State of the TV Union

My post from yesterday regarding current cable tv shows has stirred a few interesting arguments from the likes of Mon Pere and BeachBum...I'm sure there's more to follow from the western contingent as well.



I do agree with BeachBum in terms of there being some very intelligent and thought-provoking programs that have come to air over the last several years. I was a very loyal watcher of Alias and I can say the same about Lost...JJ Abrams does good work. But the culmination of my frustration with television lies in that new reality show on FOX where contestants are basically paid to tell the truth. "The Moment of Truth" is a fucking joke. I watched a very small portion of one of the episodes and as far as discomfort is concerned, this show can certainly be put ahead of the rest of the pack of reality tv. I squirmed for the contestant, his wife and his friends that were in his contingent on stage.



This show is absolutely outrageous, but the creator is a genius because the show must have an immense draw from the average American viewer that thrives on watching other people struggle with morals and values as they try to win a million dollars. Forget knowledge and intelligence as a means to wealth, why not pay people that can be brutally honest at the risk of ruining every other institution in that person's life? Sounds like a sure shot for the American public. With questions about thoughts of infidelity, impurity, dishonesty in the workplace, mischievous behavior socially; there are enough oohs and ahhs from the audience to make a porno producer foam at the mouth.



I guess most reality tv hinges up on the embarrassment of its contestants to be the main attraction. '5th Grader', 'Idol', "Biggest Loser', etc. They're all the same. Sure, the contestants know what they're in for when they sign up to be on the show. And again, the creators are smart enough to know what the money makers are nowadays. But I don't have to like it. The best reality television is on the Discovery Channel, the Food Network and the Learning Channel because at least you can walk away from them with a sense of having gained something from the material. At the risk of sounding hokey and domesticated, my television viewing has been relegated to Food Network and sports.