Why are Hollywood producers giving cigarettes a comeback? As stars light up in And Just Like That and The Idol, expert reveals chain smoking in dramas is viewed as ‘cool’ as it ‘signifies recklessness’
- Smoking appears to be making a resurgence on TV screen once again but why?
- Read More: Sarah Jessica Parker puffs away with co-star Sarita Choudhury
Smoking was once the epitome of Hollywood glamour in movies and TV shows before being seen as distasteful by the turn of the millennium.
However puffing on a cigarette appears to be making a resurgence on TV screen once again with shows such as The Idol, Russian Doll, The Queen’s Gambit and The Umbrella Academy depicting chain smoking scenes.
The Queen’s Gambit, which was streamed by 62 million households in 2020, included 220 tobacco smoking scenes.
While The Umbrella Academy included 205 tobacco depictions, with both shows including tobacco in every episode, according to a report by anti-smoking nonprofit Truth Initiative.
So why has this habit which was once seen as gross and unhealthy making a come back? Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL chain smoking on screen is viewed as ‘cool’ once again as it ‘signifies recklessness’.
Smoking appears to be making a resurgence on TV screen once again with shows such as The Idol (pictured), Russian Doll, The Queen’s Gambit and The Umbrella Academy depicting chain smoking scenes
He revealed the uptick in characters smoking is simply because puffing on a cigarette is still seen as ‘cool.’
He said: ‘Cigarettes and movies have been inextricably linked for generations. Ever since the advent of the talkies, tobacco companies have understood the power of film to shape cultural norms.
‘In the 1930s and ’40s, tobacco companies paid Hollywood stars to appear in cigarette ads and smoke on screen.
‘In return, the studios received funding for film advertising.
‘The problem for anti smoking groups is that smoking in movies and TV often signifies recklessness, and being reckless is cool.
‘The new wave of TV shows are highly sexual like The Idol and Poker Face glorify smoking as a stylish and alluring act.
‘It’s not known if there is product placement that’s funding the resurgence of smoking but one thing’s for sure it’s definitely not going away.
‘It’s far cooler to have characters smoking and taking a drag on a vape!’
In 2000s pop culture smoking was considered quite trendy for a while with major celebs of the time getting papped puffing on a cigarette including Kate Moss, Britney Spears and even the Olsen twins.
In TV shows and movies Bridget Jones, Rachel from Friends and even Carrie Bradshaw enjoyed a cig while working on her newspaper column.
However when education around the effects of smoking, became more mainstream people called to see less of it on our screens.
Nicotine, which is a highly addictive toxin found in tobacco, is heavily linked with dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
The Queen’s Gambit, which was streamed by 62 million households in 2020, included 220 tobacco smoking scenes
While Netflix’s Russian Doll, saw actor Natasha Lyonne, play a recklessly cool character who puffed away on hundreds of cigarettes throughout the series
How dangerous is smoking for the heart?
How does tobacco damage the heart?
Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including tar and others that can narrow arteries and damage blood vessels.
While nicotine – a highly addictive toxin found in tobacco – is heavily linked with dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
Smoking also unleashes poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, which replaces oxygen in the blood – reducing the availability of oxygen for the heart.
How many people does smoking kill?
Smoking is known to kill more than seven million people across the world each year, including 890,000 from breathing in second-hand smoke.
But many people are unaware that nearly half of those deaths, around three million, are due to heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
While smoking kills around 78,000 people in the UK every year, many more are living with illnesses due to their habit.
Health warnings on packaging became mandatory in 2002, adverts were banned in 2003 and smoking indoors was banned in 2007.
For a while, you would very rarely see cigs on screen unless it was specific reason are a scene depicting the 1970’s or 80’s.
Which begs the question…why are TV dramas and films giving cigarettes a comeback?
Even when the cult classic Sex and The City returned, in mid-2021, Carrie Bradshaw, who was played by Sarah Jessica Parker ,was smoking again after quitting for many years.
The writer-turned-podcaster notoriously puffed away on her beloved Marlboro Lights on and off through all six seasons of Sex and the City, which aired 1998-2004 on HBO.
Even when the cult classic Sex and The City returned, in mid-2021, Carrie Bradshaw, who was played by Sarah Jessica Parker ,was smoking again after quitting for many years
The writer-turned-podcaster notoriously puffed away on her beloved Marlboro Lights on and off through all six seasons of Sex and the City, which aired 1998-2004 on HBO
The Ohio-born star was even joined in the bad habit by her brand new co-star – Homeland alum Sarita Choudhury – as they hung out in the backseat of a Mercedes.
Bradshaw would famously bond with her now husband – Mr. Big (Chris Noth) – over their shared love of cigarettes until he underwent heart surgery in season six.
In The Idol, the controversial new show which airs on Sky Atlantic, Lily-Rose Depp’s character is constantly chain smoking, even lighting up three cigarettes in the first five minutes.
Meanwhile Netflix’s Russian Doll, saw actor Natasha Lyonne, play a recklessly cool character who puffed away on hundreds of cigarettes throughout the series.
Despite Netflix’s pledges to cut down tobacco use on screen after criticism of how often it depicted cigarette use, smoking definitely hasn’t been stubbed out.
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