Network TV today is worse than when it was giving us such intellectually challenging programs as Gilligan’s Island and Three’s Company.
I understand, and have reveled in, schadenfreude on a personal level, but I’m unable to understand how people enjoy it in an institutional sense as entertainment. How does seeing someone you don’t know be humiliated on national TV entertain you?
Most of TV these days seems to me to just be The Gong Show with better production values.
I used to be on the anti-reality show bandwagon, but then I realized that we have so many reality shows not because people have no taste, but because they do. They demand scripted shows with higher production values that must resemble movies. That makes them so expensive that the networks can’t afford a schedule full of such shows, so they throw in some cheaply made reality shows for balance. There is more good stuff on TV, DVD, books and Internet then I’ll ever have time to see, so I don’t care what the networks do most of the time.
margueritem over 13 years ago
WOW!!!!! I’m at the edge of my seat!
zero over 13 years ago
On Earth, as it is in Heaven…
ksoskins over 13 years ago
Wait until the space sick housewives of R.U. Sirius show up.
Rakkav over 13 years ago
Just who’s running this racket, anyway? Is there a Galactic Broadcasting Service or something?
mrsullenbeauty over 13 years ago
Who will get the rose?!? I’m on the edge of my anti-grav chair.
Ray_C over 13 years ago
If you get voted off the space station, you could be in Sirius trouble.
gordrogb Premium Member over 13 years ago
Which one is Snooki?
cdward over 13 years ago
Johanan Rakkav, it’s the “sub-ether” of Hitchhiker’s Guide fame.
Sandfan over 13 years ago
Network TV today is worse than when it was giving us such intellectually challenging programs as Gilligan’s Island and Three’s Company.
I understand, and have reveled in, schadenfreude on a personal level, but I’m unable to understand how people enjoy it in an institutional sense as entertainment. How does seeing someone you don’t know be humiliated on national TV entertain you?
Most of TV these days seems to me to just be The Gong Show with better production values.
Steve Parmelee Premium Member over 13 years ago
I vote for Shark Week paying a visit to Big Brother!
ksoskins over 13 years ago
I’ll second that motion!
Sherlock Watson over 13 years ago
How about combining “Wipeout” with “Hell’s Kitchen”? You make some risotto, then try to carry it while bouncing on the Big B@lls.
Possum Pete over 13 years ago
At least the Gong Show had the Unknown Comic and Gene-Gene The Dancing Machine. Now that was entertainment!
ChukLitl Premium Member over 13 years ago
Major advantage of working evenings; I don’t “get” to watch any of that bleeeeeeeeeep.
WaitingMan over 13 years ago
“American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent” need to obliterate each other.
Ermine Notyours over 13 years ago
I used to be on the anti-reality show bandwagon, but then I realized that we have so many reality shows not because people have no taste, but because they do. They demand scripted shows with higher production values that must resemble movies. That makes them so expensive that the networks can’t afford a schedule full of such shows, so they throw in some cheaply made reality shows for balance. There is more good stuff on TV, DVD, books and Internet then I’ll ever have time to see, so I don’t care what the networks do most of the time.