Great Expectations
Claire Danes and My So-Called Life
Claire Danes and Winnie Holzman knew me. Not in the sense that they would recognize me on the street. Honestly, they have never even seen my face. But when ABC launched My So-Called Life (MSCL) in August of 1994, these two women created a character I could recognize. Angela Chase was me. She felt things I felt. She rebelled in the way I rebelled...quietly and not too threatening. She crushed on a screw up who was surprisingly soulful...and so did I. Recently, when it was announced MSCL would be getting its large DVD release (today, buy it at http://www.amazon.com/My-So-Called-Life-Complete-Book/dp/B000TXZVGQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2506898-5424966?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1193705054&sr=8-1) I felt like a kid waiting for Santa. I could finally relive my childhood and teen angst.
Photo of Claire Danes and A.J. Langer on My So-Called Life (1994)
To my delight, I got an advanced copy. I took a Sunday afternoon to watch disc one. Suddenly my stomach tightened, my heart dropped and tears welled. What was I feeling? At first, I couldn't recognize it. I couldn't see then that I was mourning my childhood. MSCL mimics my adolescence. It came on quickly, few took notice and WHOOSH! it was gone. Perhaps if the show carried past the first season, I would not feel such nostalgia. I would know if Angela and Jordan made it, and I would have answers to the cryptic last episode. But I don't want them. I don't have answers about my own life, why should I have them from one of my favorite shows?
Photo of Claire Danes from Romeo and Juliet (1997)
Thinking about it, MSCL may have survived in today's society. Topics like gay youth, guns in school and parents with souls seem everyday TV fodder, but 13 years ago this stuff was not the norm. Winnie Holzman and her gang changed the face of television and youth culture. Finally someone understood us and took notice. I am forever in debt to her and so is modern-day television.
Photo of Claire Danes and Mamie Gummer in Evening (2007)
Since I write a movie page and not a television page, I promise you that I have a point. All this reminiscing of my adolescence reminds me how far I've come...and how far Claire Danes has come. Throughout the post, I have included a few photos to show her going from TV new-comer to full-fledged movie star. MSCL just goes to show that like real life...everything, and everyone, moves on.
