Starved for Substance

In its continuing quest to uphold virtue and promote values, Rupert Murdoch's FX network is rolling out a new sit-com tonight, Starved, set in the sad underworld of eating disorders and addiction. I have only seen previews, which were neither funny nor wildly offensive, but the subject matter is extremely sensitive and demands careful scripting, and has naturally prompted a wave of pre-premiere outrage among certain addiction specialists. Eric Schaeffer, the writer, director and star, has been defending his show on cable news segments, absent the absurd, oversized Elmer Fudd hunting cap, his perennial about-town trademark in cooler weather. He claims that Starved will paint a sensitive portrait of complex characters, mouthing all the other platitudes expected from a marketing pitch. But after a string of failed films and television series, I suspect that Starved is a desperate attempt by a fading quasi-celebrity to play the last, splashy, shock-value card in his hand--his personal experiences with eating disorders and addiction. "Write what you know," as some editors advise. But given his track record and the sensitive material, Starved is likely to step over the line and turn viewers off, or simply bore them into changing channels. Either way, it's all about the money for Schaeffer and FX. Done right, shock sells.

FOLLOW UP:
After watching the premiere of Starved, I have to give FX credit for producing the smuttiest non-cartoon show on basic cable, propelling parent FOX/Murdoch's virtue-speak to a new zenith of hypocrisy. "Your values are bad...except when we can exploit them to make money for our network!" It's going to be fun to watch the culture police at FOX try to rationalize their affiliation with FX and Starved. The show had a few funny moments--uniformly dark and perverse--and some downright soft-porn scenes, but it was uneven and forced, and Schaeffer wasn't the comedian he needed to be to pull it off. The numerous inside jokes that only New Yorkers will get could generate a local following, but if the show lasts, it will likely be a function of its novelty value. But hey, no risk, no reward.