Farewell to COUGAR TOWN

As many shows start every new season (not long ago, fall was the kick off season for new tv shows, but now that we hitter the new golden era of tv, we get new shows every yearly season), many other have to say good bye, specially those ones that reach the point of a fan base or cult series instead of mainstream. This would be the case of the latest show of actress Courtney Cox, better know for her character Monica in the beloved series "Friends" (1990-2000), but her try out as leading lady in a new comedy was a misfire that made it got almost cancel and then switch networks in order to continue.

"Cougar town" (2009-2015), is a comedy show or sitcom that along it's 6 seasons focuses on a 40 year old woman, recently divorced facing humorously challenges, pitfalls and rewards in this new chapter of life. Jules is her name and she lives in a small town in Florida nicknamed as the title because the high school basketball team, but serves as metaphor of this new era when 40's are the new 30's and adults get a new chance to behave as teenagers or young adults facing what would be their other half lifetime. Of course no one is alone on this ride so her life can't be as simple as she would like with company of her new family: her teenager son, her ex-husband, her new boyfriend, her sarcastic neighbor and best friend and other couple of wine lovers friends that will make every moment a joke with taste of wine or a wine testing stand up comedy.

What started as a funny idea of a comedy exposing this new timing when grown ups can still act like stupid teenagers and as part of life keep discovering wats next after their past failures or are able to have fun not just be boring and full of responsibilities turned into familiar places, cliches, and pleasant jokes after it's 3 first seasons, when for season 4 a change to a new network brought a new perspective to the show, special jumping from the single life to marriage. The term cougar refers to old women dating young guys, and that's what defined the first season. An older women just turned 40 and facing aging but still feeling young after facing the end of an era when now recently divorced gets back to the dating scene and meet new guys after being with her high school sweetheart for over 20 years and still being a mother with an already teenage son that will challenge her in all her decisions.

That's where we met Jules, putting herself out to meet and date guys but not looking anything serious till she starts fighting and getting involve with the new neighbor and bar tender of the town, Grayson, which after fooling around and jumping from hate to love will began a relationship. But what means dating when you are half way on your life? perspectives are different, goals have changed, can't pretend you are back to your early days when future is all you have. Now you got a job and probably you are or supposed to be on your way to achieve your career goals, you have faced ups and downs, but still theres a lot awaiting to be learned, probably you have learned what means been with someone and what a relationships means and brings to your life but once you spent decades with someone getting used to that life, how easy it's to forget that and get back to the beginning?

It's well known that as humans we can't promise anymore that love will be forever, and maybe that's why that realizations had increased divorce rating over last decades, but what no one can tell is what happens next, once you built a life with someone just to realize it's over. Then friends get to the picture to help you through the daily routine, making it as easy or complicated as any family reunion. Sharing advices and perspectives you can realize the person you really are by the people who loved you as sticks around your life.Can anyone still be a parent while learning how to love someone and get drunk in the process? Sex gets a new meaning after having it with the same person over years or that brings just more experience when comes to try it as a single? Or is sex different when you a parent or same rules apply as when you were not?

We've have been programmed to follow a simple life of commitment and marriage but if this one didn't work out there's nothing written of what's next and how to survive through this process. Not too long ago, divorce was not well accepted by society so everyone tried their most to stay together so now the older we get the younger we try to look. As part of this new acceptance of relationships, a new tendency has been created when aging gets you to look as young and attractive as your teenager days, and as we all already agreed that we can make mistakes and no one is perfect but we are a work in progress its easy to forget all those rules and behave as a young person figuring out life, including sleeping with random people and getting drunk with friends while complaining about frustrations on your day.

As they say, the best way to face trouble is with a smile in your face, nothing better than make fun of their situation. Thats where shows like this fit and find their audience. Nothing better than realize what you need, what it's missing or what to do next than laughing out loud with a bunch of guys trapped in the same situation and struggling with life as much as having a blast while doing it. And most important to learn to keep and love all your relationships through life because they will be present and might bring the best or worst of you and that would be defining the way to get to know yourself and move to next chapters easily and always with a big smile in your face. But for now, time to move to the next town and embrace married life and grow up