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Top 10 Reasons Lesbians Love "Popular"8. The Diversity Although the cast is mostly white (except for Lily, who is Latina), Popular does a better job than most late '90s shows of including diversity in its supporting characters and storylines. These include cheerleader Poppy Fresh (who runs for homecoming queen to represent girls of color), the black gay male drama teacher (who is later replaced by a black woman), an inspiring humanities teacher played by Sandra Oh (who plays a lesbian in Under the Tuscan Sun), exchange student Exquisite Woo (who tells Harrison, "Get one thing straight, whitest boy alive, you are not my type"), Harrison's lesbian mom, and a transgender MTF shop teacher who is the focus of one of the later episodes when he undergoes a sex change operation. 9. The Stereotypes The show excels at alternating between promoting stereotypes and skewering them. Beneath the surface of clique wars and high school stereotypes, there is Josh, the football player who wants to be in a musical ("Sorry, dad, gotta miss the recruitment dinner. Gotta sing, gotta dance"); Carmen, who wants to be a cheerleader despite her size (and eventually gets her wish); Nicole's occasional moments of kindness; and Brooke and Sam's slow realization they have more in common than they thought. Not to mention the shop teacher who wants to be a woman and the lesbian pharmacist who wears Banana Republic.
10. The Controversy Unlike most television shows that either avoid controversial topics or treat them with dramatic earnestness, Popular embraces controversial topics, but isn't afraid to make fun of them either. The teenage obsession with weight is a running theme on the series, for example, alternating between a serious look at eating disorders and how weight effects popularity, and throw-away lines like "Nicole Julian and Stone Cold are like fashion and anorexia. They go together, thank you." Other topics addressed include confusion about being transgender ("I don't get it. Why would he want to dress like a woman? And why would he wear those shoes with that dress 'cause they don't match"), the way women are presented in the media ("Eventually it dawns on you. You'll never be a Seventeen girl. Because they don't allow airbrushing in real life."), and class issues, as illustrated in this conversation between Lily and her mother:
The show wisely avoids the preachiness that has bogged down many other teen shows, preferring to go for the humor instead. If you learn a lesson or two along the way (and you do, more than once), that's great, but entertainment comes first. Lily (Tamara Mello) and Carmen (Sara Rue) Even gays and lesbians are spoofed, but the writers' underlying affection for us always rings through. "Let me just say, on the record, that I love the gays," Mary Cherry tells a gay man. He responds "Thanks, Mary Cherry, we love you too." That about sums it up. |
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Terrific Article!
I rented this show a while back and loved it. But as you have stated, the second season was a disaster just as the second season of Dark Angel was. Both ended with god-awful cliffhangers. The relationship between Sam and Brooke was touching and brilliant. It's funny how that works though because the actors are good friends in real life as well. Just like Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, you can see the chemistry on screen.
"Elise, if I give you any more collagen, your lips are gonna look like they got stuck in a pool drain." - The First Wives Club
"Not my daughter you BITCH!" - Molly Weasley
I netflixed the seasons of
short lived, but much loved!
It didn't really make much of a splash over here in the UK but I was lucky enough to catch it on it's 1st run on SkyTV, but was pretty much on my own as non of my friends "got it", should've taken that as an early warning, haha!
I found the writing and the performances to be both genius and refreshing in comparison to what we were being offered in the teen dramedy vein at the time. Season 2 may have been far from perfect but i'd still take it over some shows that claimed to be at the top of their game! You lucky mofo's, there's not a cat in hell's chance we'll ever get this released on DVD over here!:(
Mary Cherry = comedy gold
I netflixed season 1 a few months ago and fell in love with the show all over again! I. love. Mary. Cherry.
Great article!
"If you're not trying to make something better, then as far as I can tell, you are just in the way. "
Wow...
I'm developing an insta-crush on Carly Pope as we speak.
But I've never heard of this show. Living under a rock much?
Ignoring the bad 90's fashion, I think I already love the show.
