Eurovision 2019:ASIE: An Amendment.

Specifically to; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019-asie-app-pt2.html

There I discussed Finland's entry. It provided something of a talking point about the changing role of women within the TV industry. By referencing the US TV Show; "Blindspot."

The premise of the show is that a woman is discovered suffering from amnesia. She then joins forces with the FBI team investigating her case to solve other crimes.

In many ways Blindspot is very different from other US police procedurals. Such as; "NCIS: Los Angeles." Featuring 2018 Song Contest host Daniela Ruah.

However it is very much centred around good guys with guns chasing bad guys with guns. In a series of gun fights, explosions, fight scenes and other action sequences.

Most TV shows, particularly in that genre, tend to be made from a slightly male perspective. What is interesting about Blindspot is that it seems to be made from a slightly female perspective.

For example the premise is that the woman with amnesia is actually found fully nude. Covered head-to-toe with elaborate, full body tattoos. These tattoos are clues to the crimes the woman and the FBI team go on to solve.

So there are numerous scenes where the team are gathered in their command centre. Looking at pictures of these tattoo clues on a big screen surrounding with dozens of FBI staff sitting at their computers.

It often conveys what a strange and embarrassing experience this is for the lead character. Having all her work mates gathered together to stare, in detail at her naked body.

This seems to be a deliberate attempt to discuss the impact that nude and sex scenes have on, particularly, actresses.

Although these scenes may appear on screen as just two people in the privacy of their bedroom they're often shot on sets with 15 to 20 people standing around. They're then sent off through the editing process which can involve another 100 or so people.

I can imagine it being quite strange and embarrassing to go into work the next day and being faced with 100 or so people who've seen you fully nude and pretending to have sex.

I remember saying that the slight female perspective of Blindspot didn't spoil my, as a man's enjoyment of the show. In fact I think it slightly improved it. With the female characters seeming more rounded and believable as a result.

In any discussion about shows in this genre being made for women or from a female perspective there is another important, if not widely known example. A Canadian TV Show called; "Rookie Blue."

When this was shown in the UK it was billed as a typical police procedural. Albeit one that was focused on uniformed officers rather than detectives.

In reality though it's a show about the increasingly complex personal life of Andy McNally. Who occasionally goes into work at the Toronto Police department.

In much the same way the US show; "Greys Anatomy" may be set in a hospital. But it's not really a medical drama.

Both Rookie Blue and Greys Anatomy have such a strong female perspective I, as a man, couldn't enjoy them. That's not me questioning their validity. It's just they weren't aimed at me, I didn't enjoy them. So I didn't watch them.

I didn't mention Rookie Blue at the time because I didn't think anyone in the Song Contest community would have heard of a Canadian show which ended in 2015. Meaning that if I mentioned it I'd have to start by explaining it.

I've since learnt though that the actress who played Andy McNally in Rookie Blue, Missy Peregrym, has got one of the leads in the US TV show; "FBI." Which is very much a police procedural centred around the FBI.

It's produced by that giant of US network TV, Dick Wolf. The man behind "Law & Order" in all its various guises.

The show FBI makes lots of frequent, quite jokey references to Missy Peregrym's past in Rookie Blue.

For example her character comes from Indiana. Explaining why her American accent isn't quite the same as all the other American accents.

The show also features a suspiciously high number of suspects who are attempting to enter the US from Canada. Or attempting to escape the US into Canada. Giving other cast members opportunity to shoot knowing looks at Missy Peregrym's character Maggie.

One episode centres around one of the senior agents revealing that he's in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. This prompts the Maggie character to ask him lots and lots of questions about Alcoholics Anonymous.

That's a deliberate reference to the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Held in Vancouver, Canada.

It included a sequence of famous people you thought were American but are actually Canadian. William Shatner for example.

They would come out and declare; "Hello. My name is .... And I'm a Canadian."

This closely resembled the famous introduction from Alcoholics Anonymous. So closely that you expected them to then start listing all the ways in which being Canadian had ruined their lives.

As was the intended joke.

It's rare Olympic hosts use the opportunity to mock themselves. 

Even the wardrobe department get in on the act.

Missy Peregrym is somewhat large breasted. This isn't something you really notice in Rookie Blue. Where much of her costume is body armour. In FBI though they really seem to be making a point of it.

The Maggie character frequently wears a pantsuit. The jackets of which seem rather tight around her chest but loose around her waist. This is something that often happens when the actress is pregnant but the character isn't.

So you do find your eyes being drawn to both her chest and waist. To see whether either have grown between episodes or even scenes.

In short you're being tricked into focusing on McNally's Anatomy.

I have to say that if that is Dick Wolf's contribution to the discussion over the changing role of women within the TV industry it seems pretty lazy. Simply referencing a TV show some other people did years ago.

Although in his defence I get the impression that Mariska Hargitay has been running "Law & Order: SVU" since about 2014.


20:20 on 20/11/19 (UK date).