2000's White Men Television Archetype
In the early 2000's, there is a noticeable abundance of leading white men in television with the similar character breakdown of being a rich womanizer that lives in the greater Los Angeles area. Usually the actors that play these male characters live parallel story lines to their public persona exploited by the tabloids. These television series have similar reviews along the lines of, if you've seen one episode you've seen the whole series. Every episode has the formula of a beautiful topless woman, comedic B story, and a display of frivolous spending.
Exhibit A- Two and a Half Men (2003)
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Even though this was network television and there is no female nudity, there is no argument there's a lot of female celebrity cameos playing sexual interests for Charlie Harper. The brother of Charlie, Alan played by Jon Cryer is the comedic relief, a foil character to Charlie, the opposite of a womanizer who is trying to get his life together after a divorce. Not only does life imitate art with this example, it just got too complicated for Charlie Sheen and was replaced by another white male womanizer, Ashton Kutcher.
Exhibit B- Entourage (2004)
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Mark Wahlberg's series stars Vincent Chase, a popular movie star that believes in, "always remember where you come from" and keeps his childhood friends around to stay humble. Humble honestly would be an understatement, considering Chase buys him and his friends Aston Martins, have regular steakhouse dinners, and they rent a new mansion every other episode. Vincent Chase played by Adrian Grenier, one of the hottest guys ever, has had a few relationships that last two episodes but romance is absent only sex and lust exists. Vincent Chase's brother Johnny Drama and childhood friend Turtle are usually the B story for comedic relief. Eric, Chase's best friend and manager, spends the whole series as the voice of reason that's girl crazy also but only for one girl. Ari Gold, the breakout star, another driving force for comedic relief, seems like a Hollywood douche across the surface but what makes his character so redeeming is how surprising of a family man he is.
Exhibit C- Californication (2007)
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Hank Moody played by rumored sex addict Dave Duchovny is a successful writer but also a caring single dad to his teenage daughter. This series out of all the examples, is the only one where the main character who's a womanizer but with the redeeming trait of being there for his daughter. Even when Hank is being seduced by a topless woman in handcuffs he leaves for his daughter in trouble. What I want to ask the writers, was this father daughter dynamic done on purpose to make Hank Moody a feminist that enjoys sex. Regardless, I would classify this series the more alternative one out of the three examples. There's cameos of rockstars, musicians, and the patronizing themes of literary intelligence. Hank Moody actually reads and writes and even has a season being a college professor. Whereas Vincent Chase and Charlie Harper are displayed as a man child that enjoys big boy toys like hot women and fast cars.
The early 2000's were a different time where rich attractive white men could get away with promiscuity on screen without the consequences of reckless sexual health. Seriously though, TV writers have too much disregard for their characters' sexual health or STD scares just isn't for their main characters only for the comedic relief. The drought for this type of male character is becoming more popular but will it be missed. Fortunately just because a series ends doesn't mean it's unavailable to stream. These series have a binge-ability to watch or even just to have in the background as noise. My advice for someone who begins any of these shows for the first time, is don't hold any expectations for these men because most likely nothing drastic won't happen until the series finale.