It was great--but you know what's greater??!!! Since Meg went with Chris, then there basically HAS to be a next season!!! Otherwise they would have made Meg stay behind!!!! :lol:

Excellent episode. I personally loved how they played "In My Life" by the Beatles in the background. It was my graduation song. And, I never have anything bad to say about any episode. But, I really didn't like how that guy in the Lair sang that song about Vietnam. Something like "Mothers, send your boys to 'Nam and they'll come home in a box." I didn't think that it was approriate when it was played during the scene where the Mother met her son's coffin in Delaware. But other than that, the episode was amazing. Also, did anyone notice how Trip made that sound when JJ and Beth were talking in their room. It was like a growling sound...really funny/scary. LOL

I found the lyrics and the timing of the song with the scene in which the mother and Mrs. Pryor were greeting the coffin completely appropriate. That was the point. Death is a reality of war. A lot of people died in Vietnam.

Here's a history of the song from Country Joe McDonald's website:

I wrote "Fixin’ To Die Rag" in summer of 1965 after I had been discharged from the US Navy for several years. It just popped into my head one day and I finished it in about 30 minutes. I did not have a conscious purpose in mind although I had been working on another song about the Vietnam War called "Who Am I?" for several days so I had the war on my mind. The "Who Am I?" song was part of a play I was writing songs for titled Change Over, written by Fred Hayden and directed by Nina Serrano. It was performed twice, once on the University of California Berkeley campus and once on the San Francisco State College campus. 1965 was the year that the Vietnam War became big news and a big protest issue with students.

I was raised in a family of American Communists and so I knew a lot about Capitalism and Communism. The song attempts to put blame for the war upon the politicians and leaders of the US military and upon the industry that makes its money from war but not upon those who had to fight the war ... the soldiers. It expresses the thoughts of a person trapped in the military system and forced to go to war by something called "conscription". Conscription or the "draft" as it was called then was a system which picked young people and forced them into the military and into the war with the only other choice being jail or an attempt to "dodge the draft" for religious reasons or physical or mental reasons. It was very hard to get out of the draft because so many people were being killed in the war that they would take just about any one. The song attempts to address the horror of going to war with a dark sarcastic form of humor called "GI humor". GI humor is a way people have of complaining about their situation so it will not get them in trouble and keep them from going insane in an insane environment: war.

Today we have a volunteer military but during the Vietnam War many people joined because they thought it was the right thing to do. It was patriotic. Lots of people were drafted. Also lots of people were given the choice of volunteering for the military or going to jail on charges of getting into trouble with the police for one thing or the other. It was a kind of government black mail. During the war people were even forced into the US Marines which was always considered to be a volunteer group because so many Marines were killed in the Vietnam War. The casualty rate for Marines was higher in the Vietnam War than in World War II.

I completely agree with you that death is a reality of war. However, when a fallen soldier comes home from a horrible war in a coffin, I think everyone should show respect to him/her and their family. I do not think that the song played during that particular scene was respectful. I felt that because of the lyrics and the fast tempo, it was making a mockery of the Military and all they do for our country.

"...Come on mothers throughout the land
pack your boys off to Viet Nam
come on fathers don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box"

Would YOU want this song played if your family member was a casuality of the Iraq war, or any war for that matter??






patriot:

I was hoping Meg would not make a dumb decision and go with that creep Chris but she did.I would never leave my family.Or my best friend Crying for that creep.I was hoping he would go serve and maybe get killed and I'm sorry if that sounds cruel but I am not fond of the kid.

I hope Meg comes back leaving that jerk in the dust.I felt really bad for her family and especially Roxanne who was standing there crying because Meg left I mean besides Luke Meg and her family were all Roxanne has.

I still like Meg but in my opinion her decision was dumb.She's not dumb but her decision was.Anyway I'm not sure if the ending was closure or a cliffhanger I am quite the nitwit when it comes to that.To me it looks like a cliffhanger.Mel :cool:

Assuming that season four will come to fruition, I think that Meg would certainly be back. After all, she devoted herself to Chris before and came back to her senses. And let's not forget Roxanne's travels with her rocker boyfriend. It's happened in the show before.

Oh, and if you really think that Jack would kick Meg out for good, c'mon! Did you see the look on his face when the commercial was playing? He'd take her back in a minute!

Meg really did it this time. Her relationship with Chris will begin falling apart as soon as they get to California. Chris will likely lie to her or stab her in the back again and Meg will return to Philadelphia two or three episodes into the new season (knock on wood that we have a new season).

