American Television - Still a Vast Wasteland

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Newton N. Minow on May 9, 1961:

"When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better.

"But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there for a day without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit-and-loss sheet or rating book to distract you — and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland."

Newsflash, Mr. Minow - it hasn't gotten any better in 47 years.

http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/10/funny-pictures-cat-makes-fun-of-your-television-show-selection.jpg

I didn't really mean to start anything, I just love than photo!

 

[Jessamary]

Very cute. You know what I've been watching lately? Reruns of Little House on the Prairie. It's better than anything else on these days.

 

[chefann]

I thought of you when I saw that on ICHC today, KG! And cable only lets them cram more hours of cr@p into a 24 hour day. And I do think it's funny that it's Dr. Phil in that pic. It would be funnier if it were The Dog Whisperer (not because I think that show is garbage, but because it's a cat making the comment).

 

[raebates]

I cannot believe you would attack Dr. Phil this way! It's outrageous!





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Thanks for the giggle, KG. Cute pic and incredibly insightful quote.

 

[pamperedlinda]

......until the station signs off. .....[/size]

I remember when the stations used to sign on and off - they played the Star Spangled Banner too! geeze I am old!! And when I was a child we only had @ 5 stations (actually we only had @ that many until cable came about)

 

[Kathy's_Kitchen]

Very cute. You know what I've been watching lately? Reruns of Little House on the Prairie. It's better than anything else on these days.

Me too! I love Little House...my husband's getting tired of it though....

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I remember when the stations used to sign on and off - they played the Star Spangled Banner too! geezer I am old!! And when I was a child we only had @ 5 stations (actually we only had @ that many until cable came about)

I fixed your post for ya.

 

[pcchefjane]

All right now...I love NCIS, CSI, The Mentalist, Number3, Cold Case, Law & Order (all of them), and the new "My Own Worse Enemy" was very interesting last night. I don't watch TV for knowledge...I watch it mainly for entertainment while I am doing something else! With now living with my DD, SIL, 2 yo grandson, and 2 month old (today) granddaughter, we watch Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! You would be amazed at what you can learn from those! Did you know that llamas make a noise that sounds like a hummmm? Did you know that chinchillas are scared of pumas? Okay...maybe you don't care, but at 56 yo, I do find it interesting that my grandson can make around 30 animal sounds and a lot of people didn't know some of the animals even made sounds!! LOL!