Fictional geeks on TV--Aspies?

[Aspieistj]

I am curious why certain characters are included in TV dramas. I am thinking about Bones, NCIS, Doc Martin and others in which an important character is not "normal" and clearly displays some Asperger behavior. The programs don't identify these people as Aspies; they are simply the but of jokes, irritation, or delightfully odd. Are the writers just trying to be funny? Are they aware they are including many Aspie traits and behaviors in these characters? Is it a form of prejudice due to ignorance? I'm sure there aren't a lot of USA readers who watch "Doc Martin" because it is on PBS and is a BBC production. It is actually my favorite program. In one episode an official who was highly critical of Doc Martin snarled an oddly pronounced comment about Asperger Syndrome but there has been no further mention. Because I am an Aspie I don't find these characters' awkward behavior to be amusing. It just makes me sad because it is often such a clear portrayal of how I feel and react.

 

[Judge]

The programs don't identify these people as Aspies; they are simply the but of jokes, irritation, or delightfully odd. Are the writers just trying to be funny? Are they aware they are including many Aspie traits and behaviors in these characters? Is it a form of prejudice due to ignorance?

I'd say all of the above. As if it's now en vogue to have an Aspie character to boost ratings because it's what creators and writers perceive. It does irk me that creators tend to sidestep even mentioning specific neurological conditions just to stay above the fray. Otherwise it might invite some form of condemnation on some level. And they know it.

It's always bothered me that television producers and network programming overwhelmingly side with entertainment over enlightenment to drive ratings. While there is a bit of truth to some of their characters, they go primarily for the laugh. That's the hook. And sadly what viewers are likely to recall if they connect a character to a neurological condition they know little about.

I suppose the obvious defense of Hollywood would be to point out that they are giving people exposure that they would have not gotten in the past. That much is true. I believe it's a trend to some degree, and not just confined to those with neurological differences. But for us this is no "trend", but our lives.

I'm just concerned that those of us who are somewhat different than the masses may be paying too high a price for such publicity on these terms. I suppose time will tell whether more sympathetic characters evolve in television. The more I give it thought, if I was going to make a plea to anyone in Hollywood it wouldn't be Bill Prady (Big Bang Theory), but rather Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal).