If Wishes Were Horses

[bjobsessed]

I've been away all day and am just now catching up on this discussion. I think the gun was just one issue that alot of people couldn't get past. As soon as they read the show was about a blind cop carrying a gun, that was it. That's a dumb idea for a show and I'm not watching it. That's too bad because those people missed out on a very well acted, well written show. I don't think the gun was overdone really. The one who had the biggest problem with it was Marty--at least openly. The way Marty was, I think if it hadn't been the gun, it would have been something else.

As Maggie said, the gun was a symbol of what used to be--and an important one at that. The gun is a symbol of protection. As silly as it may seem, it's not uncommon for people to hold on to things or ideas that are totally unrealistic for a while after a life altering accident. One reason I thought Jim was hanging on to it was that it represented a degree of normalcy and that's a hard thing to give up. He had to create a new "normal" for himself and that takes time.

For me, the gun was just one step on the road to acceptance of this new "normal." At the end of UTG, I think, Jim tells Christie that he's had to give up so much all ready and he feels like he's moving further and futher away from who he is. Christie's response is great. By this time, she has accepted that Jim is back working and is still a good detective. When she said maybe that's just acceptance, I think she was right. By this time, Jim realizes and accepts or is beginning to, that there are things he can no longer do. The trick is to figure out where is place is--mostly for himself. He has been pretty well accepted by everyone--even Marty.

To have Jim's journey end any sooner, to me, would have been unrealistic. These things take time and it should not be fluffed off as unimportant. I don't think the writers missed much in the journey either. One reviewer said that after a while you just don't care about Dunbar's situation. Having been through a journey very similar to Jim's it made me angry to read that. People get in all kinds of terrible accidents everyday and have to go though the process of grieving for what is no more and accepting a new life. I guess this person had never experienced anything like that. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that, but if you read many of the petition comments, that is exactly why so many people liked the show. They could identify with Dunbar's struggles and he was also being used as a role model for blind children to show what was possible if you set your mind to it.

That's what I saw in Blind Justice and that's why I loved it so much. Jim's journey was realistically portrayed, he was not a saint but a real person with real faults and feelings. Maybe it's because it hits so close to home for me, but for that I will alway be grateful to Blind Justice. (And Ron of course because I don't know if anyone else could have portrayed Jim Dunbar with such expression, feeling, and passion).

[carl1951]

A thinking person's show. I have said it before.
Most people got hung-up on the 1st episode about the gun-thing in the kitchen. They could never seem to get past that. That is really the shame of it.

What Brainpower does one need for "Dancing with the Stars?" or "American Idol?" Gawd awful.

Later. Carl

[carl1951]

Maybe it's more of the prejudice of people not believing blind people can do almost what the sighted can. And Hollywood is suppose to be sooooo progressive,....right.

Was the show promoted? Ans: No

Later, Carl

[bjobsessed]

carl1951 said:

Was the show promoted? Ans: No

Later, Carl

This is what I don't understand. In the TV Guide article, it said that the show was given one of the biggest promotional pushes. Subway posters were supposed to be all over NY. What about outside NY? If it was promoted so well, how come I didn't know anything about it until two shows had already aired? It was not promoted where I live. Funny thing is I saw more commercials for the series finale--Fancy Footwork--than I saw the whole time the show was on the air. If they had promoted the series like they promoted the end, who knows?

I don't understand that at all. It someone does and can explain it to me......

[mlm828]

As I recall, Blind Justice was heavily promoted (at least where I live) before the series began and for about the first half of its run. I remember driving up to LA last March and seeing RE on a couple of huge billboards along the freeway -- it certainly made the drive more pleasant! Once the show's ratings started to slip, the number of promos for it dropped off pretty rapidly. The last episode for which I recall seeing a promo was "Doggone."

