Melodramas of male bonding

IT’S extremely refreshing to note that our free-to-air channels are upping their international series purchasing standards a tad.

I’ve noted the fact that all three SABC channels and e.tv broadcast truly great international dramas and comedies such as Prison Break, and Law & Order, but these series are also brought to us not long after they have been viewed in their countries of origin.

Yes, we are still a few seasons behind in most cases, but back in the day we would be introduced to a series a few years after it had been broadcast internationally.

Lately, we are very unlucky to see a series more than two years after it has been seen overseas, unless it is a repeat broadcast on our side.


Two and A Half Men 1-5 dvd box set is an example — the sitcom recently ended its sixth season internationally and last week the first episode of season four aired on SABC 3.

Starring Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, Jon Cryer as Alan Harper and Angus T Jones as Jake Harper, the multiple Emmy award- winning sitcom, which premiered in America in 2003, revolves around the life of two brothers — one carefree and free-spirited, the other battling with the issues of being a divorced father to a lazy boy who does not achieve in anything but video and computer games.

The comedy sitcom brings to life the scary thoughts of how a household made up of three males would fair.

There are conflicts, love-life crises, boy issues and the usual raising a boy-child glitches — all of which are portrayed with the most intriguing humour.

After season two, during which Berta the sarcastic housekeeper (played by Conchata Ferrell) is introduced, it seems the household takes a turn for the worse.

Berta comes with her own pile of problems but because of what seems like her rude nature, she is treated with a tremendous amount of respect by the boys.

Season four is no different — Berta still calls the shots, Alan is having a break-down after his second divorce, Charlie is still a player but seems to be dating even more of the wrong kind of women after nearly getting married and Jake remains his couch-potato and mischievous self. He receives a rude awakening when he leaves home all by himself for the first time.



Buffy 1-7 dvd box set
Two and a half men 1-5 dvd box set
www.dvdsetcollection.com