WTF is wrong with television?

[exhawg]

[Rant] That's a rhetorical question because the answer is reality TV. Ever since the late 90's when networks learned that they can get big ratings for less money by throwing a bunch of egotistical morons on an island and kick off one a week good TV has been in a downward spiral. Why should a network spend money creating and supporting good shows when they can throw together 2 hours of crap per week for a fraction of the cost and America will eat it up? I blame every mindless sheep out there that gets off by watching people dance, sing, or loose weight. Good shows like Life and Life on Mars are already canceled and a great show like Chuck might be right behind them. A show like Seinfeld wouldn't have made it 5 episodes in the current TV market. I'm amazed 30 Rock made it. I watched the first episode and said this sucks and didn't watch it for the rest of the season. During the first summer it started getting a lot of buzz so I started watching and again and love it.
Maybe this is why cable shows are better for the most part. I can only think of 2 cases (Carnivale and The Riches) where a show that I watched on cable was cancelled without finishing up the series.
It's hard to get invested in a show on network TV these days, because most of the time a show won't even make it passed it's first 13 episodes. [/rant]

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Pushing Daisies gets cancelled, Bret F. Michaels, Tila F. Tequila, Flava F. Flav, get renewed. Fuck you, America.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

I agree, it's a giant shit-hole. Only a few bright spots here and there. At least HBO and Showtime come out with good original series.

 

[jwinslow]

NBC gives you Chuck, Heroes, The Office & 30 Rock... yet it's only top-10 show is Celebrity Apprentice

 

[xcrunner]

Any country that can get Arrested Development off the air but keep Dancing with the Stars has serious TV problems.

 

[scooter1369]

But somehow, the station that brings us American Idol also gives us House.

 

[mooktarr]

Bring back Ozzie and Harriet

 

[buckeyefool]

[Rant] That's a rhetorical question because the answer is reality TV. Ever since the late 90's when networks learned that they can get big ratings for less money by throwing a bunch of egotistical morons on an island and kick off one a week good TV has been in a downward spiral. Why should a network spend money creating and supporting good shows when they can throw together 2 hours of crap per week for a fraction of the cost and America will eat it up? I blame every mindless sheep out there that gets off by watching people dance, sing, or loose weight. Good shows like Life and Life on Mars are already canceled and a great show like Chuck might be right behind them. A show like Seinfeld wouldn't have made it 5 episodes in the current TV market. I'm amazed 30 Rock made it. I watched the first episode and said this sucks and didn't watch it for the rest of the season. During the first summer it started getting a lot of buzz so I started watching and again and love it.
Maybe this is why cable shows are better for the most part. I can only think of 2 cases (Carnivale and The Riches) where a show that I watched on cable was cancelled without finishing up the series.
It's hard to get invested in a show on network TV these days, because most of the time a show won't even make it passed it's first 13 episodes. [/rant]

What you said right here is the problem. People don't want to invest time is lettign a show develop. Unless a show is HORRIBLE if I decide I'm goign to take time to watch a show I will try to give it about three episodes to decide if I want tokeep watching it. After three episodes the writers should be able to make me care enough about a show to continue. What happens to often now is people want everything in one episode. ain't gonna happen, it takes time, to introduce characters and get people to invest. I think part of the reason reality has become popular, is people see these people on tv and say, ohhh that could be me. Or hey that guy is from my state, or a friends third cousin twice removed banged that chick, so they want to watch it. Truth is they don't really have a connection, but once they think they do they want to keep watching

 

[jwinslow]

I'm amazed 30 Rock made it. I watched the first episode and said this sucks and didn't watch it for the rest of the season. During the first summer it started getting a lot of buzz so I started watching and again and love it.

Same here (except it took me a year longer to get back in).

I think part of the reason reality has become popular, is people see these people on tv and say, ohhh that could be me. Or hey that guy is from my state, or a friends third cousin twice removed banged that chick, so they want to watch it. Truth is they don't really have a connection, but once they think they do they want to keep watching

That, or America's undying obsession with Midgets (The Littlest Groom).

 

[BayBuck]

What you said right here is the problem. People don't want to invest time is lettign a show develop. Unless a show is HORRIBLE if I decide I'm goign to take time to watch a show I will try to give it about three episodes to decide if I want tokeep watching it. After three episodes the writers should be able to make me care enough about a show to continue. What happens to often now is people want everything in one episode. ain't gonna happen, it takes time, to introduce characters and get people to invest. I think part of the reason reality has become popular, is people see these people on tv and say, ohhh that could be me. Or hey that guy is from my state, or a friends third cousin twice removed banged that chick, so they want to watch it. Truth is they don't really have a connection, but once they think they do they want to keep watching

So we have to sit through crappy and undeveloped early-show episodes just so every show starts with good enough ratings to justify a renewed contract? I say it's on the networks to have a little more integrity and commitment to their product. If a show turns out to be decent after a full season or two, word will get out and it will gain its audience during offseason repeats. That's what happened with NCIS for example--they let the actors grow into their characters, the writers develop the dialogue and plotting, and its ratings have improved every season since (also due to current syndication airings).

 

[NFBuck]

The American populace is littered with morons, dullards and dimwit teenagers. They're the ones watching all this garbage. I will never forgive them for allowing 'Arrested Development' to go relativley unnoticed until it's cancellation.

 

[BB73]

Good TV is getting rarer.

Damages is a good show on FX - a complex plot with solid acting. The major networds seem reluctant to make the investment in shows like that.

 

[BayBuck]

One problem these TV execs have is that they focus only on the immediate ratings boost and subsequent ad revenue and profits for their networks, but what about the longterm money to be made off quality original programming? There is no DVD or syndication market for these reality shows, while a first-season dud like Seinfeld goes on to make half-a-$Bill in syndication and garner royalties for decades.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

or a friends third cousin twice removed banged that chick, so they want to watch it.

I think we know the same guy. Small world, eh?

:p

 

[exhawg]

I guess I'm extra salty about this today because my wife started watching Dancing with the Stars last night at 10:30 when I wanted to go to sleep. Have you ever tried to go to sleep with that annoying shit in the background? Then while I'm laying on my stomach trying to sleep she ask, "Do you know that SteveO guy?" I DON'T FUCKING CARE ABOUT STEVEO OR ANY OF THE HOMOS ON THAT SHOW. NEVER EVER TALK TO ME ABOUT ANY OF THOSE GAY REALITY SHOWS THAT YOU NEVER USED TO WATCH, BUT DO NOW. I don't give a shit what she watches as long as it doesn't affect when I want to go to bed. Of course it's morons like her that are getting good shows canceled.