My DW Reads

Sometimes we hear about certain actors almost being cast in television shows. Which actor would you like to have seen in a particular show? Or are there examples in which you're glad a particular actor didn't make the cut?

Given that WGBH is now trying to raise an enormous amount to keep the station running, I thought it would be a good time to urge others to watch a show that features its early days. At least as the show "Julia" presents it, WGBH is the public television station that she made a success.

What Sorts of Things Happen in This Show?

Season 1 begins with Julia Child having published her first cookbook and then moving to Boston because her husband was pressured into retirement. However it soon becomes clear that Julia's life is about to start a second phase, and she has to maneuver a great many people into helping her achieve her goals.

In this, she has a co-conspirator, best friend Avis, and the brave and dogged Alice at WGBH who manages to get Julia onto a show as a guest and eventually into her own show. Julia also has the unwavering and in-person support of her editor, Judith Jones, who has to fight her own battles in her support for a less than highbrow book series.

The first season gives us a variety of looks at what life is like for even the educated and upper middle class women who are in Julia's circle (past and present) in a time where women are still very much struggling for financial independence and job opportunities. Julia's own role as a role model for women gets questioned at various points, even as the show makes clear throughout how easily and often women's contributions are erased or overlooked.

The tone of the show is clearly established as walking a line between being humorous and uplifting, and presenting more serious issues with a light touch. ( Read more... )

The Elevator Pitch

While food certainly is present in the show (each episode is titled for a dish), the show wants to both present the force of nature that was Julia Child, as well as how she created a large crowd of supporters from workmates to viewers. Her story also reflects challenges women faced in finding respect while pursuing their dreams in the mid 20th century. It ends up reminding me most of a less talky Gilmore Girls which focused on Stars Hollow.

Julia can currently be viewed via HBO Max in the U.S.

Additional Information:
• IMDB
• Wikipedia