When I was young, MTV played music videos, episodes of funny shows, like Monty Python, aired on Comedy Central, and a show starring both Corey Haim and Corey Feldman as themselves would not be headlining on a network called "Arts & Entertainment". My parents were slightly frightened by a channel dedicated only to music when I was young but I'm sure they'd love to have Cindy Lauper with pink hair back if they ever even caught a glimpse of "Flavor of Love: Charm School".
I suppose I could list all the other changes that have rearranged the face of TV over the years. But that might be a little boring. It would also be utterly painful to share a nostalgic walk through TV history when that seems to be what everyone does lately. The "Remember the Pre-Reality TV days" rant is just a little cliche these days.
The fact is we only have ourselves to blame for the current state of television. How many of us bash reality TV but then run home to watch it in the privacy of our own homes (maybe even huddled under a blanket so that no one can recognize you enjoying sucha program)? Enough that "reality" is still king.
And, if one were to look at the big picture -- and I mean the no-bias, not nostalgic big picture -- viewing audiences have always enjoyed crap entertainment. Even Shakespeare injected base comedy into his plays to keep the viewing public at attention. Burlesque, shows mixing striping and comedy on stage, enjoyed a heyday starting in the 1870's. Comedians from Charlie Chaplin to Benny Hill made people laugh by chasing women shamelessly. Candid Camera caught people in awkward situations as early as 1948. We love this kind of stuff.
Why? Because stuff like that makes us giggle. Yes, all of us. Tell me you don't giggle when someone says Lake Titicaca and I'll tell you you're a liar.
So, is reality television a sign of the degradation of our civilization or is it just the evolution of crap entertainment? If you want my opinion, I certainly don't think that the popularity of American Idol is a sign of the apocalypse. But that's just my opinion.
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