Why I Hate American Idol!!!
There was one kid who was devastated because he wants to be famous, and being rejected means he cannot be famous. First of all I realize he is 16 and that little things seem much larger to teenagers, but he is indicitive of what is wrong with this show and everything that is wrong with the whole concept of reality TV, it is like watching a train wreck. Realilty TV caters to the lowest common denominator and shows the ugly under-belly of American society.
I don’t for the life of me understand why a person believes that by becoming famous will make their lives more interesting, will make their problems go away, or what they think will happen by becoming famous. The scary part is that I am sure that this crap will win the this weeks TV Sweeps, meanwhile intelligent, quality, well written shows are cancelled and left for the dustbin.
I am such a good husband spending quality time in front of the boob tube with misses, watching absolute drivel. I feel more brain cells dying now, then I ever remember losing while drinking dimies at the dugout in Ithaca NY during college. Very Sad
A place where I can rant about anything under the sun, leave a legacy for my children to read about my political beliefs when they are older & wiser and kindly request that you comment on what you read then provide me with your own take or opinion of the subject at hand. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. | More from Jeff Herz
Stumble It!
January 16th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Okay, I guess I just have to ask the obvious question, since you kind of weaseled out by not following through on this observation about better-written programs. What programs do you consider intelligent, well-written, and exemplifying “quality?” Seems to me that anyone watching the decline and fall of western civilization would be hard-pressed to come up with a shining example of ANY worthwhile programming these days. Of course, I may be too busy to sample all the programming that’s available. But with my friend TiVo, I suppose any programming you identify as worthwhile is within my reach.
Care to list your favorites, Jeff?
January 17th, 2007 at 8:01 am
John,
Fair enouugh question, I was not weasling out on purpose, just trying to keep it brief and leave the world knowing that I despise American Idol. But fair enough question. Of those shows still on the air, I consider the following quality, well written and either intelligent and/or funny
My Name is Earl, The Office, Scrubs, Heroes, ER, The Simpsons, King of the Hill (Yes it is still on), The Sopranos, The Daily Show
Chick Shows that I am embarrased to admit that I find well written, well directed and well acted:
Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy
Food network programs:
Ham on the Street, Good Eats,
Great and Cancelled, but still available on cable:
Arrested Development (G4), Homicide:Life on the Street (WGN, Sleuth
There are probably a few other Great and Cancelled that I am forgetting at the moment, but that is pretty much my list. Pretty short.
Is it the decline and fall of western civilization? Maybe, but it sure as hell not a lot of good televsion out there anymore, pretty sorry state for 500 channels of mostly crap.
January 17th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Some of the shows you listed would not be my idea of quality, especially with the denigrating portrayal they have of fathers, and of men in general. The Simpsons, for example, or My Name Is Earl. The leading men in these shows are dolts, and that bothers me. Where are the shows where men are not only portrayed positively, but masculinism as well?
Personally, I enjoy watching 24, reruns of Seinfeld, a show on the History channel called Dogfights (breathtaking, non-stop CGI animation of recreated aerial fight scenes), and even reruns of Miami Vice. Law shows are also entertaining, if they treat their subject matter seriously (Law and Order, the Practice); some law shows are devolving into libertine soap operas (Boston Legal) with only fluff to talk about on the philosophical side. Crime shows, like CSI, are also entertaining to me.
My criteria for a good show is that it does not denigrate any class of people (such as men and fathers), that it make me laugh if it’s a comedy, and that it heightens my pulse rate if it’s an action show (like Dogfights).
John Dias