[awlrite4now]

The show was very heavily promoted in a lot of areas. I saw my first billboard last February in a (pardon the pun) blinding snowstorm while I was in a traffic slowdown just outside Cleveland last year. I saw bus signs while I was in the metro area up there, and saw the last one in late April at a major intersection of two interstates coming through Atlanta late at night. (Thank goodness someone else was driving, so I got to drool.) We know they had subway posters (Eyphur and I can attest to that) and bus posters and billboards out, and it seemed like I saw a commercial every hour I watched ABC in February.

But it did drop off rapidly. They began promos for Grey's Anatomy in about the same rotation. And "Eyes". Did anyone even get a chance to watch that?

They DID put the advertising bucks out there at first, but personally, I think the time slot and the horrid "red blob" in the scene where Jim drew his gun probably did as much as anything to turn people away. The younger male demographic they were aiming at cried "Daredevil ripoff" without even watching the first show, and putting it in as a March replacement was just bad news too.

Anybody else take notice of how quickly the type of advertising changed during the show? From the macho truck and ED ads to the ads for McDonald's and Lunesta?

[maggiethecat]

awlrite4now said:

Anybody else take notice of how quickly the type of advertising changed during the show? From the macho truck and ED ads to the ads for McDonald's and Lunesta?

I knew the show was in big trouble when, running on the New York ABC affiliate, we started to get ads for Hollywood Tanning Salon.

Oh, I know we've all said this before, in various ways, but basically ABC bailed the minute the ratings started to slip. They took none of the actions networks traditionally do to boost a show they want to save: change time slots, promote even more heavily, fan the cast around the talk show circuit.

In any other season? The ratings would have been enough for renewal (and it had higher ratings than shows that were renewed), but ABC had three huge breakout ratings winners with Desperate Housewives, Lost, and Grey's Anatomy. They wanted all their other shows to match those numbers. This season they've simmered down some, as witness the fact that they're holding on to Commander in Chief, which has experienced a ratings slide much worse than Blind Justice.

As for the initial promos, I have to agree with whoever it was that said ABC made a mistake by tying it too closely to NYPD Blue. Starting the show in another time slot would have been smarter -- the 10:00 slot on Tuesdays is just too tough an hour for a new show.

If wishes were horses, indeed! Sigh.

Mags

[inuvik]

maggiethecat said:

As for the initial promos, I have to agree with whoever it was that said ABC made a mistake by tying it too closely to NYPD Blue. Starting the show in another time slot would have been smarter -- the 10:00 slot on Tuesdays is just too tough an hour for a new show.

That would be me! (toot toot, that's my horn) ;D

[hoosier]

bjobsessed said:

To have Jim's journey end any sooner, to me, would have been unrealistic. These things take time and it should not be fluffed off as unimportant. I don't think the writers missed much in the journey either. One reviewer said that after a while you just don't care about Dunbar's situation. Having been through a journey very similar to Jim's it made me angry to read that. People get in all kinds of terrible accidents everyday and have to go though the process of grieving for what is no more and accepting a new life. I guess this person had never experienced anything like that. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that, but if you read many of the petition comments, that is exactly why so many people liked the show. They could identify with Dunbar's struggles and he was also being used as a role model for blind children to show what was possible if you set your mind to it.

That's what I saw in Blind Justice and that's why I loved it so much. Jim's journey was realistically portrayed, he was not a saint but a real person with real faults and feelings. Maybe it's because it hits so close to home for me, but for that I will alway be grateful to Blind Justice. (And Ron of course because I don't know if anyone else could have portrayed Jim Dunbar with such expression, feeling, and passion).

I agree 100% When all the commericals I saw touted the gun issue, I thought they are blowing it because this is what will stick in people's minds and it did. If thats all someone saw, then they definitely missed the bigger picture. No way was Jim Dunbar as self-confident as he seemed that first day back and none of that had anything to do with if he should or should not carry a gun. And you got subtle hints throughout the show that he wasn't as comfortable or as confident with his situation as you thought. It was a daily struggle just to get through the day. Thats what grabbed my interest and still does. I am glad I didn't go with all the network hype or I would have missed a great show.

