Holiday Soaps, the Pros and Cons

Dawson's Creek
Outline: is about teenagers in small town America somewhere near Boston, in which a creek is situated - this is presumably Dawson's. They all sleep with eachother throughout the course of the series and pretend to have intelligent angst ridden conversations with pop culture references to the Smiths. Sometimes it is witty, but very rarely. Mostly it's crying, sex and angst.
Pros:
V. funny when Dawson cries. A friend told me that they couldn't use most of the footage of him crying because it was usually so bad. Fast forward to these parts as it is the most rewarding experience of your life.
Also v. funny when Joey (katie holmes who made a pact with the devil and married him, later on in life) cries and runs at the same time.
If you like things predictable, this one is a good one for you. It's a lovely show, really. Not very stimulating, but when you're in a slumpy mood you'll love it.
Cons:
Well to be honest it's mostly rubbish, with only some value.

The O.C
Outline: Ah, my generation's Dawson's Creek. Features the same things as Dawson's creek (crying, sex, angst) but throws in affairs with your ex's mother, living in ginourmous houses that would make Oprah feel like a decadent slut, overdoses, abusive relationships involving guns, strippers (namely your AUNTIE) and a whole heap more. Imagine 5 or 6 rich children getting bored and doing whatever they wanted in designer clothes.
Pros:
Funny when Ryan thinks he can control the world, beats people up, and gives his angry look when he is driving.
Seth is also very attractive, although he is a comic book nerd which in my opinion is a minus 1. However, he doesn't talk about them that much which is a plus one. Although he does play Playstation a lot which is a minus 1.
Summer can be funny sometimes.
The plot is so fucked up that trying to look away is impossible: One is a mere marsupial caught in the headlights in the middle of a highway.
Cons:
It's so extremely decadent. I don't like the fact that I enjoy watching spoilt rich kids overdosing, having sex with eachother's mothers and going to Mexico in a shiny black jeep.
Going back to the marsupial analogy, the sad bit is, the marsupial is most likely to die... the danger in watching the O.C is that you'll get sucked in and suddenly think that driving a jeep is okay.

The Secret Life of Us
Yes, so how about something Australian?
Outline: flatmates in St. Kilda, really fucked up people who sleep around. Artsy people too; a writer, 2 actors, a waitress... um. And then a doctor, a lawyer, a journalist (or is she a politician? God I can't tell... she wears a suit and has something to do with politics).
Pros:
Good Australian soap. The only good one as far as I can tell. Well written, well acted. Not too decadent (although a good soap always is a little)
The great thing about Australian actors is they always seem to get naked. It's like a thing in Australian films, soaps etc. You must get naked at some point. Not like the bloody Americans who always find a way around it; wrapping up in a sheet etc. Maybe Australian producers/directors are perverts? Or should we believe them when they say it's about reality, realness, rawness. Portraying life. Either way, its good to see them have guts.
Plot line is good.
Cons:
Made in the 2000 (i.e. RIGHT after the 90s). Australian fashion in the 90s was much like.... Hippies in skimpy clothing. And what the fuck did they do to their hair?
As if anyone can afford to live in St. Kilda anymore. it's no longer a place for derelicts and hookers... it's for trendies, much like the way Brunswick St has gone in recent years.
And I'm getting sick of this glorifying Melbourne thing; yes its the most funzie place on earth but its just rubbing salt into the wound (spelling?).

I am going to watch the West Wing next week with Hannah Keal, so maybe I can restore my dignity and reputation by watching a high brow soap (heh, right).
Happy watching,
Lisa