I must respectfully disagree. I have always found revolvers to be more "idiot resistant" then pistols. Where did the tv thing come in? Revolvers don't generally jam, don't generally have safeties, and are basically point and click. If you are talking a snubbie then yes they can be difficult to shoot accurately, but so too can a compact auto. Was that what you were talking about?

I feel the best self defense tool is your mind. After that it is whatever firearm you can use proficiently while under stress. Caliber and action are secondary, as has been stated before.