I am new here...I've been reading all your posts for about a month or so...ever since I began worrying that American Dreams might go away (and it's been very enjoyable...like getting a little more American Dreams than just 1 hour a week). I've been a faithful American Dreams watcher since day 1. But I have never posted on bulletin boards before so I didn't even think of it until a month or so ago. Anyway.......
I think the song being sung at The Lair, is just simply showing us how it was back then. That would have been typical.
I'm with all the rest of you about Chris...I just hate that guy. And I was so disappointed in Meg for going with him and leaving Roxanne there crying. And gosh, I could have cried when Jack was talking to Meg...his mouth kept turning down slightly like he was about to cry.
I can't wait until NBC releases Season 2 on DVD. I can't get enough American Dreams!

Did anyone else feel like there was an Oreo commercial in the middle of the show? I almost died laughing! :lol:

Yes, I felt the same way! But then, Campbell's Tomato Soup had the same kind of thing early in the season.

Yeah, I noticed that too. It was funny, because I saw them showing the Oreos.. and I figured they would just show them. Then they went into a discussion on how to eat them! It was quite funny :)

To our new member welcome to the board.The majority of the times we talk about the episode we've seen and what we thought of it here and if I see anything not concering the episode like a ratings post than I don't read that topic because I will get angry at those kind of post so i don't read them.


I hope you like it here The majority of the posters are very nice people and we can actually talk like normal adults where as to some sites have many bashers but not here..

As for the Oreo commercial.I did laugh because I thought it was funny how Will and Jack were eating them and than later there was a commercial about Oreo cookies. Mel :cool: :D

First let me say, I am a huge older fan of the show and have been with it since episode 1....but I think the producer made a grave error in ending on a cliffhanger with hopes of a 4th season pickup......I hated the episode, it was very depressing to think that this wonderful quality human emotion show ends with its main character driving off with a loser who also took her virginity and leaving her family in tears. Meg is very headstrong but it is not like her character to make such a boneheaded decision within days. Her family was one of the main focuses of the show.......It is HIGHLY doubtful the show will be renewed and this will end the series on a very sour note with no closure......MANY SERIES in the past have done this and LOST.....SOAP featured the main character in front of a firing squad and never returned and we all know ALF is still somewhere Lost in Space if you watch the last episode. I am a big fan but it was a bad move.....maybe Mr. Prince is hoping for a mini pick-up of just 10 episodes of less to finish things up. Lets hope so for this series will not play well in syndication with a horrible ending like that!

Thank you, Mel, for the welcome. I am an "older" fan also TeeVee, as I just turned 50 last Friday. I love this show because I can identify so much with it. However, in real life, I was closer to Will's age (a little older), as I was in 3rd grade during the pilot (when President Kennedy was shot). But I still picture myself in Meg's grade. I am very optimistic about the 4th Season. I'm just believing that family values will prevail and NBC will realize that they need to keep American Dreams on and alive. Just on a side note...during Season 1 and 2, when I was all by myself out there because I didn't know about this message board, I used to get so frustrated with NBC when they would go several weeks with no show. I am very loyal...however, there are a lot of people that would get out of the habit very easily if American Dreams wasn't on at the usual time for more than a week, and would find something else to watch during that time. Then when AD came back on, they would be off watching something else by then and would never return to AD. And I always wondered why they didn't advertise more. But I mentioned these things in my postcards and e-mail to NBC, so maybe they will listen. But overall, I just have a good feeling about a 4th Season. Bonnie

A post I read somewhere here said that the season finale would be a cliffhanger, and if it didn't get picked up for a 4th season, there would probably be and episode airing later in the spring to bring closure to some things. Or maybe I'm just losing my mind?

I feel bad for Jack. I'm upset with Meg. Nothing exciting seemed to happen except for Meg leaving with Chris. I liked the episode, but it wasn't the greatest. I still love the show, though!

I read that too Nicole and I posted a question about it on here but noone has responded...

I'm upset with Meg too for choosing that little crap over her family and Roxanne but I can't stay upset at her forever however Chris will always be a little crap to me.If we were allowed to cuss here I have plenty of cuss words for that little Jerk.But I'll keep them to myself.

If Meg wasn't with Chris I would wish death on him but I don't want anything to happen to Meg. Hopefully in Season 4 Meg will come back.

You are welcome for the welcome Bonnier.Mel :cool:

A post I read somewhere here said that the season finale would be a cliffhanger, and if it didn't get picked up for a 4th season, there would probably be and episode airing later in the spring to bring closure to some things. Or maybe I'm just losing my mind?

