cannabisnews.com: Dealing Housewives: Potheads in Paradise





Dealing Housewives: Potheads in Paradise
Posted by CN Staff on August 28, 2005 at 22:51:16 PT
By Nancy Franklin 
Source: New Yorker Magazine 
USA -- “Weeds,” a new Showtime comedy series in which a suburban widow takes up the not very noble profession of pot-dealing after her husband drops dead, can’t be called courageous, since the premium-cable networks have little to lose when they venture into controversial territory, but it is nonetheless daring. “Weeds” actually meets the rarely fulfilled promise of Showtime’s former slogan: “No Limits.” Showtime suffers from reflexive, and mostly substantive, comparisons with HBO, but “Weeds” puts it a little closer to HBO in its asymptotic relationship with the Tiffany network of the premium-cable universe.
(If, that is, such an old-school title can be applied to a channel that, in addition to “The Sopranos” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” offers the uncultured pearls “Cathouse” and “Real Sex.” Of course, the Tiffany network itself, CBS, was the one that sold us such gems as “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Green Acres.” So enough of that.) “Weeds” brings to mind a number of TV shows—“Desperate Housewives” among them—as well as the movie “E.T.” Like that movie, “Weeds” is set in a soulless development that has been thrown up amid the beautiful and still stubbornly wild California hills (you can encroach on the hills, but they—their coyotes, snakes, and mountain lions—will encroach right back), and the family it revolves around consists of a single mother with children of tender years. Until the death of her husband, Judah, who had a heart attack while he was out jogging, Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) led a regular upper-middle-class life in a community called Agrestic, an unpretty, and misleading, word that means “rural.” (The name is a cleverly sidelong way for the show to establish its attitude toward the suburbs—the implication being that the number of these drywalled dead zones has now outstripped the supply of nice misnomers for them, such as Sylvan Hills and Sparkling Pond Farms.) In some ways, Nancy still is leading a regular life: in the show’s opening scene, she attends a school meeting and tries to persuade the other mothers there to push for the replacement of soda with bottled water and juice in the school’s vending machines. TV shows almost invariably portray school meetings as a no man’s land, with women whispering gossip to one another or becoming absurdly adamant about a minor matter affecting their own precious child. “Weeds” is no exception; this is how the show tells us both that there are dirty secrets in these California closets and that it has satirical credibility. Like most shows, “Weeds” doesn’t win any points for subtlety in this area, or in some others, including its soundtrack, which underlines every moment with all too obvious knowingness. The show’s theme song is the insufferably smug sixties folk ditty “Little Boxes,” by the protest singer Malvina Reynolds, an indictment of suburban conformity that you need to hear only once in your life, for historical purposes. It doesn’t feel good to be talked down to at the beginning of every episode of a show. Luckily, “Weeds,” which was created by Jenji Kohan, who also wrote almost half the episodes (her first name sounds almost like a slang term for marijuana), is better than its theme song. And dramatically it does take us into some unexpected places. In that opening scene, Nancy, instead of breaking down upon realizing that she’s the subject of gossip, or cracking under the strain of new widowhood, holds her own against the chattering asses and against Celia (Elizabeth Perkins), another mother who has a strong opinion on the soda question. Nancy does break down toward the end of the first episode, but the timing of the scene is a surprise and the moment is brief. This character is less trembly and vulnerable than the ones Parker often plays, and the change suits her. She isn’t just doing a turn on a stereotype in this role; she’s showing us a real, idiosyncratic person. Nancy’s coolness extends to lying to her children, fifteen-year-old Silas (Hunter Parrish) and his tween brother, Shane (Alexander Gould). When she is paged at an odd hour and has to leave the house, Shane asks where she’s going, and she says, “It’s a Neighborhood Watch thing.” Waiting for her in her car is Josh (Justin Chatwin), a smart-mouthed teen-age dealer whose inventory was depleted by local moviegoers getting high for the midnight showing of “Winged Migration.” “Shit hasn’t gone this fast since ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ ” he says. Everything that comes out of Josh’s mouth is a sarcastic comment about the hypocrisy of adults generally—especially the ones who use dope—or of Nancy specifically, since she is dealing but, at the same time, ordering him not to sell to kids. In the first five episodes of “Weeds” (the series, which is ten episodes long, began in early August and continues through mid-October), the show itself doesn’t appear to be taking sides when it comes to the legality and morality of marijuana-dealing or possession or use, and it isn’t, like Josh, preoccupied with hypocrisy, except in a comedic way. Viewers probably can’t help feeling a little unsettled by Nancy’s business, even