Yucking It Up: Hollywood and Food Allergies

The other day, I happened to catch a preview for the second season of a television show called "Portlandia." It was 30 seconds designed to be hilarious enough to inspire you to watch the series. And what's the go-to 5-second visual gag they knew the entire country could get behind?

You guessed it. Making fun of food allergies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiNXXM2mn9Y

Hysterical! Always good for a laugh from everyone!

I see this everywhere I turn. Somehow, the possibility that our children could drop dead is the funniest thing people have ever seen. When I point out that dozens of shows use food allergies as the go-to laugh, people look at me blankly. Occasionally someone will say gently "perhaps you're oversensitive, dear."

Really? Would they feel that way if I laughed hysterically about leukemia? Snorted about cystic fibrosis? WHY is is o.k. for Hollywood to consistently portray our children as objects of fun?

The blown up face! Hysterical!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCDm_kI9p_g (Courtesy of "The Big Bang Theory")

The wuss who talks funny when he has a reaction! What a riot!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X50SFJn3LD4 (Courtesy of "Friends")

The incredibly overprotected kid who also just happens to have multiple allergies! (Thank you, iCarly)

I see one of these at least once a month. And guess what? The laugh track is always, always Volume 10.

Funny.