I was pretty sure that there were 2 endings for It's My Life (the finale) filmed. One, the cliffhanger we watched last night, the other would serve as a wrap up for the show, had it been cancelled before it aired. I don't think any new episodes will be able to air anytime this Spring since a good portion of the cast is off filming other Pilots or movies. That's not to say it can't air in the fall. Hopefully this isn't the end. If it's not, NBC better work on their promotion for this show. If thing's stay the same, season 4 will be it's last and most likely it's shortest.

-Brian

wow, i really enjoyed last nights episode. I hope it wasnt the last episode of AD i will see! I thought them playing that song while the soldier was coming home dead, was a little rude to. Its a powerful song, but i thought they could have picked a better one for that particular moment. I also thought the acting was really exceptional also. Roxannes emotion, Meg's father. Everyone in that cast is so talented. I like that they had the Rolling stones (kind of) on bandstand. hehe. Im just glad they didnt do closeups on the actors playing them. What can i say about meg? wrong choice, but a good plot for the show, what would they do without the drama. As much as i'm suppost to hate chris, i just cant. probably cuase i loved him on gilmore girls. Ohh, yeah the little oreo commercial, too funny, very cornball. Just like, was it last week when patty specifically mentioned that they bought the new kraft cheese thats already sliced. haha

I liked the episode except that Meg went w Chris. I was dissapointed, but not surprised. I too loved the oreo scene w Mr. Pryor and Will. :)

I completely agree with you that death is a reality of war. However, when a fallen soldier comes home from a horrible war in a coffin, I think everyone should show respect to him/her and their family. I do not think that the song played during that particular scene was respectful. I felt that because of the lyrics and the fast tempo, it was making a mockery of the Military and all they do for our country.

"...Come on mothers throughout the land
pack your boys off to Viet Nam
come on fathers don't hesitate
send your sons off before it's too late
and you can be the first ones on your block
to have your boy come home in a box"

Would YOU want this song played if your family member was a casuality of the Iraq war, or any war for that matter??

patriot:

That was the reality of THAT WAR. The song was played as written and recorded. Again, I think the song was completely appropriate, given the times. The song was not mocking the dead; you apparently did not read what I posted from Country Joe McDonald, the songwriter.

Regarding, "Would YOU want this song played if your family member was a casuality of the Iraq war, or any war for that matter??", I'm not going to get into a political discussion about the Iraq War (this is not the forum, this board's rules specifically say not to.

I will say this: How dare you assume I don't have any family members who haven't served in Vietnam (a cousin, by marriage, died in that war) and/or Iraq (one cousin is a recent Iraq Vet (USMC) who ran for Congress, and one is actively serving in the Air Force), or who G-d forbid, hasn't paid "the ultimate sacrifice"?

That was the reality of THAT WAR. The song was played as written and recorded. Again, I think the song was completely appropriate, given the times. The song was not mocking the dead; you apparently did not read what I posted from Country Joe McDonald, the songwriter.

Regarding, "Would YOU want this song played if your family member was a casuality of the Iraq war, or any war for that matter??", I'm not going to get into a political discussion about the Iraq War (this is not the forum, this board's rules specifically say not to.

I will say this: How dare you assume I don't have any family members who haven't served in Vietnam (a cousin, by marriage, died in that war) and/or Iraq (one cousin is a recent Iraq Vet (USMC) who ran for Congress, and one is actively serving in the Air Force), or who G-d forbid, hasn't paid "the ultimate sacrifice"?



First, of all I'm not starting a political discussion. Its more of a moral/cultural one. I still disagree with you about the song being played during that particular scene. I think it was inappropriate given that the mother was meeting her son's coffin while a song that was probably meant to be funny or sarcastic or whatever was played. It would be more appropriate if the song was played during an anti-war protest.

Second of all, I did read the article that you posted and although it says he was not criticizing the soldiers, iin my opinion, from the lyrics it didn't really sound like he was supporting them. But again, its just my opinion.

And finally, remind me again when I said that you didn't have any family members in Vietnam or Iraq. Because I didn't. I said and I quote "Would YOU want this song played if your family member was a casuality of the Iraq war, or any war for that matter??" I said IF because I have no idea who you are or what your family history is. And if you were referring to "or any war for that matter?" Maybe you read it the wrong way, but I meant: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan.

End of discussion.

I still think you're missing the point. The singer is not disrespecting the troops. He is outraged by the pointless war that many feel Vietnam was. It's called sarcasm. Guess you didn't get that.

