What an intense third season of Unproductive. My favorite one so far for sure. The speech Emily gives in the finale, “Pièce De Résistance” (5m:39s), had me watching with my jaw-dropped. The season addressed many serious and relative issues, most importantly the subject of women’s rights and how sexual abuse claims are handled by administrations in power. Women’s rights have been a dominant and impactful theme this year in government and entertainment affairs, most evidently in the Supreme Court nomination and appointment of Brett Kavanaugh as well the sentencing of Bill Cosby. Other topics addressed are young adult pregnancies and the concurring responsibilities, “selling out” to secure financial stability, divorce, friendship, selfishness, personal and professional growth. The introductory sequence was more to my liking than previous seasons and more fitting to the seriousness of the content of the season. Each character was presented followed by an emblem representing their guiding motivations. Furthermore, the progress made by characters throughout the season was moving and even inspirational.
An obvious connection between this season and George Rodman’s Mass Media in a Changing World is the chapter concerning media impact (pgs. 33-39). “Midnight Roxy” is clearly an influential radio persona who has the potential to have an effect on the opinions of her listeners. Her strong stands and aggressive delivery style on matters such as the “soul-sucking” corporate world and pregnancy prevention would most likely demonstrate the powerful-effects model of media influence—meaning her ideas have a strong influence on her audience’s way of thinking. Her devoted audience exhibits something called selective exposure in seeking communication that is in line with their experiences, struggles, and thought processes. During Roxy’s introductory broadcast in Episode 1, “Meet Your Host, Roxy Midnight!,” I could not help to think of a certain character named “Hard Harry” from a movie called Pump Up The Volume (1990). The similarity in their crude, yet poetic execution and their coinciding thoughts on the bleakness of the American corporate system and social inequality was unmissable (I have a feeling that Midnight Roxy could possibly have been inspired by Christian Slater’s character). They both have an intense propensity for graphic and explicit language as well. Roxy, however, was evidently more aware of her power and goals. She even said, “an hour isn’t nearly enough time to properly corrupt Brooklyn’s youth.” Later in the season, Emily proves to be an even more impactful figure in her ability to sway the student population. Just as Hard Harry was able to move his listeners to fight back against their oppressive school system, Emily’s powerful and emotionally charged speech in Episode 5 (2m:25s) got the student body to organize a women’s rights rally. The two-step flow and multistep flow of communication are portrayed through the use of social media. These are communication processes which involve the use of opinion leaders—informed people who illuminate and pass along media messages. “Hashtags” are a recurring technique of spreading news of events which occur on the radio show to audiences and those following on social media. Dylan is especially conscientious of the power of hashtags and uses them during broadcasts to draw more listeners and attention to the issues being addressed on the show. Censorship, another key term in Rodman’s book, was touched upon in the show when Roxy expressed her frustration at the control being exerted by her producer Austin over the topics she could discuss on air— “tuition, budget cuts, is the student discount really a discount…riveting.”
Watching Austin, the producer experience multiple personal and professional hardships in the season was thought-provoking to say the least. His unplanned pregnancy would have forced him to take a job someplace his heart did not lie. Alex, all grown-up from the previous season (with a baby with Alexis named Alexander! I could not help burst out laughing) even tells him he is better off not getting the job at the corporate station for the sake of his mental health and self-respect, regardless of the financial burden he will face. His struggles, and ultimate ruin, in terms of his radio show because of his difficult host, Roxy, was also eye-opening. Producers have the responsibility of managing talent that could be troublesome and uncooperative, yet they have to do their best to comprise with and appease them for the sake of the production. Ultimately, Austin recognizes that he and Roxy are not meant to work together and declines a promising job opportunity for the sake of their friendship. Sometimes, tough choices have to be made for an individual’s, friends’ and/or family’s best interest, even if it means not taking the easy or favorable course of action.
I drew a comparison between Austin being called out for his inattentiveness to the other character’s personal struggles to Striker in Season 1. They were both so absorbed in the work and their own aspirations that they failed to see and address any issues their friends/co-workers were having. Roxy and Austin address each others’ flaws in character with brutal honestly in Episode 4; making me reflect on times I may have acted without consideration for others while caught up in my own troubles.
