A recent article on Newsvine, entitled "Television Is Keeping You Down," suggests that there is nothing of value on television, a sentiment that is often expressed by people that I know, like, and admire.
Television is keeping you down? Really? Are you sure the problem is with the medium and not, say, your programming choices? Or is it that what really drives you mad are the statistics about just how much television people watch? If your article was entitled, “Reality Shows Are Keeping You Down” or “Spend More Time Listening to Real Music Instead Of Cover Songs On American Idol” or “Choose Your TV selections More Carefully,” I’d agree with you 100 percent.
But instead I think you went too far in your rant.
First let me explain my situation with television. I only watch two programs daily – The Daily Show (how appropriate!) and the Colbert Report. I don’t think I’ve watched a weekly program live since... well, the last one I watched regularly was either The West Wing or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I agree with you for the most part about the quality of programming but I think it’s also a bad idea to generalize as much as you have, as with this statement: "After thinking about it, I realize all television programming is completely worthless to the viewer." I watch the programs I listed on DVD. I have done the same for Six Feet Under, The Sopranos and Oz, often while reading the great, snarky recaps of Television Without Pity.
Are you really calling those programs "completely worthless?"
My guess is what you’re really saying is that most TV is crap but not all of it. And if you said that I would agree with you. There are some programs that are exceptional. Take The Wire, for example. That is quality programming, as was Buffy and The West Wing.
I’ve been watching each of those three programs on DVD and I have to say as much as I love books – and I read about two books a week – few books are of as high a quality as those shows. A case has been made before – and will continue to be made by others – that some of the best programming currently being made is on television, a lot of it on HBO and Showtime. Meanwhile there is a lot of crap out there in books, especially, on the best-seller list.
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Article comments
1 - Matthew Milam
As I said at Newsvine, my mother keeps playing the "I don't watch television" song. Yet she just purchased two seasons of House, which I consider 24's much crazier cousin.
2 - Lisa McKay
I’ve been watching each of those three programs on DVD and I have to say as much as I love books â€" and I read about two books a week â€" few books are of as high a quality as those shows.
That's a pretty extreme statement, Scott. While I'd agree that a lot of what hits the best seller lists sucks, there's a whole world of literature out there, way beyond the best seller lists or what hits the shelves at your local B&N.
Overall, I agree with your assessment, though. Some of what's on TV is quite good -- you just have to pick and choose.
3 - Mat Brewster
I used to belong to the 'blow up your tv' club. I have since learned to stop worrying and love my television, but some of the arguments still stand. There is a lot of crap on TV, and a lot of people waste their lives watching it.
However, you're right, reading books, listening to music, or consuming any other art form isn't necessarily better. There's a lot of crap out there no matter the medium.
There's also a lot of quality, and TV has gotten really good of late. Maybe too good. I'm having to force myself not to watch them all so that I can the time for other things of quality.