though her intention is to turn the front she sets up with her accountant, Doug (the hilarious Kevin Nealon), who is also one of her best clients, into a legitimate enterprise. At the same time, it’s funny to see how her entrepreneurial abilities flower under the pressure of competition—it’s a shining example of American capitalism at work. In the third episode, Nancy kicks into a higher gear, and so does the show, when she discovers that there’s a parallel universe of pot distribution out there—the shops that sprang up to dispense medical marijuana after the passage of California’s Proposition 215, in 1996—and that it’s taking customers away from her. When she checks out one of these emporiums, she’s so impressed by the rich array of product that she calls the place “the Whole Foods of pot.” (The different varieties even have cutesy names; the Stephen Hawking, for example, is so strong that it will put you in a wheelchair.) To win back her customers, Nancy starts her own food line: doped-up popcorn balls, corn bread, brownies. It’s a roaring success.“Weeds” has something of the comic tone of “Arrested Development” when it comes to its attitude toward what makes this country hum (though that show, which is more freewheeling, actually takes a harder line on its subject, presenting the American dream as bankrupt), but it also works as a drama. Silas and Shane have to cope with the death of their father and its side effects—one bratty kid calls Shane “orphan boy,” and money is so tight that the Botwins’ phone gets cut off. Myths about certain aspects of family life are busted, too: Nancy tells Doug that she can’t let her housekeeper go because she’s like family, but the housekeeper doesn’t see it that way—she wants to be paid, and she wants to be paid on time. Celia, who, it turns out, is Nancy’s friend despite her iciness in the show’s first scene, is also going through hard times, some of which are funny and some of which are not. Celia bears an uncanny resemblance to Bree, the controlling perfectionist played by Marcia Cross in “Desperate Housewives.” She calls her chubby daughter Isabel “Isabelly,” and replaces the girl’s secret stash of chocolate with an identical-looking laxative, which leads to a humiliating episode at school for Isabel. Celia’s awful, but drolly so, and she’s not unsympathetic. It’s really the acting that makes “Weeds,” particularly that of Parker and Perkins. They’re terrific, separately and in their scenes together. They look a lot alike—they could easily play sisters—and the fact that their characters are so different reminds you how often actresses are called upon merely to live up to the stereotype of their looks. There is one shoddy aspect of “Weeds,” however, and that’s the depiction of Nancy’s supplier, Heylia (Tonye Patano), pronounced “Hell yeah”—a monotonously sassy black woman who is meant to be a tongue-in-cheek indictment of the way blacks are represented in pop culture. It makes you question Kohan’s feel for her own material. But, for the most part, the sensibility on display here is an interesting combination of sober and antic. And there’s no way you can dislike a show with a line like this: When Nancy calls Doug an idiot, he replies proudly, “I’m an idiot savant.” Source: New Yorker Magazine (NY)Author: Nancy Franklin Published: September 09, 2005 IssueCopyright: 2005 The Conde Nast Publications Inc.Contact: themail newyorker.comWebsite: http://www.newyorker.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Showtime's Weedshttp://www.sho.com/site/weeds/ Stoned in Stepford: Suburbia on Highhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21033.shtmlTelevision Goes Up In Smoke http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21031.shtmlTV Infested By 'Weeds'http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21028.shtml
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Comment #34 posted by FoM on September 05, 2005 at 20:30:51 PT
Episode # 5
It was another really good show. This show is funny and serious. It makes you angry and makes you laugh. It is very well done and I hope the next 5 episodes are as good as the first 5.
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on September 05, 2005 at 17:35:16 PT
Wacky Tabacky
If you like Weeds you should listen to Wacky Tabacky. It's on the link I just posted and it's Episode #5.
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on September 05, 2005 at 17:28:50 PT
Tonights Weeds Sound Tracks
I'm listening to tonights songs and the first one is good. It's called: If I Ever Leave this World Alivehttp://www.sho.com/site/weeds/music.do#105
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on August 30, 2005 at 18:47:35 PT
 Dankhank
I haven't tried to copy the shows since my first one didn't work. I'll try it one more time when all five shows are on. I really think I don't have a very good DVD Recorder or I really don't understand it. That's a possibility with me in that area. 
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Comment #30 posted by Dankhank on August 30, 2005 at 18:41:44 PT
repeats .....
no hadn't seen that, good news though ...I'll make another tape that I can shareI have digital copies of first 4, now ...Up to now I haven't bought any DVD's of any TV shows ... this coud be the first. I'll have a dish DVR up and running by the 10th. Not sure if there's anyway to get the stuff off of the DVR.tech is fun ...
