I’m not an accredited psychiatrist (not any more!), but I’m pretty sure that when you’re faced with a naked man who is convinced he’s surrounded by giant evil lizards, it’s not a good idea to strip off yourself and reinforce his delusions. But that’s exactly what Dr. Jack Gallagher (Prison Break’s Chris Vance) does at the start of Fox’s Mental, which debuted last night. The show concerns an outside-the-box-thinking headshrinker determined to SHAKE THINGS UP!!! at the L.A. hospital where he is the new director of mental health services.
There are plenty of things to complain about with this cliche-filled and clunkily written project (check out Ken Tucker’s review for some of them). But, for me, the real problem is that it’s rather hard to root for someone whose unorthodox ways — Let’s invite patients to staff meetings! Let’s break into the house of a patient’s sister to get the scoop on what’s wrong with him! Let’s get nekkid and prepare to fight The Great Lizard War! — might well do more harm than good in the real world. Mental would dearly like to remind you of ER or House. What it actually called to my mind was an episode of Family Guy in which Lois rescues her brother from a psychiatric facility only for her sibling to go on a fat-guy-killing spree.
You don’t have to be mad to like Mental. But it would help.
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I’ll check it out for sure, mostly because there’s nothing else on. But I liked that actor on P.B.
http://tvdonewright.com/summer-tv-2009/
My dad didn’t like it either but I didn’t know the show existed…
I strongly disagree. I think our attitudes toward mental health in this country need a good kick in the butt like this show. I missed the premiere, but from the previews it looks like exactly what we need to get the focus on the issue of recovery in mental illness.
Maybe the show is a little odd and wacky, but it looks like it’s got a ton of potential for highlighting the issues of the people affected by mental illness. Some of whom are forced to stay in a broken system for their entire lives.
We spend so much time ignoring these people and their issues, and then when a show like this comes along and treats those issues just like any other (like a medical issue on House or ER), it’s got to be some sort of cliche, unoriginal wanna-be show. Maybe it is. But maybe we’ll get a glimpse of what’s going on in this highly marginalized community.
I meant to watch it – didn’t know it was on last night. Anyway, shall we count the seconds until someone is inevitably saddled with OCD and is shown washing their hands till they bleed? Or did that happen last night? Call me sensitive, but I am so done with people using the disorder as a punchline, only thinking of it in terms of insane amounts of hand-washing, and then claiming they’re OCD because they like to lock up at night. You know. EVERY night. What would be wonderful would be for a show like ‘Mental’ to show what having the disorder is really like – the terrible obssessions, the inability to face the world. (And while I’m sure only the most extreme forms are commitable, it could be handled well through a minor character and its true nature brought to light) But I doubt it will ever happen. Okay! I’m off my soapbox now! Make fun of me all you want.
Am I the only one who sees the major Tina Fey-look she’s sporting?
I agree with the Tina Fey resemblance, particularly in the TV ads. I was so shocked to find out it was Annabella Sciorra!
P.S. She also looks a little like Teri Hatcher with glasses!
I did get a chance to see it and I really liked it. Everything you said Clark is exactly what the ole foggies thought in the staff meeting. The old, “Look but don’t touch” mentality; listen but don’t hear.
It was insightful, non-pretensious and engaging.
The ideas of connecting with someone by getting down on their level, asking questions, instead of reading a file.
The show doesn’t shine over any issues, the season opener; Dr. Gallagher admits that medication is needed, monitoring is needed, but maybe we ask some questions and find out why he relasped. Maybe the medication he has taken for 12 years isn’t working, try something new.
Let someone or some medication take away my ability to do something I LOVE doing and see how long I remain SANE.
You know, I think it’s a little early to make a permanent judgment about this show. The previews caught my eye, so I tuned in and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’m a huge fan of House, and this might work as a fill-in until the new season starts. But with this show, I think they’re in danger of being too ambitious — too much is going on at one time. Trying to summarize last night’s episode can take more time than the episode did itself, which is a dangerous playing field.
I’d like to give this show a chance. It has potential, but there are a million and one different ways to go wrong. But seeing as it’s just the pilot, it might take some time for the show to settle into its britches, metaphorically speaking.