Nip/Tuck

I have been eating, breathing and sleeping Nip/Tuck. Seriously, always have enjoyed the show but right now I have done nothing else but watch the series. There’s a good reason for that though. For my senior research project, I am analyzing the series of Nip/Tuck to learn of the vanity reasons portrayed by the characters to get cosmetic surgery and how these characters are portrayed and represented in the show. 

Over the past few years, I have increasingly been more interesting in learning about body image in the media. I feel that this show has many interesting reasons behind patients choices for cosmetic surgery. The most interesting information I have found in my background research is that the creator of Nip/Tuck, Ryan Murphy, is a critic of cosmetic surgery. Therefore my critical/cultural analysis on the show will allow me to learn about something I am really interested in for the biggest project of my college career.

Heres some information on the series. Nip/Tuck aired on the FX network from 2003-2010. It is a drama series that consists of 44 minute episodes. The third season premiere episode had more viewers tuning in than any other television show on the FX network. This shows the popularity of the series at that time.

Main characters in the show are Dr. Troy and Dr. McNamara who have their own medical practice. They specialize in plastic surgery. They nip and they tuck many patients in the six season series. Some patients you empathize for and some you find completely pitiful. 

The two main doctors sleep with each others girlfriends and wives, get themselves in trouble with shady characters and situations all the while remaining by each others sides through the good, bad, tough and easy. Sometimes, as a viewer, I think, seriously? Do people really think this way? 

Isn’t it crazy to think that shows such as this one really do represent a vast amount of people in our country? After watching the show, if you have not yet, you may find the characters and the plot to be twisted and sometimes even dark. Why would someone want to create a show that can portray such negativity behind peoples body image. Then again, maybe thats why shows like this are created. Because it is real. Some viewers can relate to the stories in the show because they might just be facing the same types of body image issues that these characters face.

This is a show that can be analyzed in many ways. Since I began analyzing the show to find vanity reasons for cosmetic surgery, I see so many things that I did not see watching this series in the past. I hope you decide to check it out. Then maybe at the end of the semester, I’ll give you a glimpse of my analysis on the series and you will be able to understand what I am talking about.

Well, its time to rate the series that I will be watching repeatedly through out the next two months. I give it 4 Andi’s. It was a popular show that I hope will get me an A on my research paper!

Here’s a clip of the show if your not familiar with it. There are graphic images so be aware of that before you tune in.