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on August 30, 2005 at 11:58:17 PT
Trekkie 
You're very welcome.
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Comment #28 posted by Trekkie on August 30, 2005 at 11:37:16 PT
Craig X
Thanks, FoM! I knew he was "somebody." Pretty interesting, too. I might have to find his book.
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on August 30, 2005 at 08:51:21 PT
Hey Dankhank
Did you see that 5 shows will be played back to back on September 10th I think the date is? I'll try to record them then. I hope they extend Weeds beyond 10 show.
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on August 30, 2005 at 08:48:34 PT
Dankhank 
Thank you and I'll try to enjoy the day. Bad weather isn't going to be nice since we are under construction but the new addition is under roof and the windows and the door are in. I find it really hard to worry for us when I see how terrible it is for those in New Orleans and all the other areas that have been hurt by this storm. How will people ever get back to normal after this? How will our government afford to fix it all? 
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Comment #25 posted by Dankhank on August 30, 2005 at 08:36:01 PT
storms ...
We're missing most of the storms, but the odd cells pass by frequently.Got a really hard rain a couple of days ago, we needed it.Enjoy your day, the storms may give you a little break ...Peace ...
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on August 30, 2005 at 08:18:15 PT
Dankhank 
I agree. What a great show it is. The remnants of Katrina are causing bad weather and my satellite isn't working very well. If I disappear or miss some articles it will be because of the storm and as soon as it passes I'll be back.
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Comment #23 posted by Dankhank on August 30, 2005 at 08:14:54 PT
new area ...
If Celia uses Cannabis to "treat" herself during Cancer treatments the show will educate millions ...The possibilities are limitless ...Showtime ... "NO Limits" ...
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 21:41:55 PT
Dankhank
All I could do is think what a great show. Now I am involved with the characters and really want to know what will happen next. I couldn't believe the way it ended. That could lead into a whole different area for Celia.
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Comment #21 posted by Dankhank on August 29, 2005 at 21:32:12 PT
Weeds strikes again 
yes, a great show, again it's humming on the net as we speakThe Rain Man of Weed gave/sold the white bitch's weed to her brother in law. Weak ...Hope Nancy hits her with it ...Wow, a reefer soap, how cool ...
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 19:21:44 PT
Weeds Was Great
Just when I think what more can they do with Weeds they do another unbelievable show!
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 17:39:53 PT
Article About CraigX
http://www.publishersnewswire.com/booknews/2005-08-0829-001.shtml
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 15:45:26 PT
Trekkie
Here's a little info.http://www.craigx.com/
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Comment #17 posted by AlvinCool on August 29, 2005 at 15:33:45 PT
Mondays!
Mayan has a great point about publicity for the show. What type of letter writing campain can we do to push for articles about the show on Monday, like the last 2 or 3 have been, in a newspaper somewhere in the US that can be used to our advantage? And of course they are cool to have on new show day! Just think of how many new people are gonna watch Weeds and think, that the truth is it's your neighbors that always pitch in and help. What are they gonna do then? The truth is everyone already knows and simply don't care.
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Comment #16 posted by Trekkie on August 29, 2005 at 15:26:43 PT
Episode 3
In the "Bohdi Sativa" (the best scene of the show), who was the guy showing Nancy the shop? In the credits, the actor's name was the same as his "character."
Is he a musician, activist, one of the producers... anyone know?
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 15:01:15 PT
About The Hurricane
I'm sure many of us have watched the news today and the devastation is terrible. How will they ever get some of those houses safe to live in after being saturated with contaminated water? How will drinking water be made safe in the future? I wouldn't want oil rigs out in the gulf if I lived down there. They are a serious enviornmental risk.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 13:18:08 PT
kaptinemo
I hope Weeds stays on the air for a long time. It's so all american. 
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 13:14:21 PT
ekim 
I'm glad that people were kind up north. 
