models without losing weight. He is forced to buy into the notion of social constructions which suggests that being fat makes someone an outcast and therefore a bad concept (Rodan & Ellis, 2016). Molly is as well drawn closer to Mike through his assertion that fat people cannot find love. She is forced to be attracted to him by the fact that she acknowledges that they are required to be aligned with the cultural norm. In the world of Mike and Molly as well as their audience, being thin is the default of being normal. This tends to create the aspect of a cultural norm that is even present in the contemporary society.
Critical Perspective
It is normal for a show to have people criticize it at one end given the fact that one would not expect everyone to like it. However, the amount of criticism that “Mike and Molly” received especially from the online platform is overwhelming (Nichols, Lewis, & Shreves, 2015). In fact, before I watched the show, I had been capped with a negative viewpoint only to realize the show was not what people have been talking about. I found it interesting given the fact that I chose to concentrate on other important themes in the series. I really have a different standpoint and I think the show was upbeat. Many people have had a share of their criticism on the notion that the show was actually for fat people even though it was rather about two lovebirds meeting in an anonymous place and falling in love. Some have even gone ahead pouring abuse that the show is a rather blatant as well as insulting pandering to the audience of the Midwest (Lodge, 2012). Additionally, the series is considered by others to be a rather rip-off of honeymooners that do not have a single line of laughter. However, the notion that there are those who consider the series typically unoriginal and unfunny sitcom is a rather misplaced idea, in fact, in my opinion; it is an entertaining show that is funny at all cost.
In a nutshell, it is evident that to be fat means difference in the contemporary society. Apparently, this difference can sometimes be subjected to humor particularly at the expense of those individuals who go through them. In essence, the series “Mike and Molly” is not short of prejudice as the main characters become the center or attention something that has brought various issues at play. Through the six analysis tools or rather perspective such as cultural, historical, ethical, personal, critical, and technical perspective, one is able to realize the ingenious creativity that Mark Roberts and the Cast team were able to gather together and make the show an upbeat. The series showcases the pressure by the society to change those that are disenfranchised. However, the dream to change the society is considered unattainable to the fat people. Nonetheless, cultural influences are at play in the show as Mike and Molly try their best to lose weight to fit into the cultural norms. Moreover, while the series is considered an upbeat especially on a personal viewpoint, it has received a fair share of criticism in recent times. While the show is meant to be a humorous piece altogether, it is interesting how it coincides with the contemporary society’s issues on obesity. This, therefore, makes the series to shift themes as portrayed by critical viewers.
References
Adler, A. (2014). Curing cablevision: prescribing a functional solution to a technical astigmatism. Buff. Intell. Prop. LJ , 10 , 122.
Lodge, D. (2012). Small world . Random house.
Nichols, C., Lewis, B. K., & Shreves, M. K. (2015). “Fatties get a room!” An examination of humor and stereotyping in mike and molly. Journal of entertainment and media Studies , 1 (1), 100.
Rodan, D., & Ellis, K. (2016). Disability, obesity and ageing: popular media identifications . Rutledge.
Sander, J. (2014). New style in sitcom: exploring genre terms of contemporary American comedy TV series through their utilization of documentary style.
