The demise of My So-Called Life
My first encounter with the erstwhile teen television show My So-Called Life was reading a novelization of the TV series that I had checked out of my local library as a teenager. Needles to say, it was great fun, and I made sure that I gave the show itself a few hours of my viewing pleasure. The show was surprisingly good, too. Set in the aptly-named Liberty High, the show revolves around a group of extremely self-aware and precocious teenagers, and dealt with a lot of topical and important issues, such as drug use, alcoholism, homophobia and violence. One of the great things about My So-Called Life was the way that these issues were actually introduced and dealt with. An effort was made to weave them into the over-arching plot of the show, ensuring that they were dealt with in a realistic manner. I found this very refreshing, as it’s common for shows aged at teens to sensationalize such issues, or deal with them in a ‘one-off’ basis, forgetting them after a single episode. This, of course, has the consequence of trivializing large and affecting problems, and it’s great to see a show such as My So-Called Life avoid this problem.
Unfortunately, like all good shows, My So-Called Life came to a premature end, having been axed after a single season despite critical acclaim and the fact that the first season had ended on a nail-biting cliffhanger. There were a few reasons for the show’s demise, and not all of them had to do with ratings, which were, unfortunately, not so great anyway. Claire Danes, star of the show, might be best known now for her work in films such as Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet—the reason for this is that she expressed her desire to leave television work to try to make her name in the film industry. Obviously, without the seminal character, it was difficult for the show to keep on its legs. Curiously, the show’s cancellation resulted in an online debate, with fans hotly contesting the reasons behind the show’s demise. Not a bad reaction for a show that apparently rated poorly, is it?