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Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on August 29, 2005 at 13:08:36 PT:
The unspoken undercurrent in the article
practically screams its' point: America is chock-full of 'Nancy Botwins'.The fact is, unless you catch them in the act, you JUST DON'T KNOW. Walk down the street; according to Uncle's own statistics, one out of ever three people you pass are 'Nancy Botwins' and are thus 'criminals'. Go to the grocery store and do the same sampling. Go to the PTA meeting; 'Nancy Botwin' is sitting beside you. You traded smiles as you passed her in the hall at work. She fixes your car. She helps do your taxes. She...well, you get the idea.Just like the old bumper sticker: 'Nancy Botwin' is everywhere. And it drives the antis bananas. Because, the awful truth - for antis - is simply this: 'Nancy Botwin' is as ubiquitous as air. Despite her means of supporting herself, she's *normal*. And because she doesn't fit the snivelling, furtive, bug-eyed, shaking, drooling stereotype but looks JUST LIKE THEM it trashes all their mental images of their comparisons of themselves to what they believe your 'average' dealer is like. Nothing like having your most cherished delusions popped like a pretty balloon full of 'wind'. Which is just what "Weeds" does.
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Comment #11 posted by ekim on August 29, 2005 at 13:07:08 PT
FoM you can be proud of OHIO
the good people have been kind to Howard and Norma and Misty and Sam.http://leap.cc/howard/weblog.html
http://www.leap.cc/howard
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Comment #10 posted by Jim Lunsford on August 29, 2005 at 12:47:21 PT
Off topic..
but has anyone else read the news on the hempseed oil with thc in Canada? Interesting news article I read on NORML, but it is the first time I've heard of this case. I especially enjoyed the quote, "We believe that any legal system that would charge me with production of a controlled substance, when I was using that substance to cure cancer, cannot be taken seriously." Naturally, the canadian gov't official they quoted was rather timid (okay, pretty freaking cowardly, like most of us in this war) and noted how difficult it is for a politician to be affiliated with this case, since it's illegal. Hint: politicians wrote the laws, so that is an easily remedied subject.Also, the seemingly off-topic subject of campaign finance reform is in the news again. It may be here at last! This would help to put an end to the corporations buying their votes to kill it's on citizens! 
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050829/ap_on_go_ot/fec_appealRev. Jim
Have you planted your vote today?
And was it on the courthouse steps?
Free Yourself! Overwhelm the public!
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 11:38:57 PT
Just a Comment
I'm watching the news about the hurricane and all I can think to say is it looks really bad down south in some areas. I hope no one died in this storm and that everyone left the area and are out of harms way. 
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 10:50:07 PT
Nancy
I wonder if Nancy will ever smoke or just continue to sell. In Saving Grace she did.
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Comment #7 posted by potpal on August 29, 2005 at 10:13:54 PT
george carlin
Weeds success reminds me of something the great comedian George Carlin once said, "Some things that we all do and don't talk about is funny, man.".Everybody smokes pot. Everybody smoke pot.Grow peace.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 10:10:25 PT
Dankhank
I really look forward to each new episode. I like all the characters in the show. I think Celia says the most outrageous things and yet it seems like it's just fine to believe and act like she does. Doug well he's a person who radiates I love me who do you love! LOL!
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Comment #5 posted by Dankhank on August 29, 2005 at 09:45:03 PT
Little Boxes ...
Love that song ...After the show tonight I'm gonna see how long it takes to find it online.I'm betting it won't be long ...The storm is ominous ... a metaphor for these days ...Peace to all ...
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 07:56:56 PT
Just a Note
We are having a little bad weather here today but nothing like those in the southern states. When this storm blows thru I bet the damage will be great. Stay safe everyone. I'll keep looking for news to post as long as my satellite doesn't go down. 
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 29, 2005 at 07:10:50 PT
Weeds
I think that Weeds is getting really good ratings. One article said it was one of 10 must see new shows this season. Little Boxes made of Ticky Tacky! That is the cutest song. I think Nancy and Celia are great. Celia is so out there that she is likeable. 
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 29, 2005 at 06:54:08 PT
Weeds
This show is getting tons of free publicity. Anyone know how it's ratings have been? I would imagine they are through the roof! THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...National Security Experts Censored by the 9/11 Commission:
http://911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=653&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0On the Heels Of Death Threats Coming Out Of Washington, WTC Janitor Has Jersey City Apartment Burglarized:
http://www.arcticbeacon.citymaker.com/articles/article/1518131/32348.htmLA Times Magazine Interview with David Ray Griffin: 
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-crgriffin35aug28,1,3835884.story?coll=la-headlines-magazine&ctrack=1&cset=trueC-SPAN will be broadcasting the entirety of the McKinney congressional briefing on 9/11:
http://copvcia.com/free/ww3/081205_mckinney_911_cspan.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by AlvinCool on August 29, 2005 at 04:17:25 PT
YEP
That's right folks! Time for another installment of the hottest cable show in town. Lets hear it for WEEDS!Got Ticky-Tacky?
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