TV...OR NOT TV?

"TV...OR NOT TV?"

-Here we are, rushing headlong into the twenty-first century, and we still haven't learned how to do it right! The ever-present cathode-ray tube may shortly be replaced by the wonders of LCD and the world of techno-miniaturization. Yet the "true meat and potatos" of the Television industry has basically remained the same. Excessive commercialization, stagnant, repetitive mediocrity, and crass indifference, has destroyed the promise, and the spirit once envisioned by the early pioneers of the Television Medium. (The pun is intended!) THIS is the true "Opiate of the Masses", and we are a culture of slavering addicts!-

-I remember fondly, the early days of TV. During the experimental years, (the 1950's - 1960's). I would consider myself lucky, whenever I was graced with a few minutes of black & white programming on a cumbersome Zenith console, or somesuch. The first time I saw a color broadcast was in the early '60's. My family was visiting my Aunt & Uncle in the Albany area, and one network was broadcasting "The Wizard of Oz". I was enthralled! Uncle Bob had one of those "rotating antennas", and the local reception was extraordinary! My brother, my cousins, and I were perched in a semi-circle, a few feet from the screen, thoroughly engrossed by Dorothy and her travails with the Wicked Witch. It would be many years, before I would regain that elated feeling. With the advent of Cable-TV, and the VHS video recorder; I was able to once again appreciate this fine film, in the manner intended.-(Actually, I lied. I had the pleasure of seeing a special presentation of the film in the now defunct Rialto Theater in Glens Falls, New York. Now THAT was the intended mode of viewing!!!)

-Obviously, my biggest complaint regarding the television industry is the excess of commercials. Advertisers routinely dictate the subject matter offered to us on a rusty, aluminum sheet pan, devoid of intellectuality, originality, and wit. Their "Target Audience" is usually the illiterate, and tasteless masses. Unfortunately for the rest of us, their "Demi-Graphics" have a way of controlling our viewing choices. And as if this was not enough, they have also extended their influence into the quantity of "Ads", that are shoved down our throats, every twelve minutes, or so. I have long thought, TV commercials should be restricted to the half-hour, and then only for four minutes maximum. I am an avid collector of classic TV shows, ie: "Star Trek", "The Twilight Zone", "The Avengers", etc. I find myself laughing ironically, when I re-watch these excellent old shows. The average length of these programs was 54 minutes. Leaving only six minutes for commercials. When contemporary TV stations run the "Classics", they must "cut", or "time-compress" the programs in order for them to fit. The Sci-Fi Channel actually expanded the viewing time for "Star Trek", in order to accommodate the newer commercial standards. So 54 minutes of programming is now stretched across 90 minutes of broadcast time. Wow! 36 minutes of commercials! I'm waiting for Columbia House to sell us their excellent wares via "Info-mercial", thereby removing the middle man! Current television programming usually runs about 46 minutes. You do the Math, I'm tired.-

-Another of my pet peeves, regards the over-abundance of sports! I thought with the introduction of a myriad of "Sports Channels", we might get a break from our "News Channels". Not so! If anything, there seems to be more of it! Professional sports is the greatest waste of human endeavor I can imagine! It has absolutely no educational, informational, or lasting entertainment value. It accomplishes absolutely nothing, other than the seduction of youth into a race they will never run, or for that matter attain even a finishing position in! So-called "Sports Legends & Heroes", are nothing more than lazy, egotistical, selfish, spoiled brats, who become rich and famous by espousing all that is rotten in humankind. I once read that the people's preoccupation with sports was the actual cause of the Fall of the Roman Empire! It wouldn't surprise me even a little bit! Recently, I have learned, that "Professional Wrestling" is the No. 1 choice of sports fans in America! It boggles the brain! Of course, with the average High School graduate reading on a sixth-grade level and planning to remodel their respective schools with gelignite and Uzi's; I shouldn't be THAT surprised!-

-SOAP OPERAS! The very mention of this "Genre", reminds me of "The Stepford Wives"! I have tried, on various occasions, to sit through a "Soap" for one week. Utter torture! Watching an Ant Farm is far more entertaining and informative! Plants grow faster than the plot of the average "Soap"! Is the "average, American housewife" so dim and dull, that she can be drawn into the lives of these untalented Fashion models? Are "The Days of Our Lives" so mundane, that they live in "Another World" until "The Edge of Night"? If so, they better visit the "General Hospital" nearest to them!-(As Proctor & Company once said: "Honest tales of working folk, as told by rich Hollywood stars!")

-My biggest complaints are directed at the non-Cable Industry. (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, etc.) These Networks took an enormous beating at the Ratings table, when Cable-TV made its debut. (HBO, CINEMAX, SHOWTIME, etc.) Despite this, the Networks are still feeding its audience with pablum. Personally, I only watch the Local News on a Network affiliate. Otherwise, I can only be found at Cable-TV channels, that ascribe to my philosophies. I will only view films that are unedited, and shown the way the Director intended. There should be a law preventing any media to air, or display, any work that has been edited for any reason. Currently, there are only two channels in my area, that seem to follow this idea. TCM, PBS. There are of course, several Pay-Cable stations which match my criteria, but I cannot afford them in my present state.-

-Well, it seems I've meandered far enough! I've probably given you a headache by now! Take a few minutes and jot down your thoughts about TV. Send them to me at the address below, if you like!...or better yet, send them to the networks!-

Comments?...Questions?...Suggestions?

E-Mail me at: "THE WIZARD OF ODD"

COMING SOON TO A WEB PAGE NEAR YOU!

(Underlined entries are complete at this time!)

"The Avengers...Avenged!"

"Babylon-5:...ALIVE!"

"Doctor Who?"

"It's...Monty Python's Flying Circus!"

"Those Men From U.N.C.L.E.!"

"Mystery Science Theater: 3000...R.I.P."

"The Outer Limits (Original)"

"The Prisoner...Released!"