Dylan was in contrast with the characters of previous seasons in that he did not seem as focused or inspired to work on the show. He describes himself as a “treading waters type of guy, a bong smoking sort of fellow, a blunt licking mother******.” He was a fun character to watch with his constant talk of organic marijuana snacks and ideas for safe pot smoking areas on campus. He appeared to be uninterested in putting in the proper amount of work, delegating instead to Emily and claiming the credit for himself. Dylan was a great source of comic relief with his one liners during heated situations (“prison orange would look good on you.”) Despite Austin’s expectations, or lack of, Dylan does manage to “flip the switch.” With a just cause to energize him, he rose to the occasion with his social media savviness and laissez-fair leadership style and led the team to put on the new and improved Midnight Riders show.
Episode 3, “Top of the Key”, introduces Michael McGeary, KMC’s basketball team’s star point-guard. Hesitant to have a co-host at first, especially one as dull as an athlete, Roxy rushes to ridicule him. Michael proves to be a charming and quick-witted co-host trading verbal jabs and flirtations with Roxy. All is going well until a girl named Valerie calls in. She demands to know what Mike put in her drink at a party before she lost the memory of the rest of her night. She announces that he took advantage of her, the basketball coach would not listen to her story, but now everyone will know. After vehement denial and deflection— “I have three sisters, I’d never do anything like that, I have the upmost respect for women…”—the scene and episode ends with Roxy punching Michael in the face.
At this point, I had a haunting feeling that the resolution to this appalling revelation would not be what Valerie hopes for. Based on very recent events, it has become apparent that the handling of claims of sexual assault on women is problematic. In the case of Bill Cosby drugging and raping Andrea Constand, it took more than 14 years for Ms. Constand to receive justice. Meanwhile, all the other women who came forward in regards to almost identical allegations against Cosby will have to settle for the convictions against just one (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/arts/television/bill-cosby-sexual-assault-allegations-timeline.html). Similarly, the sexual assault claims of Christine Blasey Ford against now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was dealt with in a manner resembling the events of the show (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation-hearings.html). Kavanaugh proceeded to be appointed to the Supreme Court, while Ford faces ridicule and harassment to this day. The school denounces Roxy’s violence by saying “we stand against hate,” and does nothing to investigate the grave allegations against Michael. Roxy is put to silence under threat of legal charges and losing her degree. Valerie is essentially ignored. The student body’s response to the claim is mixed; one female student believes Roxy staged everything so KMC would lose their basketball game. McGeary continues to play basketball for the school. The school values a championship more than justice for a victim of sexual abuse.
As Emily predicted, “however Midnight Roxy finishes her show, it’ll be unforgettable.” Roxy was an impassioned and contentious host to begin with. She mistreated her co-workers and was terribly hostile at times. She insults Emily one moment and expects unquestioning devotion the next. However, I found her speeches to be from a place of good intent. Episode 1’s rant about sacrificing artistic integrity for financial gains was refreshing; not everyone discusses the topic so explicitly due to their anxieties and fears of an undesirable future. The vicious and graphic public service announcement regarding pregnancy in Episode 2 may have been improper for the radio and coming from a place of spite, but it still had students’ best interests in mind. Roxy’s impulsiveness and brash delivery is what made her such a captivating personality that was hard not to listen to. Unfortunately, without thinking of the consequences, her actions jeopardized the show, and in turn, her and Austin’s futures.
Emily goes from a “more behind the scenes type of person” to becoming an enigmatic and outspoken host who battles for what matters to her and her schoolmates. After Roxy Midnight is canceled, Emily calls for action by the students to draw more attention to the unacceptable and corrupt manner in which sexual assault allegations are handled. It was fun to see her embody the spirit of Roxy in Episode 6 and give a broadcast worthy of the Midnight name. In the 12th minute of Episode 6, Valerie, the shows new intern, reads the announcement that McGeary will not play in the championship game due to the overwhelming amount of protest.
Season 3 of Unproductive was funny, serious, touching, and revealing all at once. Some of my takes from it are to examine more closely the relationships I have with friends, family, partners and co-workers. Everyone has their own demons and it is harsh to disregard other people’s realities to make it easier for oneself to progress or be comfortable. It reminded the viewers of the sad and troubling realities women face daily and how hard it is to receive the proper consideration, attention and justice for the horrific act of sexual assault. On a more optimistic note, if taken as an example, the third season is inspirational and makes a moral outcome in such situations hopeful. It is possible to rectify the unfair treatment, examination, and processing of such an atrocious act and its consequences. It will, however, take just about everyone to do it.
Media Sam 