So there is this self-published author I like (who is extremely successful) who sent out an email blast last night that his latest book is available. He won’t put COVID into any of his stories because he sees his writing as escapism (he writes action books). He went off on all the TV shows who have incorporated the pandemic into storylines, especially the sitcom The Connors.

Reading is escapism from reality. So are movies and television. Several of the TV shows I regularly watch have incorporated Covid into them, such as Bull and The Conners, and I was very disappointed. I watch a show not to be reminded of our current situation. I watch it to escape it.

If the show incorporates the virus, I might as well watch the news.

The Good Doctor ignored it, though had a message from the star at the beginning of the opening episode referring to it. My favorite was Last Man Standing. I was so disappointed that they had incorporated Covid until a few minutes in to the first episode when they raced forward in time with him growing a beard, and then it was over and done with.

This was the opposite of what The Conners did. They’ve fully embraced Covid, including protests, and I find it to be a very dark show now and not what I’m looking for in a sitcom.

Years from now, when I binge a show like Bull or The Conners on Netflix, there will be a season mixed in that will bring back nothing but horrible memories. Why would I want that? It’s an unfortunate choice the producers made, in my humble opinion. I wonder how the ratings are doing with shows that incorporate the virus, versus those that didn’t.

What I find offensive is shows like The Masked Whatever CGI’ing large crowds into the non-existent audience without a word that they’ve done that, giving the impression that all is well and normal. Much like what was done for the Super Bowl… Except they had real people interspersed with cutouts, the same effect only ickier.

What do you think?