Our assignment this week is to observe a TV show we don’t typically watch. I typically don’t watch TV at all, so finding a show wasn’t hard. I chose Bernie Mac…
Bernie Mac ~ Without Words
At first, I noticed this was based on a family. A group of people, together in a house. There were some children seated on a couch, appear to be fighting over a popcorn bowl. You can watch Bernie stomp his feet and walk over, quickly to the children with a grumpy face. The children look defensive, in their conversation with Bernie and his grumpy face. There are a lot of facial expressions, body language, and it looks like a typical family may interact with each other.
bernie
Bernie Mac ~ With Words
This is based on a family, however, it is the aunt and the uncle that are raising the children. The children were, in fact, fighting over a popcorn bowl. The brother was in trouble with the uncle because the popcorn was dumped on the floor and the uncle blamed the brother because the uncle favors the littlest sister. The children were defending themselves because the uncle blamed the older children and it was the little sister that dumped the popcorn and the uncle blamed the older children.
I assumed that the children were in trouble because of the body language Bernie was using. I could also see his facial expressions. Because this is not a show I am familiar with I figured it was a family that was a natural family. But was able to learn with the sound turned on that it is the uncle raising his sister’s children.
Crystal Blue
The Bernie Mac Show I am very familiar with. He was a very funny comedian. I know a lot of facial gestures are in this show. The oldest girl always looks upset. The little girl is just cute and the boy looks dorky and confused. Bernie’s face always expresses some concern. In Chapter four it stated that actors use masking on shows. On the Bernie Mack Show, I think they do a lot of masking. If we think about, we all do some type of masking in different environments.
Carol Grubbs
I used to love the watch The Bernie Mac Show. It always made me laugh. Bernie has some interesting facial expressions and I can understand what Crystal is saying about masking in different environments. I agree that we all do some type of masking especially working with children. There have been many times that I have been shocked or caught off guard by a child’s response and really have to focus on the correct response or facial expression.