Summary

In the story “Brad Carrigan, American,” the story’s characters are characters on a television show, and they are actually aware that they are characters on a television show. The story’s protagonist is Brad Carrigan, and his wife is named Doris. Their neighbor and best friend is Chief Wayne, a white man who wears a Native American headdress and claims to be Native American. Brad is concerned because, recently, the show has become much more juvenile and mean-spirited. Brad observes at the other characters use childish jokes and cartoonish violence in order to entertain the audience. Moreover, it soon becomes clear that all other television programs are moving in a similar direction of thoughtlessness and cruelty. The trend is so extreme that here is even a reality show that involves murdering real people as one of its central elements. Doris and Wayne appear...