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Author Topic: Is there anyithing good on Network TV any more? Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-11-2004 05:20 PM                     In realtion to the Disney shakeup of ABC please post and add your thoughts as to the dismal state of Network Television..... Mine is as follows..... As TV technicaly gets better and better all the time with HDTV, Flat screen displays and other goodies there's really not very much that I can think of worth watching on network TV excepting some sports stuff. All of the networks have really lost it big time IMHO. Cable is also fairly dismal and getting worse daily but at least there is Sci-Fi Channel, Nick At Night, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and a few others that are good. Thank goodness there is PBS and the above mentioned cable channels, as without them I doubt I'd even own a TV. Mark  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 04-11-2004 05:35 PM                        In a word, no. JJ  |  IP: Logged Jesse Skeen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1517 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 04-11-2004 05:35 PM                     I'll never understand why people put up with the continuous logos all the networks are showing now. This has been going on for over 6 years now and I refuse to watch any show that has this. If I were just a lowly board operator I would walk off the job if ordered to put on a logo and keep it there, so I don't know why the people behind the actual shows don't complain about it. It's especially ironic that this practice started around the time HDTV finally got off the ground too- what's the point of better picture quality if you're going to intentionally ruin it? That's like upgrading your projection equipment but also putting an EXIT sign right next to the screen.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 04-11-2004 05:57 PM                     I agree with you Mark. If the programming situation gets much worse, I may turn off my satellite TV service. The only TV series' I watch faithfully are a few of the shows on HBO. That, and a few of the documentaries I see from time to time are the only things that make me agree to pay for pay TV. "24" is the only program that gets me to switch to my broadcast antennae, and even that show is getting kind of stupid now (not nearly as good as season 1). Part of the problem is so many of the viewer ratings and ad dollars that chase them have been spread far too thin between way too many channels. That has hurt the networks on their ability to fund good quality productions. I remember back in the early 1980's it took a 20 share in the Nielsen ratings to win the week. Now you can do it with half that amount. Another problem is the fact major networks have been corporatized by companies like Disney, GE, etc. They seem only interested in boosting stock prices from quarter to quarter and often that means cost cutting the "good" out of a good product. Hence the plague of so-called "reality TV" programming. You don't have to spend millions hiring good actors and writers to put together a reality TV show. The producers and networks rake in more profit. TV producers are cost cutting in other areas, like filming or videotaping most TV shows outside of the United States. On top of that, most networks are blocking out giant sections of programming time with re-tred shows. Do we really need 84 different versions of the Law and Order series? Is "CSI" going to eventually have shows based in every major American city? I heard a joke that "CSI Scranton" might be interesting. Of course every one of those shows with a different city name will contain the tagline: "shot on location in Vancouver, BC." It really seems all the MBA bastards out there are forgetting one big thing. Viewers have no obligation to watch and can do other things in the evening, such as working a second job to try in vein to pay for health insurance. The broadcasters really need to come up with something better for viewers to watch. Sony came up with an interesting market study showing a great deal of adults spend a lot of time playing video games instead of watching TV. I wonder how much time Internet surfing, DVD watching, etc. eats further into that potential TV viewing audience.  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 04-11-2004 06:13 PM                    To be honest the most TV viewing I do is on TVLand. They play all the great shows of years past lik Bonanza and many others. Shows that had meaning and I enjoyed while growing up. Shows today seem to have more meaningless violence and no plots. Reality based shows are rediculous like Survivor. That show is as meaningless as anything out there. Wish people would stop watching it so they will stop making them.  |  IP: Logged Rachel Craven Madam Moderator Posts: 2190 From: Pensacola, FL Registered: Dec 2000 posted 04-11-2004 06:23 PM                     I would say the programming is all a matter of opinion. Yes, there is a lot of crap out there but I am totally happy with my soap Passions (when I actually get a chance to watch it), Will & Grace, my Lifetime TV shows, some crap on Sci-Fi, Star Trek (which you can find on numerous stations), and I used to always watch Sex and the City (WHAAAAAAAAAAAA!). I don't really have much of a problem finding things I like when I actually watch TV. Now if you asked Don on the other hand, he only watches movies. He HATES network television and HATES sitcoms. Maybe its partially a matter of opinion because of age. I grew up with this shit so it's what I'm used to. Yes, I used to watch Nick at Night everynight before I went to bed and I like a lot of the older sitcoms but not as much as my Will & Grace or Darma & Greg. Plus, add that to the fact that they seem to lean new shows towards women now-a-days more then they used to.  