Even the Gilmore Girls don't like D&D....

[Wolfspider]

I was watching The Gilmore Girls the other night with my girlfriend when Lorelei Gilmore, a single mom who got pregnant when she was 16 (and a character who is apparently completely mad) made a disparaging remark about our favorite RPG, Dungeons and Dragons. Lorelei was trying to thwart the efforts of two geeky fellows who were trying to bid for a chance to go on a picnic with her.

After she had successfully eluded them, she turned to them, sneered, and said mockingly, "Oh, don't worry, guys! I really do like Dungeons and Dragons."



I know, I know. I've seen this kind of thing enough not to take it personally. But I really am tired to see this kind of stereotyping going on so abundantly on TV today. I don't mind when Buffy or Angel makes fun of the geeks, because I know that the creators and writers of those shows are geeks themselves. But when Lorelei Gilmore mocks me--mad, shallow, Lorelei Gilmore!--I can't help but get steamed.

 

[Florin]

I'm happy that my favorite morning DJ out here in DC used to play D&D. He likes to play the little D&D skit by the Dead Alewives every now and then too. It makes my geeky heart tingle.

 

[Wolfspider]

I recently took part in a televised roundtable discussion that involved me and another faculty member and two students. The host asked each of us about our outside interests and hobbies. I, of course, mentioned Dungeons and Dragons and role-playing in general. The host, an understanding sort, mentioned that there seemed to be a lot of misconceptions about the game going around. I agreed and talked a bit about that, concluding my statement by saying that I don't really get together with a bunch of peole in black robes and play by candlelight, as some would think.

The two students who were part of the discussion, who had mentioned being part of the school's chapter of the Babtist Student Union, where visably shrinking away from me as a spoke, with horrified looks on their faces.

I expect to be getting a phone call any day....

 

[Henry]

THAT is nothing. Did you ever watch the new Hank Azaria show (on CBS, I think)? It had a whole segement devoted to all of the cast dressed up in costume playing D&D!

Quick summary: All of the office workers had to work on a Saturday, and one of the employees missed going to DragonCon in Atlanta. Therefore, all of the workers felt bad for him, and after work, they all dressed up and he DM'ed for them!

One scene has Azaria dressed as an elf, says he "attacks the ogre," and the DM rolls and says, "Ooo, sorry, the ogre has grabbed you, ripped off your scrotum, and beats you to death!"

 

[Wolfspider]

Wow...positive (or at least not overtly negative) portrayal of D&D on TV? I'm in shock!

Seriously, the only shows I've ever seen that have portrayed D&D with even a bit of fairness have been Dexter's Laboratory, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel.

My, my. There's a whole world out there that I wasn't aware of. There may be hope yet....

 

[Storm Raven]

. . . Lorelei Gilmore, a single mom who got pregnant when she was 16 (and a character who is apparently completely mad). . .

Of course she is completely mad. She doesn't like D&D, doesn't that make her madness obvious?

 

[Storm Raven]

One scene has Azaria dressed as an elf, says he "attacks the ogre," and the DM rolls and says, "Ooo, sorry, the ogre has grabbed you, ripped off your scrotum, and beats you to death!"

Given the fact that what I watched of the Hank Azaria show was a horrible waste of videotape, I'm not surprised that it contained this kind of stupidity.

 

[Wolfspider]

Of course she is completely mad. She doesn't like D&D, doesn't that make her madness obvious?

Well, aside from that lapse, Lorelei is crazy in a lot of other ways. You just have to watch her for a couple minutes to realize this. Every week I tell my girlfriend that Lorelei should be locked away for her own good and the daughter should be raised by her grandmother, but she just looks at me like I'm the crazy one.

 

[Henry]

Given the fact that what I watched of the Hank Azaria show was a horrible waste of videotape, I'm not surprised that it contained this kind of stupidity.

Oh, don't get me wrong - the show was flat as a fallen cake; but it was the most positive (or should I say, non-acerbic) portrayal of D&D I've ever seen in a TV show!

 

[Abdul Al Hazrad]

Recent sightings of D&D on TV (mostly negative):

on That 70's show: character wants to play D&D and offers to let Eric play "the half-elf"

on 3 Sisters (the same night): Husband of the only really sexy sister gets visted by parents, who claim he spent a whole summer playing D&D and would only let people refer to him by his character name.

on NYPD Blue: A goth is accused of being involved in "some kind of dungeons and dragons crap."

on King of the Hill: Bobby and his girlfriend are passing notes in class, one of which refers to suicide. The principle hauls them in and accuses them of planning "some kind of dungeons and dragons suicide pact."

Of course, we also have the example of "Futurama," which had our own Col_Pladoh as a guest star.

Any references I missed?