Apr 12, 2011

34 CRAP-O-VISION

TVOk I am on a rant, so indulge me while I go on a tare. It seems the more technologically advance we become the less creative we are. I swear the standard of television shows has plummeted in the past 10 years, with all the advancement there seem to be a lost for creatively entertaining shows that engages your mind, tickle your intellect, tell a good story and delight your funny bone. I never thought I’d be saying that I miss shows like Will and Grace, Dharma and Greg, the Huxtables, The Odd Couple, Touch By An Angel, Ally McBeal, Sanford and Son, Eli Stone, The Pretender, Nikita, A Different World, Mission Impossible, I Dream of Jeannie and Iron side just to name a few. These days we are so bombarded with the so called “reality” TV that real entertainment seem to have faded into the ether. Everything is excessively excess and the real story, actually what am I saying, what real story? Its pure tasteless, tacky "drama" with no real plot that would employ the mental power for more that five minutes, it’s like one big fat numbfest; too much gratuitous sex to the point of nausea, too much violence for the sake of violence and too much romanticizing of the macabre.


Heavens to Betsy even the cartoons have changed and not necessarily for the better, one expect evolution and all that good stuff but why throw out the baby with the bath water? The cartoons or animes now a days while some are good most are not that interesting at least not to me, I guess it’s the new form of drawing but a lot of those animations looks idiotically like steroid babies with mouths that open to wide covering the eyes and forehead, crying so extreme it just plain stupid and almost every emotion is over exaggerated and overly dramatized, everything to the extreme power. Whatever happened to the beautifully drawn cartoons?


I found that I have lost a lot of interest in watching television except for a few shows that still hold my interest like Medium which has a family dynamic and some great interaction that makes it a really interesting to watch although its no more, a recently refreshing surprise The Good Wife, Brothers and Sisters, and Two and a half men which I have stopped watching due to serial reruns that has left me feeling like I am in an endless loop in the twilight zone. Seriously I have lost track of when the new episodes airs so I have just plain gave up find it. The programming really sucks, Fridays and Saturdays nights use to be two of the best days for watching television, one use to actually look forward to whining down and watching some good TV, now washing the dishes, catching up on laundry and scratching my ass is more interesting.


To make matters worst much to my chagrin, me, an avid movie goer interest has began to wane apart from a few pleasant surprises that really left you thinking and you were not able to predict the outcome (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Precious) 9 out of 10 times they are churning out the same old crap, its like copycat hell. What’s up with that? What are they saying when the crap makers is now the money makers, the standard if you will, making billions and the quality writers, film makers, directors and thinkers have become the exception, almost exstinct?


I know longer go to the movies like i use to and just pick a movie to watch. Now I am very selective about what I pay my hard earned money to see. I don’t depend on critics to tell me what is good and if I listen I simply take it under advisement because many times what they determine to be crap, I have found very interesting. Perhaps that’s because my bottom line is not in box office sales.


I am still hopeful though as I see some film makers/writers who are marking there own course are taking the bull by the horns and doing there own thing, Tyler Perry, Lee Daniels/Sapphire, etc.... I am keeping my eye on artist like them who understands that its not just about numbing out, its about starting a dialogue to get people's juices in their minds flowing and leaving the movies with something to think about, talk about, to engage on a whole other level of humanness.

34 comments:

  1. I loved, loved, loved Touched By An Angel. That was the only show I was allowed to watch on Sunday nights after the news, then it was bed time.It’s true, tv has turned into pure crap!

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    1. Yeah, and the trend continues into 2014 with a few exceptions......some days I don't put on my tv. I think am down to 3 days a week, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

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  2. If you suffer from insomnia like I do a good show to watch is The tonight show with Greg Freguson. He is hilarious. The guy is sssssssssssso funny!! He came to Toronto and I went to see his stand up comedy thing and I must say the money for that ticket was well spent, I wish I could see him again. Watch his show and let me know your opinion ok?