Madagascar fire ants...
I bought both seasons the moment the came out. I love this show! The casting was suburb and the acting brilliant. How I miss it so...
You're right about Mary Cherry, she has to be experienced because no words could adequately describe her. She is very unique and no other character ever created will come close to her presence. Major props to Leslie Grossman for being this character alive.
Best episodes of the first season: Caged and Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle
Only on Popular could you watch an episode about shared menstrual cycles with a BDSM side story. Gotta love it.
one of my favorites.
i fell in love with this show when the first episoded aired.
i was so sad when it was cancelled, because the second season ended with this horrible cliff hanger. and we'll never know what happens!
they really oughta make a movie. it really doesn't matter that the actors are too old to play high schoolers... because they were all too old to play high schoolers when the show was taped.
mary cherry is probably my favorite character from any television show.
i strive to be as cool as she is, but i will never get there.
<3 maddy boom.
"incite a revolution then go work on my tan."
Great Show
I remember my brother and I used to watch Popular circa 2000/2001. It was a great great show. The quality of writing and acting was outstanding.
Brings back memories
Oh Popular
i loved that show but
i loved that show but admittedly i only started watching because the girl who played poppy was hot but she had a few scenes then disappeared, mary cherry was awesome lol i started watching what i like about you because leslie grossman joined the cast
........Twinkle Twinkle little scar, Now I know how deep you are.........
Love it
realise i wasgay. I reccommend everyone have a watch of a few episodes on youtube, you will love it.lily
you don't mention in the article that in the first season, they did the whole lily questioning her sexuality and how her and carmen kissed, even though i don't believe they showed it, just talked about it, i can't remember.
lily was HOT and i was so sad in the second season when she dismissed her questioning perhaps, bisexuality, as a fluke when she was dating josh. but it was still pretty awesome that they at least brought it up in the first season.
So glad
That this was brought back out! I'm guessing due to the author's recent Popular marathon. Loved, loved, loved this show. It was genius.
Now, who wants to go down to Cesar Crutons for an ambrosia salad?
Yay you guys acknowledged
Yay you guys acknowledged Popular...:D
This show was awesome, even if I never did watch it when it was on air (what was I, six?) but I've seen every episode on youtube. Good stuff!
who is stone cold? i cant
who is stone cold? i cant quite remember.
i love mary cherry, and the casting of delta burke as her mother was perfect.
Steve Austin the Wrestler..
If memory serves...
I used to love watching
I used to love watching this show on Sky One :)
It did get a bit weird in S2, then there was all the Harrison stuff... but alas....my god Carly Pope is hot *runs off to price DVD boxsets*
i remember the episode
where they were all locked in the restroom and they wont secrets on the mirror in red lipstick. lilly and carmen has a lesbian moment. lilly and merry cherry were my favorite. i was 10, 11, 12 watching this show along with buffy dawsen's creek 7th heaven. but popular was the one i never got bored with.
when it was cancelled my sister told me it was because the character nicole came out in real life as a lesbian.
best show of my young life
i absolutely loved this show. Lily was always my favorite..i think i had a crush on her and thats when i should've known i was gay but i guess i just thought i admired her lol. Mary Cherry was soo funny! i loved her! and Nicole was such a little brat but it was awesome!
i cant believe they were gonna make Sam gay! im so mad it was canceled right before they were gonna do that!!
i didn't know popular had
i didn't know popular had such a high lesbian following! i loved the show growing up and now it explains a lot haha
p.s. i want this dvd set!
I almost pissed myself
I almost pissed myself laughing watching this! i loved it, absolutely loved it! especially the episode which is spoof of scream/i know what u did last summer... April tuna kicks ass btw! omg, so this was an early sign then??
Oh yes...
Sam was going to be a
I agree completely
Same feelings here. If I hadn't know I could just be pissed by the fact that such a good tv show was cancelled so abruptly. But know that I know Sam was going to be a lesbian if season 3 had been made I will be tortured forever.
