Jack Schidt

(Note: I ran this post last Fall on my old blog - knitti-me.blogspot.com. Due to Bron's comments regarding her new doctor named Jack, I thought I'd post this again.)

So what's with the name Jack and network TV's obsession with calling their leading men this nondescript moniker?

Here we have the beloved Jack O'Neill who repeatedly saves Earth one episode at a time. Admittedly, SciFi Channel's StarGate-SG 1 is a spin off from the movie of the same name (without the SG-1), where Jack O'Neill is played by a rather stoic Kurt Russell. However, I find it curious how Samantha, Teal'C and Daniel Jackson's professionalism have carried Jack's rather quirky personality and unprofessional conduct to politicians, military brass, and aliens alike through nine seasons. It's a wonder he made Major General.

And then we have Jack Malone (affectionately called Lips McGee in our household, for his lack thereof) from CBS's Without a Trace. Here is one of the FBI's finest when it comes to finding missing persons. This is one show we'll watch when the pickings are slim, but not a must see.

And how can we forget NBC's Law & Order's Assistant D.A. Jack McCoy. Again, the original Law & Order is not on my "must see" list, but we'll tune in occasionally (at least enough for me to note Assistant D.A. McCoy's first name).

What really brought the Jack phenomenon to light was when Husband and I rented the first season of Fox's 24. "My name is Jack Bauer and this is the longest day of my life." Ah Kiefer, you do a good job saving America and saving face. Husband has been clamoring to rent seasons 2 and 3 rented all the preceeding seasons and has now caught up with the current season, but I've been unable to really get into this drama - not sure why, maybe because aliens aren't involved.

But you can only imagine the lifting of eyebrows and rolling of eyes between husband and me when we tuned in this summer to the rerun of the first season of ABC's Lost only to discover their leading man is Dr. Jack Shepard (can't wait for that crew cut to grow out). This series is engaging enough to definitely make my weekly "must see" list. We'll see if the producers can keep this huge cast and complicated storyline contained.

So you can see the Jack phenomena spans all genre and networks. Come on guys, let's get a little bit more original - Horatio, Gil, Elliot - those are great names. Give me a call, we'll talk.

Comments

[kross-eyed kitty]

Don't forget good ole Jack from the Young and the Restless!
Here from Michele's...very funny post!

[shpprgrl]

Wow! No one could ever say that you 'don't know jack'! Have a great weekend!

[Bron]

Hehehe - I remember this post! The only shows I watch from that list are Stargate & Lost but it IS interesting about the name! Particularly since I've never run across a kid named Jack - either my kids' friends or during a substitute gig. I guess using "Jack" as a diminutive of John is out of fashion? But I wonder how many babies are getting named Jack right now...like the rash of "Dylan's" during the "90210" run!

[Lisa]

Wow I watch ALL of those shows and the whole "Jack" thing totally escaped me. Pretty funny! Michele sent me today!

[amused observer]

i know about 25 people named jack, including 3 i'm related to. i wouldn't know what to do if characters had other names.

here from michele's.

[Paige]

Here via Michele's.
I work with a guy named... you guessed it Jack

[Chatty]

Well, I am a fan of the last Jack!

Michele sent me.

[Laura]

You know I never really thought about that, but you are completely right! The weird thing is, I am familiar with most of the those TV Jack's yet amazing enough I can't say I have ever known a Jack....weird.

[Ciera]

I never noticed this before. Isn't the guy on Sue Thomas FBEye a "Jack" too?

Here from Michele's, quite delightfully so!

[Teresa]

Thanks for visiting my blog. I don't watch all of these shows, but I have three friends with sons named Jack all aged 6-8. Weird, huh?

[Doris]

Don't know how I got here, but hit your blog. I am married to a Jack and have a son named Jack. He's actually the sixth Jack in a row in our family. Guess no one can say that "I don't know Jack"! They also just renamed a radio station in Baltimore as Jack FM and that's their catch phrase. But I never noticed all the Jack's on TV. Guess I just expect everyone to be named Jack.

[elaine]

I actually don't know Jack! Well, I don't know anyone NAMED Jack. I do know one Jackson.