Zoneboy
04-22-2009, 03:00 AM
Link (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705298789/TV-Land-has-become-blighted.html?pg=1)
TV Land used to be a gem of a channel. An outlet for classic TV shows that those of us old enough to remember loved as children; a home for great shows that remain appealing to and appropriate for all generations.
But today, TV Land is less like a precious diamond and more like a lump of coal.
Over the past few years, classic black-and-white TV series have been largely shoved into the backseat, while more recent, less watchable shows have taken their place. To some degree simply because they're in color.
In recent months, the channel's schedule has been filled with shows like "George Lopez" and "Family Matters." Now, I know that what constitutes good television is a matter of taste — but "George Lopez" and "Family Matters" are definitely not classic TV.
Neither is "3rd Rock from the Sun." Neither is "Married … With Children."
Yes. TV Land is airing the often risque "Married … With Children."
And, to be really selfish about it, TV Land used to be an insomniac's dream, with classic sitcoms playing all night long. Now, the schedule includes three hours of infomercials every night — and that's definitely not something worth tuning in to see.
Eight years ago, when TV Land (a spinoff of Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite) was celebrating its fifth anniversary, TV Land president Larry W. Jones couldn't contain his enthusiasm about the channel.
His team spent a lot of time crafting campaigns to bring viewers to both individual shows and the entire channel. And it was a big priority "to make these shows palatable or update them for today's audiences and create a really wonderfully rich, entertaining environment," Jones told the Deseret News. "It all holds together like a really good, united piece, is something that only comes from people who are passionate. You can't just make an assignment for something like that to happen. If people don't believe in it, then you don't get those kinds of results. It's something we're all very, very proud of."
The channel has not abandoned its roots altogether. You can still find a lot of good-to-great shows on the schedule, including "All In the Family," "Andy Griffith," "Bonanza," "Cosby," "Good Times," "Gunsmoke," "Leave It to Beaver," "M*A*S*H" and "Sanford & Son."
But the channel is increasingly relying on original, so-called "reality" programming. And, instead of something to be proud of, TV Land's reality shows are an embarrassment.
How far has TV Land fallen? Let's do a quick rundown of those original productions:
• "The Cougar," a tacky dating show in the tradition of so many tacky TV dating shows. The conceit of this one is that a bunch of 20-something guys are competing for the affections of a 40-year-old woman.
(And, no, this isn't sexist criticism. The show would be equally tacky if the gender roles were reversed.)
• "High School Reunion," a show that rarely reaches up to the level of tacky. It's about a bunch of mostly 40-ish former classmates who went to high school together and have never managed to mature much beyond the level of 16-year-olds.
Since many of these folks seem incapable of being embarrassed by their own behavior, it leaves us to be embarrassed for them. It's one of those train-wreck shows — watching it is like being unable to turn your head away from a horrific accident.
• "She's Got the Look," a rip-off of "America's Next Top Model," featuring women past the age of 35. It's supposed to be celebrating the idea of "older" women, but it succeeds in degrading them with the simple idea that being 35 is somehow geriatric.
It's the least offensive of the lot by a long shot, but least offensive is hardly high praise.
Ah, well. At least "Chasing Farrah" and Mr. T's "I Pity the Fool" didn't last long.
On Sunday, TV Land will present its seventh annual awards, designed to honor "the best of TV," past, present and future.
The list of winners itself could certainly be debated, but it's not without merit: Don Rickles (legend award); Lucille Ball (legacy of laughter award); "Magnum P.I." (hero award); "Married … With Children" (innovator award); "M*A*S*H" (impact award); and "Two and a Half Men" (future classic award).
But the awards might mean more if they didn't come from the folks who think that "The Cougar," "High School Reunion" and "Family Matters" are classic TV.
TV Land used to be a gem of a channel. An outlet for classic TV shows that those of us old enough to remember loved as children; a home for great shows that remain appealing to and appropriate for all generations.
But today, TV Land is less like a precious diamond and more like a lump of coal.
Over the past few years, classic black-and-white TV series have been largely shoved into the backseat, while more recent, less watchable shows have taken their place. To some degree simply because they're in color.
In recent months, the channel's schedule has been filled with shows like "George Lopez" and "Family Matters." Now, I know that what constitutes good television is a matter of taste — but "George Lopez" and "Family Matters" are definitely not classic TV.
Neither is "3rd Rock from the Sun." Neither is "Married … With Children."
Yes. TV Land is airing the often risque "Married … With Children."
And, to be really selfish about it, TV Land used to be an insomniac's dream, with classic sitcoms playing all night long. Now, the schedule includes three hours of infomercials every night — and that's definitely not something worth tuning in to see.
Eight years ago, when TV Land (a spinoff of Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite) was celebrating its fifth anniversary, TV Land president Larry W. Jones couldn't contain his enthusiasm about the channel.
His team spent a lot of time crafting campaigns to bring viewers to both individual shows and the entire channel. And it was a big priority "to make these shows palatable or update them for today's audiences and create a really wonderfully rich, entertaining environment," Jones told the Deseret News. "It all holds together like a really good, united piece, is something that only comes from people who are passionate. You can't just make an assignment for something like that to happen. If people don't believe in it, then you don't get those kinds of results. It's something we're all very, very proud of."
The channel has not abandoned its roots altogether. You can still find a lot of good-to-great shows on the schedule, including "All In the Family," "Andy Griffith," "Bonanza," "Cosby," "Good Times," "Gunsmoke," "Leave It to Beaver," "M*A*S*H" and "Sanford & Son."
But the channel is increasingly relying on original, so-called "reality" programming. And, instead of something to be proud of, TV Land's reality shows are an embarrassment.
How far has TV Land fallen? Let's do a quick rundown of those original productions:
• "The Cougar," a tacky dating show in the tradition of so many tacky TV dating shows. The conceit of this one is that a bunch of 20-something guys are competing for the affections of a 40-year-old woman.
(And, no, this isn't sexist criticism. The show would be equally tacky if the gender roles were reversed.)
• "High School Reunion," a show that rarely reaches up to the level of tacky. It's about a bunch of mostly 40-ish former classmates who went to high school together and have never managed to mature much beyond the level of 16-year-olds.
Since many of these folks seem incapable of being embarrassed by their own behavior, it leaves us to be embarrassed for them. It's one of those train-wreck shows — watching it is like being unable to turn your head away from a horrific accident.
• "She's Got the Look," a rip-off of "America's Next Top Model," featuring women past the age of 35. It's supposed to be celebrating the idea of "older" women, but it succeeds in degrading them with the simple idea that being 35 is somehow geriatric.
It's the least offensive of the lot by a long shot, but least offensive is hardly high praise.
Ah, well. At least "Chasing Farrah" and Mr. T's "I Pity the Fool" didn't last long.
On Sunday, TV Land will present its seventh annual awards, designed to honor "the best of TV," past, present and future.
The list of winners itself could certainly be debated, but it's not without merit: Don Rickles (legend award); Lucille Ball (legacy of laughter award); "Magnum P.I." (hero award); "Married … With Children" (innovator award); "M*A*S*H" (impact award); and "Two and a Half Men" (future classic award).
But the awards might mean more if they didn't come from the folks who think that "The Cougar," "High School Reunion" and "Family Matters" are classic TV.