The Scandal Roundtable 2.11: A Criminal, A Whore, An Idiot, And A Liar
Kendra: Phaedra Parks wishes she had half as much going on as Olivia Pope. Beyond everything else, the author of this article diminishes each character/trope example she gives to its lowest common denominator. Beyond a gross mischaracterization of Olivia, Huck is not just a “thug,” and her team aren’t just “Yes Men.” The argument falls apart if one actually sits down and watches the show. And why is she acting like the reality television genre created the powerful-woman-sleeping-with-a-married-man-for-benefits idea? Has she never seen Dallas?
Joe: Or The Graduate? Or Mistresses? Or any soap opera in the past 40 years?
Zach: Also, my mouth dropped when she drew the comparison between the White House and a strip club, followed by this lovely line: “A hooker provides the same service as an escort…they just cost more and are found in different locations.”
Joe: Me…
Zach: The last time I checked, Liv isn’t summoned to the White House (well maybe a few times), but in the most part Liv takes her happy self across those gates whether she is wanted or not. This, to me, is powerful, especially since she is a black woman. She not only takes up space in places where she is told “no,” she also runs these spaces with confidence and authority. If anyone was the “hooker” in this show it would be Fitz or his staff or the White House–if we are going to look at this in stereotypical power relations and tropes of sex worker to sex buyer. And, even then, I still take offense.
Jordan: I gotta say, I get a little annoyed when people look too far down their nose at reality stars, which I felt was at the heart of this article. As someone who works in reality TV, at this point in the reality craze everyone wants to be the biggest, loudest “character” to score their own spin off, product line, magazine cover, etc. The idea that you have any sense of what the real human being is like based on the series of produced events and interactions you see is ludicrous. Also, although I understand the point, I would argue that each one of the reality ladies has a job–being on a reality show. I would further argue that if you know her face, and certainly if you know her name and what she’s supposed to be up to–she’s actually top of her field. I’m not saying I have to like her or her chosen profession, but those women can be extremely savvy about themselves and their image. I give credit where it is due. All of that said, putting Olivia Pope in the same sentence with them is foolishness. They are different women with different hopes, dreams, methods, and aspirations. All they share is a skin color. Olivia Pope minus all her shenanigans would lose her prime place on my DVR. Also–let’s be honest–reality shows minus all the drama would fall off my DVR as well, so I don’t pass judgment on those chicks and their “performances.”
Joe: I get your point, Jordan. I apologize. However, you have to realize while reality stars do get paid to portray an over-the-top version of themselves–and, therefore, are fictional characters themselves–there’s a real person, name, and face associated with Kim Zolciak, Phaedra Parks, and company that constitute in headline after headline in real life. Comparing a “real” fictional character to a “fictional character” in a reality show is kind of like comparing apples to oranges. Are we confused yet, everyone?
Johnathan: The most prominent scene of last week’s episode for me was when Olivia brings her “countdown” realness to Edison after he calls her “the President’s mistress.” Beyonce better watch out for Olivia because she was counting down pretty hard! I started thinking about how Olivia is saved by elitism and trapped by the politics of respectability. I enjoyed @Anti_Intellect’s timeline as the show aired. He asked why some people see it as okay for Olivia to sleep with the President but what would those same people say about Joseline Hernandez? Why are certain people given exceptions because of how they present themselves or how much power they have?
T.F.: That countdown was epic. Epic! It’s been nice to see Liv get back to being fierce for a change–there’s been a lot of lip quivering and doe eyes lately.
Joe: Seriously: She really was turning into Claire Danes for a minute. I’m glad Fitz is awake now.
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