MickeyLovely Scenery
TV being a visual medium, the images there are usually a major part of the story (ever hear a show on a TV in another room where you can't see the screen?). TV without the imagery would be like a mime performance on the radio. It's no wonder why the set designers and decorators rate their own mentions in the credits... though there is a certain sort of scenery that generally isn't credited.
When CSI: Miami opens with a montage of hot babes in skimpy bikinis, that doesn't mean that the crime du jour takes place on the beach- after the establishing shots to reassure viewers that yes, we are in Miami (Home of the Eternal Spring Break), they may well cut to an office complex or similarly less-than-excitable setting. The beach babes help to set the location; girls on the beach = Miami. It's certainly not a crude attempt to catch the eye (or any other particular body part) of guys who are channel-surfing. Oh no. Perish, Ah say, perish the thought!
The original CSI also made good use of this; while they seldom went to the beach at Lake Mead, they did often follow cases leading to half-naked showgirls, or half-naked prostitutes in hotel rooms, or half-naked women found murdered in their homes, or half-naked bodies dumped wherever. Notice my half-naked attempt to establish a theme here? It's the nature of the show that many of the female guest stars are victims, looking vulnerable, and it's hard to not notice how vulnerable a hot babe is when some or most of her clothing is missing.
I'm certainly not claiming that CSI started this trend. As far back as I remember (and even farther) damsels in distress (and not infrequently in various states of undress) have sought the help of the heroes on a particular show. Many times even the very "hotness" of the story or guest star is hyped in the show's promos. TV has along and distinguished history of lovely ladies exposing much of their lovely goodness to the camera. Arguably the nadir of this was Charlie's Angels, where the heroes themselves were also hot babes. "Angels, this week you'll have to sleuth for clues on the beach- into those bikinis, girls! Woo hoo!!"
And before anyone starts, I'm no male chauvinist. If the producers also want to give the ladies some beefcake for their viewing pleasure, then the geese and ganders all love their sauces. In fact that sort of thing seems to be going on already; I can't cite an example off the top of my head (no, not that head- the big head) because the ladies tend to stand out in my particular memory more than the guys.
There's a niche sexual fetish, fornophilia, where people are bound into position and used as furniture. I doubt that the use of hot young supple bodies as scenery will go that far- at least, not until Sweeps. It's just a matter of wanting to catch the eye, and attractive people in minimalist dress have that ability. We should just feel lucky when a show also has engaging characters and believable, engrossing stories as well, so the hotties are used as Nature intended: Decorative pieces in the background.
When CSI: Miami opens with a montage of hot babes in skimpy bikinis, that doesn't mean that the crime du jour takes place on the beach- after the establishing shots to reassure viewers that yes, we are in Miami (Home of the Eternal Spring Break), they may well cut to an office complex or similarly less-than-excitable setting. The beach babes help to set the location; girls on the beach = Miami. It's certainly not a crude attempt to catch the eye (or any other particular body part) of guys who are channel-surfing. Oh no. Perish, Ah say, perish the thought!
The original CSI also made good use of this; while they seldom went to the beach at Lake Mead, they did often follow cases leading to half-naked showgirls, or half-naked prostitutes in hotel rooms, or half-naked women found murdered in their homes, or half-naked bodies dumped wherever. Notice my half-naked attempt to establish a theme here? It's the nature of the show that many of the female guest stars are victims, looking vulnerable, and it's hard to not notice how vulnerable a hot babe is when some or most of her clothing is missing.
I'm certainly not claiming that CSI started this trend. As far back as I remember (and even farther) damsels in distress (and not infrequently in various states of undress) have sought the help of the heroes on a particular show. Many times even the very "hotness" of the story or guest star is hyped in the show's promos. TV has along and distinguished history of lovely ladies exposing much of their lovely goodness to the camera. Arguably the nadir of this was Charlie's Angels, where the heroes themselves were also hot babes. "Angels, this week you'll have to sleuth for clues on the beach- into those bikinis, girls! Woo hoo!!"
And before anyone starts, I'm no male chauvinist. If the producers also want to give the ladies some beefcake for their viewing pleasure, then the geese and ganders all love their sauces. In fact that sort of thing seems to be going on already; I can't cite an example off the top of my head (no, not that head- the big head) because the ladies tend to stand out in my particular memory more than the guys.
There's a niche sexual fetish, fornophilia, where people are bound into position and used as furniture. I doubt that the use of hot young supple bodies as scenery will go that far- at least, not until Sweeps. It's just a matter of wanting to catch the eye, and attractive people in minimalist dress have that ability. We should just feel lucky when a show also has engaging characters and believable, engrossing stories as well, so the hotties are used as Nature intended: Decorative pieces in the background.