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 04-11-2004 06:42 PM                     Yes and no. Yes, the networks DO put on good new shows from time to time. And then promptly cancel them with no warning. Wonderfalls: a quirky new show that I really liked out the gate. First moved (with no notice) to another night, then promplty cancelled when the new time slot didn't do the trick (duh! Few people knew about the switch). The story was similiar to the concept of Joan of Arcadia, but different in tone and execution. The D.A. - a four episode series that was fairly routine but had its moments. Other network and cable dramas I watch regularily: Alias, 24, Enterprise, Smallville, The Shield, and Nip/Tuck, OZ(re-runs), Deadwood (for now), and The L Word. I plan to start watching re-runs of The Sopranos, Queer as Folk, Six Feet Under, The Wire and Street Time whenever their shows start re-runs from the beginning (missed the opening cycle). Network dramas still on that I've given up on: CSI, CSI Miami, NYPD Blue, ER. Comedies I like: Arrested Development, Scrubs, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, South Park. Currently watching Arliss re-runs on HBO Comedy.  |  IP: Logged Mike Heenan Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1896 From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 04-11-2004 06:55 PM                     Nip Tuck rules! Can't wait till it returns. It's kind of lame the CSI people have chosen the route of the Law and Order people with multiple shows, etc. I've grown to like the Miami show (and love the original Vegas show) and hopefully the New York one will be good as well.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Stricker Master Film Handler Posts: 481 From: Calumet, Mi USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 04-11-2004 07:22 PM                     The quality of TV programing over the years has been inversely proportional to improvements in broadcast and receiver technology.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-11-2004 08:11 PM                        When I was growing up we got 2 channels (and later 3) and we could almost always find something to watch. Now, we get over 50 channels on basic cable and I STILL watch DVDs or videos a lot of the time. The only Network show I watch is Letterman, but I suppose that's mostly because of being at the theatre. I've never seen Survivor, Apprentice, Fear Factor, TRL, The Osbournes, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, The Real World, CSI, Law & Order, or Seinfeld (except the final episode). Out of that list, the only one I regret missing is Seinfeld.  |  IP: Logged Shane Hoffmann Film Handler Posts: 68 From: Fond du Lac, WI, USA Registered: Feb 2003 posted 04-11-2004 11:14 PM                     The only show that I watch faithfully anymore {on network TV} is "Alias." I used to watch the Simpsons everyweek, but now that is getting lamer all the time. I can't wait until the new episodes of "Family Guy" next year.  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 04-11-2004 11:23 PM                     As far as networks (ABC CBS, NBC) and such go, I would agree that their shows suck. I watch mostly documentaries and historical programs. I do enjoy shows like Monster house and monster garage on discovery. I like TV when I am learning something. I also like home improvement shows like This old house. On the other hand, there are some mindless shows that I watch like Futurama, simpsons, Star trek, Viva La bam, and teenage mutant ninja turtles. I also watch the best show on TV, Southpark. Absolutely NO reality TV  |  IP: Logged Adam Martin I'm not even gonna point out the irony. Posts: 3686 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 04-11-2004 11:51 PM                     What do you all mean there's nothing good on network television?! The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour is on right now!  |  IP: Logged Kyle McEachern Expert Film Handler Posts: 165 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Feb 2004 posted 04-11-2004 11:53 PM                 You're a sick sad man, Adam Martin.  |  IP: Logged Richard Greco Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1180 From: Plant City, FL Registered: Nov 2003 posted 04-11-2004 11:58 PM                     As far as network tv goes, NBC: The Apprentice...cant wait till the finale this week ER....I just am addicted Maury.....When I'm at home at 12n ABC: 8 Simple Rules....Been Watching Sine John Ritter died The Practice...Lawyer shows are so cool Lizzie McGuire.....Saturday Morning Cartoons/Shows CBS: SUCKS!!!!! FOX: The Simpsons.....'nuff said That 70's Show Tru Calling.....Eliza Dushku 'nuff said Yes....I watch American Idol For the rest I have satellite I watch numerous shows including Real TV, Baywatch, Full House, Saved By The Bell, South PArk, Insomniac, ER (reruns), Home Improvement, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Pimp My Ride, American Chopper, and the ultimate for my Sunday Night fix (after work) The Sopranos. God I love my TiVo!!!!  |  IP: Logged

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