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    1. I do have my insomniac moments. Comedy is subjective and what classifies as humor for one may not be true for another. I've seen Mr. Ferguson, he's ok, not exactly my cup of tea, though am glad he works for you, continue to enjoy.

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  3. I have to agree with you on so many of your issues. Over the course of the past few years or so I've watched the quality of prime time TV go straight down the tubes (pun intended). I understand why some people don't like to watch TV anymore. The programs they show on TV SUCK! Not all suck, but most. Most of theses reality shows...pointless, why do I want to watch someone elses life on TV when I need to get a life of my own? Why do I need to know if Sara and Billy have sex this week? I could care less, all I know is that I'm not getting any SEX so why the heck should Sara and Billy?!
    I do usually have my TV on in the background, but really... there's only, a few TV shows worth watching. I would rather rent a movie.

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    1. haha...I trust 3 years later you are getting some? True there are only a few shows worth watching....as for renting movie well i don't even do that because many of the movies are quite predictable and I find that annoying. I like to be surprised, for my brain to be engaged and stimulated I don't have much regard for dumb fests. Once in a while i see some movies, though I tend to be very particular.

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  4. I agree 100% with you. now days you have to be very careful when you go to the movies. The price for the ticket is outrageous and usually I am dissapointed at the end because the movie sucked…for example what a waste of money it was "2012" the movie OH M God, not even a 4year old couldn’t tolerate it. As for the good shows I also miss the"Golden Girls" and "House of Pain" with Tyler Perry. Take care Marina Mangos

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    1. I never saw 2012 based on your analysis I am glad I didn't. Tyler Perry's House of Pain is still showing though I must confess I don't watch it on the regular - once in a fortnight.

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  5. Each generation gets entertainment based on their experience growing up…so doesn’t matter how much we change, entertainment continually has to play catch up :)

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    1. Catch up is ok, however dumb tv is insulting to any generation. Staying relevant is key however there is no excuse for stupid tv.

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  6. I thought I was the only one. Honestly, fridays and Saturdays are so boring on TV. I also like Brothers and Sisters. Have a great week.

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    1. Unfortunately 3 years later and this still holds true especially during the Summer months! The quality of TV further deteriorates during the summer periods i find myself anticipating the return of the fall series for the few shows I do enjoy, that is if they make it back.

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  7. I also agree with you 100%. I think you are enjoyed seen better view inside the buses or train before go to the works:-)
    I watch the documentary program that's good.
    I think we were an old fashion mind?
    All over the world became an artificial world.
    As human been has changed their body shape and face it most of everything as they can to better looking on sexy...but their children are not same lol!
    The TV shows more craps programs what's expect for our grandchildren to be??
    That why I loved to be in outside all the times.
    Hope you have a great day.

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    1. I don't think we are old fashioned mind rather we simply don't want TV shows/programming to think for us and rather allow us to think for ourselves. Sure I want entertainment however I don't want to disengage my brain to be entertained.

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  8. I agree, totally! TV shows these days Suck with a capital "S". Reality shows?! Can't stand them. Sit-coms (if they're called that anymore) are a waste of precious time. I could go on and on, but what's the use? They are supplying what the audiences demand AND watch.

    So much for that. I just wanted to say hello, hope you are doing well and everything is going okay. Hope you have a splendid Week!

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    1. Yeah....
      3 years into this post and I am sad to say most use my TV gets is to collect dust. I am doing more reading now, up to 100 books a year.

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  9. Exactly! I've not been to the movies for so long cause i'm just not interested in what they're showing. So many crappy movies and shows it's unbelievable.

    Adiya

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    1. Right!
      What happened to really creative storytelling that engaged all your senses and intellect?

      The last movie I saw that really had me by the throat, at the edge of my seat and my emotions rolling on the surface was Tyler Perry's "Diary of a mad black woman." Wow that surprised me from beginning to end, it held me from the opening and kept me going through to the end.

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  10. Though I agree with you on all the issues you have raised, I wonder why the movie makers and TV producers go for this kind of shows that you had mentioned.The common refrain is they make what the audience wants and what will increase the traffic to their shows.Is then the problem of deterioration in quality to do more with the viwers than makers?

