For many years now I have preached the ills of television. There is so much drivel that comes through the tubes it seems to be quite literally rotting our collective brains. It is as addictive as drugs and nearly as harmful.
We have become a culture of zombies. Watching the flashing lights, quick edits and loud Top 40 soundtracks while our minds shut down for the night. Instead of fulfilling our civic duty, or enriching our lives we are content to sit listlessly hour after hour while the same scenarios play out night after night.
I’ve often thought that if some worldwide disaster occurred shutting down television across the globe the suicide rate when go up exponentially. How many lives are wasted by sitting for countless hours in front of the boob tube? How many of those pathetic little lives would actually have to consider there pathetic ness if the TV went down?
TV is so mindless, so lowest common denominator, nothing good can come from it.
Or so I once thought.
About a year ago I became ill and spent an entire Wednesday night laid out on the couch watching the television. It’s something I always like to do when I’m sick. It must be the white blood cell level, but when I’m ill there is nothing more soothing than passivity. And nothing produces passivity more than television.
That particular night was the premier of the second season of Lost.
I was hooked before the first commercial break. The show had quality. It was well written, well acted, funny and mysterious. And it was exceedingly well produced. Hour long dramas on TV always looked...well like TV shows to me. The production values have always lacked causing them to look forced and fake. But Lost was a wonder. It looked like money.
When did television become so cinematic?
Quickly my wife became hooked and we caught up with season one on DVD while we watched season two unfold on TV.
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Article comments
1 - TV & FG
Greart article, but you have no idea what television addiction is. Even when I'm between jobs I spend all of primetime 6 days a week watching stuff and then get up early every single morning (including weekends) in order to catch up on what I missed.
2 - ano
if you are addicted to lost, make sure to check out dharmasecrets.com
3 - Alex
Throw out your TV and download your favorite shows using bittorrent.
That way, you only watch the shows you really like, and don't hang around for a whole evening.
4 - Phillip Winn
You should read Everything Bad Is Good For You by Steven Johnson. He makes the case, contra Neil Postman, that modern television actually stimulates the brain and helps to organize thinking. Lost is certainly one example of that. I'm told Prison Break is also good, but haven't seen it myself. Will rent the Season One DVDs soon.
5 - Mat Brewster
I guess I'm not that bad TV and Film Guy. although I do keep eyeing a DVR and then I'm sure it will go downhill even faster.
Thanks ano, I'll be sure to check out the site.
I've done some bittorrenting of TV, but find it irritating to find the shows I want, when I want them. Plus I still need the TV for all my DVDS
Yes, Phillip, I like your theory best. TV is good for me. I must go watch more.
6 - Mark Sahm
Salvation is just a little unscrewing away, Mat.
I chose program moderation (watching no more than 3 shows a week) and have made it work for the better part of a year. However, Lost is definitely one of my three. Great show... although the way they handle this season could make or break if it makes it to five seasons.
7 - Mat Brewster
That's probably the best plan, Mark. Once I find steady work I suspect I'll go back to something more sensible.
8 - Ty
Lost is a great show, but if you want cinematic TV you need to watch the BEST show on television: the new Battlestar Galactica.
9 - Steve Jordan
TV simply cannot "hook" me wholesale anymore. I watch Lost and BSG for drama. I watch The Daily Show, Scrubs and Mythbusters to get a laugh. The rest I can pass on, and usually do. I spend more time watching DVDs of movies and old TV shows than any of the new stuff.
10 - Tomas
Thank you for the article. I would name it discovering the lighthouse.
You have shared a story of your trip from the TV haters to TV addicts. The right-about turn point was put on paper too. It was your illness. The picture of the shift of the attitudes of mind towards the TV was depicted in all details. That made it like a mirror.
While reading the article, I have immediately recognized myself in you. My “Wednesday night sickness” has started in 1974. I became the disabled then; however, that is already another story.
Let me return to comments. You end the article with a question. Is it possible to be transformed back to humanity once you’ve become a zombie? The wonder drives us back to the beginnings and the eternal “to be or not to be” lifts up our eyes.
In other words, you didn’t question but remind us that one and only way to be healed is the personal search for the Savior. When we confess that we are in a mess, we are pierced with Jesus’ knocking at the door of our hearts and God’s love kindly embraces us.
11 - Mat Brewster
Thanks folks. It gets even sicker. I recently got laid off and the job market around here sucks eggs. My pop has offered to hire me for a bit to help pay the bills and such. He also invited me for a free vacation to Colorado. I was all set to go until I realized I'd miss the season opener of Lost. Sorry dad, no freebies here, I need my TV.
America's Top Model! Snarky, I think you got me beat. The only reality I do is Project Runway and that's only because my wife loves it.