The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
When we think of women in the 1950s, particularly American women, we think about their very distinct aesthetics, the pop-y pastel-colored dresses, the carefully structured hairdos, and that honey-glazed, always enthused manner of presenting oneself. Personalities brighter than the sun. That’s a postcard image of a 50’s woman, a pop culture cliché.
Of course, not all of them talk and walk like dopey dolled-eyed damsels in the television shows and movies. They were real people living in a post-war era, later known as the ‘Golden Era’, accommodating the challenges of the new age. But stereotypes don’t write itself. There must be a smudge of everyday truth in that square image. Maybe a paint bucket. I don’t know, I wasn’t alive yet at that time.
But there is one woman, on the Upper East side, in New York City, during 1958, who stomped on that cliché when she stepped one foot in inside the world of stand-up comedy. And yes, she living fictionally in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s head.
About a month ago, I finished watching Amazon’s best new series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and I cannot shut myself up thinking or talking about it. It was that brilliant!
I first heard about the show when it won the 2018 Golden Globe’s Best Television Show - Musical or Comedy and it’s lead who won the Best Actress category. Rachel Brosnahan played Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel, a Jewish housewife and mother of 2, who discovers she has a natural aptness for comedic stage performances after a sudden separation from her husband. Brosnahan just breathed life to Midge oh so magically!
I’m not going to summarize what happens in this series because I deeply believe everyone should watch it. Well, not everyone. With the exception of underage little people and Antisemites. No, see, I think the latter should definitely check it out.
What I wanted to impress upon on is, why this show nestled itself into the urban jungle of my psyche and why it will probably stay there for more seasons to come. Shall we?
1. The Comedy Is Real. It’s a well-written, well-acted and over-all well-produced Chocolate Babka of a show, and it’s fucking hilarious! Embarrassingly, it’s my third time now (and counting) watching it and every time I discover some cheeky little dialogue or catchphrases that was even funnier this time around. And to my surprise, it comes from the supporting characters. That’s when you know the script is golden. Schmolden.
2. A Funny Woman In A Man’s Funny World. With all the good things happening in regards to the women’s movement and fight for equality (Women’s Marches, Impact10x10x10, Times Up, etc.) these past few months and years, this show couldn’t be more concurrent.
Midge is a 50’s women. Fictive Fact. The fashion sense, the plush lifestyle, the marital & maternal status, she lives as a privileged 50’s woman. Yes, she subscribes to the collective norm on how women’s social decorum should be. Until that is.
Midge started to notice and learn about the “absurdities” in society and the silliness of the expectations on her gender or, most of the time, lack thereof. Then, she speaks about it. And makes fun of it.
I think her character development is the highlight of the show.
3. The Jewish Culture. With Laughs. Obviously, a lot of the amusing statements and jokes that is particular to being Jewish, I wouldn’t get. But I got so invested that I research most of it and learned. And I laughed some more. Maybe except for that Adam and Eve bit, I did get first-hand information regarding that one. We, kind of, share the biblical once-upon-a-time reference.
4. The World Of Stand-Up. It wasn’t my first introduction to stand-up but I did enjoy its pick-behind-the-curtain narrative into that seemingly scuzzy yet profoundly enlightening and intelligible world. What does it take to be a comic and all that jazz. And I learned about Lenny Bruce!
And Bob Newhart, Mort Sahl, Joan Rivers and many more.
Yes, old school comedy might be my new thing now.
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