Vast Wasteland. Big Surprise.
Not surprising, actually. Almost 6 years ago I gave up watching regular television (broadcast, satellite and cable). There were several reasons for this, but the overwhelming reason was that what was on offer between the commercials was mostly crap. This is not a new revelation.
Since giving up television, I’ve been consistently amazed by the reactions of people, to whom I’ve revealed this fact. People are stunned.. floored. Often, the don’t know what to say. People are literally dumbstruck by the news. Yes, I don’t watch television. While it’s true that every once in a while something worth a damn comes up on television. Usually it’ll be available in DVD three to six months later. That’s good enough for me.
Just how bad is television? Well, it’s pretty bad. Back in the 50’s when television was still a novelty, there was concern about the squandered potential of television. In October, 1958, Edward R. Murrow observed, in a speech to the Radio and Television News Directors’ Association:
This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful.
Stonewall Jackson, who knew something about the use of weapons, is reported to have said, “When war comes, you must draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.” The trouble with television is that it is rusting in the scabbard during a battle for survival.
I’m guessing Murrow never anticipated a Prime Time lineup like this! Here’s what’s on offer at the “Big 5″ broadcast networks for tonight (Wednesday, July 30, 2008):
ABC:
- Wife Swap
- Supernanny
- Primetime: Crime
NBC:
- America’s Got Talent
- Baby Borrowers
- Law & Order
CBS:
- America’s Greatest Dog
- Criminal Minds
- SCI: NY
FOX:
- So You Think You Can Dance
- So You Think You Can Dance (Yes, a SECOND episode)
- Local Programming
CW
- America’s Next Top Model
- Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious
- Local Programming
Murrow’s “wires and lights in a box” might be a pleasant change. At least that’s benign. Really, what do we have here? Crime. Lots of crime. Crime, crime, crime. Did I mention crime? So, there’s crime. …and vacuous, pointless voyeurism, peppered with something that … looks…. like patriotic exceptionalism… sort of.
Wow.
This is the example we’re to follow? This is what we aspire to? This is how we see ourselves as a nation?
Check, please!