Scott Bairstow is God
Watched the “Touched by an Angel” series finale last night with a mixture of relief and fascination. Relief that it was over, and fascination that it lasted so long (9 years!). They chose to end the series with a storyline where Roma Downey’s angel Monica encountered a drifter handyman played by Scott Bairstow, who turned out to be The Big Man Himself.
Bairstow was accused of making a school boiler explode, killing lots of students and teachers in a small town. But of course he didn’t do it – it was Satan, portrayed by, get this, David Ogden Stiers. And how did The Big Red One manage it? He convinced a mentally challenged man to crank up the boiler so he could warm up a cardboard box filled with kittens.
I. Am. Not. Making. This. Up.
In the midst of this head-shaking spectacle, which included a song performed by local sheriff Randy Travis (see previous paragraph), I realized what has bugged me so much about TBAA. It’s so external. According to the show, angels, God, Satan are all real beings wandering among us. There’s never any mention of people’s innate goodness, or that faith is, by definition, unknowable.
On the show, people do things not because they are the right things to do, but because an angel grabs their hand, is lit with heavenly light, and commands them. The literalness of the show kills it as entertainment, insults people of genuine faith, and makes it an easy target for ridicule.
You could do a show about the real struggles people have with faith, and what it means to them. But it wouldn’t sell.
One minor correction. David Odgen Stiers did not merely play Satan – he actually is the the Big Bad One himself.
Wow. I thought I was the only one who watched TBAA. I can’t believe I missed the series finale…They must re-run it!
I got totally addicted to this show last fall, and made my husband and kids watch it with me. There is something about it, the relatively harmless agony, like pushing a loose tooth around with your tongue…
Nutty Bible thumpers like me think that angels and demons do in fact walk among us. And the Holy Spirit too!
On the other hand, I tend to agree with you about the show. One way I’ve always looked at it is that the “real” angels in the show should be the examples to us how we can be like angels to people in our lives around us. For the most part, the angels in the show don’t do anything supernatural; it’s the little things. Taking an interest, telling people what they believe about God, helping someone with their groceries. That kind of down to earth thing. Simple love.
Another point of interest is this show has taken fire for having so much Bible in the script. People are trying to make religeous broadcast of any kind a violation of the FCC. Sucks.
I agree. I can find more meaningful approaches to faith and ethics in just about anything – even South Park or Buffy.
I think it’s a rather damning assessment of human nature to think we need supernatural help to do what’s right. I was raised to disregard religion and to rely on ethics, reason, and compassion to figure out what’s right; and frankly as much of a pompous ass as I can be, I think I do a fair to decent job of doing the right thing. While others (personified as angels or just plain old people) can give us support and advice, ultimately we must rely upon ourselves to follow what conscience dictates.
As far as people taking pot-shots at TBAA for its religious content: is there really a movement to take these types of shows off the air because of religious content? Anything comparable to, say, Focus on the Family and their ex-gay and anti-gay-programming activities? Citizens United for the Separation of Church and State certainly lobby to get religion out of government, but as an active and involved atheist, I’m not aware of any concerted efforts to keep religious programming off the air.
RE: Movement to end religious shows: How embarasing. I may be the victim of a phoney email. I apologize.
I’m totally e-mbarassed 😛 (sorry – couldn’t resist)
Fundamentalists actually hate the show, as the type of Christianity it presents does not include those beliefs they consider key to “true” Christianity. They tend to classify it as “New Age” apostasy.
The show blew up a box full of kittens?!?! Damn, it’s one thing to get Fundamentalists worked up, but you do *not* want PETA after you!