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    1. While I agree with some of what you say, one cannot cater to one specific audience. It is not wise to cater to a few and alienate the others.

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  11. Oh Rhapsody you are so right, I like you miss the light hearted fun of the Huxtables, Here on the Canary Islands where I am we get the same TV as England and it seems to me that the adds are longer than the programmes, and there is nothing that I would move heaven and earth for so that I didn't miss it
    It is a such a shame that the programme makers can't see what we see and listen to the public
    Love
    Lo xxx

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    1. Oh yes, the advertisements are certainly longer, its a necessary evil I suppose as they say its the ads/sponsors that pays for the programming/shows.

      The problem I think is that movie/tv show makers have to jump through so much hoops to get their show on the air that many conform, its a numbers game, you show doesn't pull in the numbers its a rap. Its almost a formula to fail as they pit show against show manipulating time slots etc. Money talks hence everything else walks.

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  12. I have favorites that I wouldn't miss and I tape them on the DVR when I can't watch them.
    They are NCIS, The Big Bang Theory, Castle and Bones. The Bones shows I can watch over and over. If you have never watched any of these give them a try.
    I do miss some of the shows of the past.
    OOPS!! I forgot to mention The Young and the Restless as I have been hooked on that show for many years.

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    1. Ah some of those I watch and are still on air 3 years later! The Big Bang Theory, Castle and once a month the Young & The Restless.

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  13. Hi Fab…I’m glad you got a laugh out of my writing visual of me trying to act like Spartacus. As my oldest daughter likes to say, “Dad! You are a dork!”We had a weekend with temps in the 70’s…That makes anyone’s body feel better don’t you think?I have to agree with you that most television shows have lost their creativity. You are also right again…Movies too! I do need to take the time to view, “Precious.”We are a lot alike my friend, it takes some very well written, something that grabs our soul, or as you say humaness, to keep our attention for viewing. Not that I am all serious type all of the time, as you know. But I like my silliness at times. It kind of keeps me balanced with the seriousness of life. If I had to do all over again, those most important eight years life, four high school, four college (or more), I would have pursued psychology and theology degrees.Have a wonderful week and all the best from my home to yours…Greg

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    1. Ah yes, every once in a while there is a gem, PRECIOUS ooh, that was good and what a surprise ending, I didn't see that coming, which is what I love. I don't want to be able to predict the show from beginning to end, it annoys me and bugs the hell out of my eldest daughter, she says, "mom why do you watch movies/TV when you always know exactly what's going to happen?

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  14. I thought I am an old fashion BUT I feel good about it you see the same as I am lol!The movies on TV in here as you said much as same as yours. it’s boring and we import from USA an old movies "not interesting it".Hope you will find nice movies soon :-)

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    1. You are not old fashioned, you simply want intelligent television

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  15. Replies
    1. Yeah but there is hope as Shonda Rhimes and Tyler Perry are doing there thing and bringing it! Hopeful more will follow

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  16. I have a few TV shows I watch and my favorite one is a soap, Y&R. LOL I never go to the movies. $3.29 for a tiny glass of ice with about 2 tablespoons of coca cola on it is enough to put anyone off.

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    1. hahaha.......oh its worst now! 3 years later and they have taken it beyond belief. Last time i went to the movies was valentines day 2014, took my eldest out for mother/daughter time, 2 people $32.00 I almost had a heart attack. I looked at the woman and shouted what! My daughter was trying to calm me while simultaneously soothe the young woman explaining that i am just surprised by the price. You know I didn't get any popcorn or drinks hell am not trying to spend a $100 for the bloody movies!

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  17. When it comes to television you have to pick your spots. Reality shows are cheap to produce and they get viewers. There’s so much air time to take up that you end up with this avalance of crap.

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    1. Avalance of crap is accurate.....the unreality of reality, please, how realistic is it if you know you there for a short period and then go back to your ladida life?

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