Let me just "end the discussion" with this: you must realize, AD Fan, that when you put words in All Caps, it reads as if one is yelling (i.e., YOU). Let's agree to disagree. I refuse to "drink the Koolaid."

you believe what you want to believe, I'll believe what I want to believe.

patriot:

In regards to the song, the fact is alot of people disagreed with the Vietnam War and in many ways music became an outlet for them.
I think the show does a good job of showing both sides. We get the sense that Jack supports the war, or at the very least, feels that anyone who speaks out against it is being disrespectful to the troops (i.e. Meg). And JJ knows what it was like to actually have fought in the war.

I don't even know where this all came from.It went from talking about the episode to talking about the war.So since i have no idea how the discussion started.I'm going to mind my business and keep out of it if that's okay.I'm not trying to start anything..Mel :confused:

I guess I'm the dissenting opinion on this subject. I was so happy that Meg left with Chris. I know that burning the recruitment center was not the best move, and lying about it wasn't so great either, but he did come clean. And considering that no one was injured, (Unlce Pete might have mentioned a janitor in the building) and the times, I can't blame him for doing it. Yes they slept together, but that takes two, Meg was the one who initiated it. And if the show gets picked up I have a strong feeling that Meg will leave Chris. One because you can't have the family drama when one member must disappear, and two because Milo seems to have a habit of seducing the good girl then leaving the show. But if they break up then Chris will be the one who has a broken heart, because Meg will have left him. I'm a 16-year-old girl, so maybe I know what Meg felt like, and the fact that I have a huge crush on Milo doesn't hurt. Either way, I was glad she went with him.

I had said I was upset at Meg but I cannot stay upset with her and I will say one last time that Chris will always be a little crap in my eyes and I'm a 26 year old girl and to me even though its 1966 on AD Chris to me is a little punk teenager and he always will be IMHO sorry but it is just my opinion.Mel :cool:

I really don't like it when people fight on this message board. Normally I don't get involved, becuase I don't want to make it worse, but this time I'm going to respond to what's been happening on this board.

1. Morals/culture/politcal/whatever you want it call it, touches on issues that people feel very strongly about. Everyone has thier opinion, and these can be strong. We have to respect each others opinion. Not nessarily agree with them, but at least agree that the other person has a right to belive something different than what you do.

2. The reality of Vietnam was that young men died, and a number of people didn't agree with the war, although others supported the war. Many people expressed thier dissent through song. Country Joe served in Vietnam, and when he returned home, was dealing with what he had seen and done while in Vietnam. A differnce of opinion doesn't mean one side was right and one side was wrong, it was just a reality of the era.

3. I think mentioning Iraq was crossing a line. Let's keep this board about the 60s. Iraq is too hot to handle on this board. Go to a politcal site to discuss current issues.

4. What is appropaite, was one of the major issues of the 60s. Many people hated Country Joe's song. Many Veterans loved the song.

5. How many other shows would provoke a discussion of what music is appropaite? Not many, which is part of why "American Dreams" is so special. Protest music of the 60s became more agressive as the decade progressed.

6. If NBC based what to show on "American Dreams" based on what would or wouldn't offend people, we never would have Donald, the plot about Helen wanting to use brith control, Meg and Roxanne's first sexual experinces, Nathan in the Nation of Islam, and any other number of plots. Controversy was a big part of the 60s. NBC has to do some controversial stuff to be true to the era.

I think the intercut was one of the finest of the series, but everyone is allowed to have thier own opinion.

Excellent post, Sarah.

:wave:

I liked that Meg left with Chris. But I see how the rest of you feel. If I was Meg I wouldn't go because he's left her once how does she know that he wouldn't do it again but this time she's left in California without anyone. I thought it was so sad when Roxanne said good bye. If there is going to be a 4th season I think she should come home. Because if she didn't then I don't think we would see a lot of Roxanne. I was mad at Patty. She needs to learn to mind her own businness and stop sneaking around. But I thought it was a great episode and I really hope there will be a 4th season.

Well my feelings toward the brat Chris has been heard so I will leave it at that.However Patty is very annoying and she needs to stop being a eaves dropper on all Meg's conversations with her friends. Mel :cool:

This show has some of the most blatant product placement I've ever seen (if that's what it takes to keep it on the air, I don't mind.) The Ford Mustang commercial had to be the topper -- Jack gave JJ a new Mustang upon his return from Vietnam, then there was a commercial for the new Mustang starring a fictional dad with his son home from Iraq. Anyway, I hope the show is back next year. If it is, Meg will be back. I can't see her and Roxanne dancing on "American Bandstand" much longer. Sometimes the show's sequencing is a little off the mark. The anti-war movement (and Country Joe) really didn't hit the middle class until '68. Still, I don't care. I grew up in the Delaware Valley in the '60s, and there are enough details about the show to make me happy.