Studio 60 Pimps Polyamory!

[fullygoldy]

Woo hoo!

Spoilers behind the cuts.

During last night's new ep (Monday), Matt is participating in an on-line auction for a dinner date with ex-girlfriend, Harry.  He is upping Harry's current love interest's bids by a dollar.  "It's at $500."  "Make it $501." However, the auction is to raise funds for an organization that promotes teen abstinence.  Having been a teen (and arguably still locked into that phase of his life), Matt knows that preaching abstinence to teens is pretty useless.  He doesn't want to give these people any more of his money than absolutely necessary (that's the rationale behind the $1 bids).  When the bids reach $1200 ($1201), he tells his assistant to find a non-profit organization that is the opposite of the one hosting the auction so he can contribute an equal amount to them to make his winning the auction a wash.

Lucy:  You want me to find an organization that promotes sex?
Matt:  This is L.A. You ought to be able to swing a cat and find three or four.
(Goldy:  I know! He can contribute to MAPC!)

Later, Lucy comes in and says, "I found you a group.  Loving More."
Matt:  What's that?
Lucy:  They're with the National Polyamory Society.
Matt:  Perfect
(Goldy: Woo hoo! (while falling off the couch) OMG!)

Even later, the bidding is at $4000.  
Matt looks at Lucy:  $4001.  
Lucy:  $4002 to the sex people?
Matt:  Yeah.
When Danny told Jordan to start running, because he was coming for her, I wasn't bothered by it.  I know some people found it creepy or inappropriate, but I thought it was cute, and in-character for Danny.  However, in Monday, Jordan tells Danny that his reference-letter campaign has embarassed her in front of her peers, is unprofessional, and she asks that he stop.  She has a slew of reasons why she does't want to get involved with him besides the not wanting to.  She has answered "no" every time he proposes a date, and now she says "please stop."  Danny says "No." and walks away.

For me, this has officially stopped being cute or funny.  What happened to "no means no" Aaron?  If he truly has feelings for her, and he thinks he's falling in love, then respect should be at the top of the list of ways he's going to express his feelings.   He should respect her wishes and her person.  Danny should grow up.  OTOH, the true reason he can't have an adult relationship with a woman is that he's actually in love with Matt, so why am I complaining that he's screwing up with Jordan?  Well, the screwing up doesn't bother me, just the disrespect.  No always means no, and no one, no matter how cute or clever they are, is entitled to ignore no and create an uncomfortable atmosphere for the object of their desire.  That's creepy.
Loving More gets mentioned on broadcast television!  YAY!!

Comments

[shoshannagold.livejournal.com]

I am so glad somebody else thinks Danny is just creepy at this point! Because, as you said, Jordan very clearly said, 'NO!' It's the sort of arrogant sexism that creeps into Sorkin's shows sometimes, the idea that women are irrational creatures who just need to be coddled and pursued relentlessly until they see reason. The Dating Plan, in Sports Night, comes to mind, as Dana looks crazy at the end of that storyline and Casey comes off as the sympathetic character.

I loved the poly bit, too!

[medeine.livejournal.com]

Warning - party pooper who doesn't know what she's talking about ahead....

I didn't see the show, don't watch the show, and can't comment on the context.

But from the quotes above, it sounds like Loving More and polyamory are portrayed as irresponsible swinging and sex.

What ever happened to "we're not a swing club, dammit"??

Or maybe...just maybe...I don't get it because I don't have a very good sense of humor. :D

No such thing as National Polyamory Society

[imapolygirl.livejournal.com]

Hi folks, your friendly neighborhood poly activist here. For the record, there is no active non-profit called the National Polyamory Society. There is a Polyamory Society website, but that's all it is, a website, and I don't think it's a non-profit.

What Lucy actually says is "LovingMore - they're with the national polyamory movement."

And yes, Matt was looking for a non-profit that promotes sex. They could have more accurately chosen the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom or the Institute for 21st Century Relationships, or the Woodhull Freedom Foundation, all non-profits that advocate for sexual freedom - i.e. whatever goes on between consenting adults that is other than married-monogamy-until-you-die, so that includes poly relationships. Instead they chose LovingMore - maybe they liked the name, maybe a writer or producer is poly or poly friendly and wanted to give polyamory a plug, even if it isn't exactly referenced in the correct context. It's very positive that Polyamory wasn't bashed like it has been on network TV, largely in the 1990s.

The important thing is that the LovingMore name and the phrase "polyamorous movement" were clearly mentioned, hopefully sending scads of viewers to google these for more info.

Best,
Anita Wagner