[Dreamfire]

Hi, I hope this thread is still alive? Ashatan here and I am new to thse sort of boards and I am just obsessed with BJ! I wish I coudl watch it every night.

I just got directed to this site today and have had heaps on fun catching up on all the conversations you have been having - feels a bit like voyerism!

I think that this show comming on and then being cancelled so quickly is an amazing mirror in real society of what was happening in the show.
The issues about the gun ( even I foundit hard to accept at first) were highlighted in the show by characters responses, etc and also in the real world with critics saying it was ridiculous and just as the department would use any excuse to take it away , the ABC responded to critisims and dropped ratings by takin g away the show's power (the money and time slot)

Similarly the mere fact that Jim decided he wanted back on the job- and to carry- is like what we had - the producers wanted to make this show and they did. They made a foray that took guts and courage and standing up against popular opinion ( I'tll never work" " what a ridiculous premise" no one will accept it" etc.) Just like Jim did. The authorities ( ABC/Police dept) accepted it at first, (probably becuase of the success authority of the producers/authority of the law in the states) but just like the beginning of any major societel change the first heros out there usually get killed.

So I think it is a case of life mirrors art mirrors life.

I am glad that the producers and writers gave it a go, I **** wish for myown sake they had managed to keep it at least one more season, cause I liked it so much, but it takes time for the tide to turn.

I aplaud them for being so confronting and believe it is part of the movement toward recognising individual worth, no matter the circumstances.

On the popularity issue ( let's face it if it had rated theywould have kept it) Most of the people I know and chatted to had cringe factor about it because they felt strange watching a show where the lead was a blind cop. Many of the girls I know act like they would be thought of as weird to find him sexy. ( personally I wasn;t much of a ron fan before but in this he was just so... yum! - I am now)

And I bet those people have a hard time looking straight at a person standing in front of them if they are blind or disabled. And I think that shows like this make us confront that and it takes time for the masses to change. It was only a few decades ago that families would send their children away to homes because they were disabled.

I think we've come far, I think we've got miles to go as a society. I think shows like this do their bit to push us along to realising that a disabled person need not be defined by their differences but by what they strive to to do and what value they add.

Oh my god did I really go all deep and meaning full in my very first post to a new board??

[bjobsessed]

ashatan said:

I think we've come far, I think we've got miles to go as a society. I think shows like this do their bit to push us along to realising that a disabled person need not be defined by their differences but by what they strive to to do and what value they add.

Oh my god did I really go all deep and meaning full in my very first post to a new board??

First of all, welcome.

I'd love to respond to your post and I will tonight. There are several members on this board with disabilities. We have freezing rain and snow right now so I have to go scrape my car. All I can say right now is thank you for your comments. Blind Justice has a way of making you 'think deep' so don't worry about that. ;D

[shmeep]

Welcome, Ashatan! It's so fun to be picking up new members over here so long after the show has ended.

Never worry about whether a thread is dead or not. We've found that most of them are easily resuscitated and it's fun to get a fresh take on things.

I hope you are able to get access to the series in its entirety! It's all amazing and you'll love it.

[awlrite4now]

Glad to see you, ashatan! You have a lot of reading to catch up on. Have fun!

[maggiethecat]

Welcome, ashatan!

It really says something about the artistry and power of Blind Justice that you missed the first six episodes . . . and are hooked.

If you want to know what you missed, we have great recap threads with amazing discussions to follow. If, however, you want to wait until you get your hands on the episodes you haven't seen? Whoa! Stay away from those threads. MAJOR SPOILER TERRITORY.

Again, welcome! We all look forward to your fresh slant on our favorite "blind dude" -- Oops! That's a reference from The Pilot! -- and the doings at the Eighth Precinct.

Mags