Why???
You guys got me watching season 1 and 2 all over again and trying to immagine Sam's lesbianess in the process, which is sometimes quite obviously there (not that I should stereotype).
hot and cold
Thank you
I thought this show was forgotten....SO HAPPY to see this all. Absolutely loved the show, and will be getting it on DVD shortly :)
NpR
Oh Memories . . .Mary Cherry
LOVED this SHOW...
oh ryan murphy!!
you genius, you!
i love these revisiting of old articles - so glad ive been reminded of how amazing this show was. carly pope was fantastic, and i had a total crush on leslie bibb. oh and sarah rue? LOVED her. (actually, i wish she hadnt lost her weight after - i once read she was 135 while filming. that's insane - that's light!! hollywood is crazy. the camera must add ridiculous amt of weight - the other girls must have been sticks. ugh. she was awesome, though) oh! an chris gorham marrying tamara? adorable! ryan murphy started off with a bang, and i cant wait to see where he takes Glee!! Anyway, off to hulu the first season.
-------
http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com
OMg...it's been awhile
Luved this show!!
By far one of the funniest shows of my teen years.. Mary Cherry was my fav, she was a total doofus!! I can honestly say that Carly Pope was my first girl crush, all thanks to this show =]
We Never Seem To Quench Our Thirst...
quick someone right a fanfic!
lol someone needs to write a kickass fanfic continuing where they left off on the season or something because the whole too bad the show was cancelled cause turns out sams going to be gay and have make out scenes (sniffles) its like we are Tantalus standing in a pool of water we cant drink from and under an apple tree we cant eat from. I keep going over and over in my head with the what ifs XD
"Hands upon my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.
Remember I will always love you,
Even as I claw your fucking throat away.
But it will end no other way"
Popular
off subject but
i watched 7th heaven for lucy lol and the girl from popular who played lily appeared on 7th heaven now that i think about it lol
"Hands upon my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.
Remember I will always love you,
Even as I claw your fucking throat away.
But it will end no other way"
Fun Show
obsess overadore Carly Pope.April Tuna = Legend
Please see the below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNGyhiaRitA
BTW a lot of episodes on utube.
lol yeah!
april tuna is one hot ginger lol she rocked but her kitty litter eating sister freaked me out =)
"Hands upon my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.
Remember I will always love you,
Even as I claw your fucking throat away.
But it will end no other way"
Clea Duvall
Duvall
Wanda was definately a plus.
Pity she only appeared in a couple of episodes.
Am I the only one who still hopes for a continuation, even though it has already been 8 years since Popular ended?
I just want to know what happens (especially those storylines which were left hanging).
Wanda Ricketts!
I ADORE this show.
I have both seasons on DVD - it's one of the best shows ever! But I have never gotten over the fact that there was no season 3.
Sam is the hottest character on the show...and she never got a chance to come out as a lesbian! XD Nicole's one-liners never cease to make me laugh.
And best character = Mary and Cherry Cherry. I love them so much.
LOVEEDDDDD this show!!!! i
LOVEEDDDDD this show!!!!
i remember watchnig this back when i was realy young in high school xD they played it in Australia in the afternoon if i remember correctly but i never missed it.
must admit Nicole was always my favorite xD even though she was a bitch most of the time i loved her xD and always got the lesbian vibe, even rewatching the series now (i jsut bought season 1 from the US) i swear her character is gay xD
and not to mention mary cherry <3 god she was a crackup.
dont really see the hotness in Sam, but totally had a crush on Carmen <3
sigh i miss this show. i ordered season 2 like 3 weeks ago but still havnt recieved it.
also loved the Clea Duvall cameo xD
i cant remember the Jane Lynch episode!!! am definitly looking forward to that. but im not sure they played all of season 2 on tv, or maybe they jsut changed the timeslot, coz i think i missed a bit of it.
*goes off to rewatch again*