“Blossom” provides a healthy dose of authenticity

I sometimes write about deep-ish things like the power of reflection and the enigmatic nature of time. But sometimes, I trade my wannabe-philosopher self for, well, my inner fangirl. And tonight, I’m fangirling over “Blossom.” Remember that show starring Mayim Bialik that ran from 1990-95? Yeah, that’s the one.

There’s something about ‘90s TV I find irresistibly endearing and most importantly, real. While I feel alienated by the overwhelmingly artificial world of modern TV, the ‘90s put reality in the spotlight. And no, I don’t mean ‘reality’ in the context of “Jersey Shore.”

I mean ‘reality’ in the context that ‘90s TV sitcoms featured plausible problems and people.

After exhausting reruns of “Frasier,” “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Full House” and “Friends” (an era keen on the letter “F,” apparently), I turned to “Blossom.” As a longtime fan of Mayim Bialik’s Amy Farrah Fowler character from “The Big Bang Theory,” I already had a good feeling about “Blossom.”

After one episode, I immediately raved to my younger sister Jordyn about the show’s witty characters and frighteningly accurate portrayal of sibling camaraderie (or rivalry, really). Here are a few reasons I love “Blossom.”

Blossom Russo is a total badass. No, I don’t mean that in the sense that she cliff-dives or bungee-jumps. She’s a badass because she’s open about her feelings, sex and relationships. When things aren’t working in the Russo family, she’s quick to step in with a quirky solution, and in the sitcom realm, it always works.

Blossom is a feminist, yet another reason she rocks. She isn’t afraid to express what she wants and go for it, and she’s more interested in self-development than finding the love of her life (even if Bobby Brewer is ‘totally gorgeous’).

Finally, Will Smith and Blossom shared a beautiful bonding moment in the second season, and all was right in her world and mine.

While too many children are sitting at home watching some Nickelodeon or Disney Channel show in which the characters can’t have a conversation at a normal volume or discuss any issues relevant to growing up, I’ll post another episode of “Blossom” on my 15-year-old sister’s Facebook wall.

In part because Blossom’s latest hat rules (that flower, though). In part because Six’s sassiness is envy-worthy. And in part because I want my little sister admiring a character who’s awkward and talks too much at the wrong time and too little at the right time — a character who’s real.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *