The state of television in 2017 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 01-30-2017, 11:47 AM

Hello.

I am an America. Who has lived overseas the last 15 years, and I have only been back to the United States twice in that time, once in late 2015 (after being gone for 14 years) and now in early 2017. I am an only child living with my aged parents who are of marginal health (not housebound at all, but hang out at the house a lot more due to health) who watch a lot of television, but they have always watched a lot of TV.

First, there are so many channels, it is difficult to wade through all the choices and pick out what I want to watch, if that makes sense. It is difficult to me to guide which programs I want to see or not. Also, because there are so many channels now, it is somewhat difficult to remember the channel number itself.

It seems to me that these channels mainly show commercials, and it seems that there are more commercials that the show itself. It seems that there is at least five minutes of commercials every break. Trying to switch channels doesn't seem to help because they are also showing commercials......

Many of the commercials are embarrassing and annoying. The damn blue bears in the toilet paper commercial. The ads for stool softeners or Viagra. I notice to my amusement that most commercials are for medication or fast food. Comcerning medication, I don't want to suggest to my doctor that I should take this medicine for my medical problem. Or it seems, at least in my town, several lawyers advertising their services "been injured, call us". How much business do these lawyers get? Living overseas, I watch YouTube or other websites where I can watch my show without the damn commercials or the "teasers". Actually, I wish the commercials could be done away with altogether, but this will not happen. I would make a law however that advertisements for sex, stool softeners or personal injury lawyers be made illegal.

I have said this before, but Law and Order needs to be its own network. I guess Dick Wolf and company make a lot more money selling the show to five different cable channels. I love Law and Order and SVU, so it doesn't bother me. I do like when they show many episodes of one old show, ome channel shows multiple episodes of Sanford and Son and Seinfeld. But again, there are the commercials to contend with.

The news is constantly on. The news is now a source of entertainment it seems, which is why seemingly America (sort of) voted for an entertainer for President. At least in my market, the local news is always on. The CBS affiliate has news basically from 5 am-9am, Noon, and then 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 10 pm, with some channels having local news at 9pm. Nothing interesting happens in my city except for robberies, and murder, and then weather. Lots and lots of weather. Weather is very important, and the different local news trip all over themselves to make their weather better than anybody else.

TV is somewhat entertaining, but it is difficult to wade through the garbage, the obnoxious international and local news and the embarrassing commercials. If I were to live back in the USA, I probably wouldn't even have a cable subscription and just have my internet, my shows without commercials, amd YouTube. However, I have read and heard that cable and Internet are in a "package" and one cannot get internet without the cable or some nonsense, and that cable is expensive. Dunno.

I am not sure TV isn't a monster like Frankenstien who should be killed and not fed. There has to be a better way!

Regulus · 01-30-2017, 01:30 PM

I gave up on commercial TV a decade ago. Like you I got P'Oed at the commercials, ESPECIALLY the medical ads that dealt with bodily functions.

The last straw for me was when I saw an ad for Viagra ON A CHILDREN'S SHOW!

I cancelled my subscription to Cable TV and used the money I saved to purchase my shows on home video, mostly DVDs, along with a few Blu-Rays and some old-fashioned VHS. In the last ten years the price of a subscription to a Pay-Tv Provider has more than doubled, but the price for home video has FALLEN. I can buy twice as many DVDs now for the same price as I did 10 years ago. Today I own over 1,000 TV shows (over 45,000 episodes) along with over 2,700 movies, 80 movie serials (over 1200 chapters) and over 500 documentaries. I watch what I want when I got to, nobody butts in to hawk a product I'm not interested when I want to. After I watch a program, I put it away (Every now and then I like to watch an old favorite for old time's sake, sometimes with friends and relatives) I won't be returning to "Appointment TV" anytime soon (I most likely have enough videos to last me the rest of my life).

Retro4Life · 01-30-2017, 01:50 PM

When I was young, we had 13 channels to choose from (and even that was a lot; we were one of the first to get cable in our area, not because we were rich just because my dad wanted to see the Cubs games).

As a kid, I can rarely remember a time when it seemed like "there was nothing good to watch." Game shows, sports, sitcoms, adventure, talk shows, local TV fare like kiddie and horror movie hosts, etc. Sure I played outside a lot, too, but after dark, or when it was cold or bad weather...always something good on.

Now I have 150 channels and I surf in vain to find anything good. You are right; way too much of TV is just commercials and commercials disguised as real entertainment. I'm getting rid of my dish this week, partly due to finances and partly just because I get very little value from it.

Very sad. I know there will be folks who chime in and say "oh, you just aren't giving everything a chance" or "this is a golden age for TV, what are you talking about?". Well, I have given it a chance, and no I haven't watched every single program because I don't have the time or energy for that. But I have looked a LOT, and what I see is dreary repetition, characters I either don't care about or relate to or just outright dislike, and diminished quality in terms of "bang for your buck."

I don't have HBO either, because I can't afford it; basic cable is enough expense for me, and even that's too much.

Maybe someday I'll feel differently, but I rather doubt it.

loaferman · 01-30-2017, 02:50 PM

I read that the most recent episode of "The Big Bang Theory" only ran for 19 minutes with 6 minutes of uninterrupted commercials. They are putting themselves out of business eventually. No wonder most sitcoms now just seem like random scenes with a paper thin excuse of a story.

Regulus · 01-30-2017, 03:08 PM

When Cable TV came to my town in 1980 I was like a child on Christmas. Oh Boy! 28 channels! All MINE! For $22.00 a month you basic and all three "Premium"(HBO, Showtime & The Movie Channel) channels. That weekend I invited all my friends to my house for a "Cable TV Party".

arty: I couldn't have chosen a better date. On that evening a childhood scourge, the Presidential News Conference, was about to be ERADICATED. We first tuned in to ABC. We watched the first minutes of the conference, "This an ABC News Special Report". When the announcer said "Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States" we all shouted in unison "Three...Two...One...SWITCH!!! and changed the channel to HBO and watched the James Bond Movie Moonraker.

Good times it was, I had no idea a time would come when I happily CANCEL that subscription. Today my purchase of videos has slowed considerably. It's not like there's modern shows for sale only. it's like I own most of the shows I like to watch, and if a show I like gets released I'll just wait until gets placed in the bargain bin.

bmasters9 · 01-30-2017, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

As a kid, I can rarely remember a time when it seemed like "there was nothing good to watch." Game shows, sports, sitcoms, adventure, talk shows, local TV fare like kiddie and horror movie hosts, etc. Sure I played outside a lot, too, but after dark, or when it was cold or bad weather...always something good on.

Especially on daytime-- game shows usually in the morning, and daytime serials in the afternoon (not that I saw that much of the daytime serials, but there was at least a choice for anyone who wanted them). Now both are at a paucity.

loaferman · 01-30-2017, 05:03 PM

No matter how many channels you have there is far too many episodes of the same show airing half the day. I saw one commercial for "Criminal Minds, all day tomorrow". It burns you out on the show. Add in 11 minutes of commercials in the latest episode of "Big Bang" and it is downright a chore to watch.

As long as I have something to play my dvd's on I'm pretty much set for something to watch any time I want it.

loaferman · 01-30-2017, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmasters9

Especially on daytime-- game shows usually in the morning, and daytime serials in the afternoon (not that I saw that much of the daytime serials, but there was at least a choice for anyone who wanted them). Now both are at a paucity.

Talk shows are cheaper than soaps and most game shows. A lot of the people who have shows I have never heard of. Who the heck is "Harry" and why does he have a show? I'm guessing because it is cheap.

Then there are those annoying has-been's and never-were's spouting off political views as though Ozzy Osbourne's ex-wife is now going to tell me about national issues. No thanks.

Spark Of Spirit · 01-30-2017, 07:18 PM

So many channels and yet so many shows still not airing anywhere.

bmasters9 · 01-30-2017, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loaferman

Who the heck is "Harry" and why does he have a show? I'm guessing because it is cheap.

"Harry" is Harry Connick, Jr., and you're right-- it boggles the mind why he has that show.

More on his show:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_(talk_show))

More on Harry himself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Connick_Jr.

Edward216 · 01-31-2017, 04:10 AM

Just chiming into say that loaferman I think it's bizarre you don't know who Harry Connick, Jr is. Wow.

Ed.

loaferman · 01-31-2017, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward216

Just chiming into say that loaferman I think it's bizarre you don't know who Harry Connick, Jr is. Wow.

Ed.

I have only seen a few commercials and did not catch that. They spent most of the ad showing people like Sandra Bullock. I did not recognize him in the few seconds they showed him.

MrCleveland · 01-31-2017, 06:25 PM

So most talk shows are cheaper than other types of shows? Then it all makes sense!

I remember in the 90's when cartoons were STILL in the weekday mornings and afternoons, But since cartoons and syndicated shows are more expensive than talk shows or court shows...It looks like syndicated stations like WUAB and WBNX (two stations in Cleveland) play these shows...Unlike WBNX, WUAB plays more infomercials which are cheap as well.

I feel now that stations are TOO corporate and follow the almighty dollar! If stations want to compete against Netflix and Hulu, TV Stations should promote itself with quality rather than quantity.

That and reality shows should go...The cheapest type of television shows out there!

JasPets · 01-31-2017, 06:41 PM

I DVR two shows on TV, and watch later so I can buzz through commercials. Everything else I watch on Netflix, Amazon or apps on iPad.

Coffeecup · 02-05-2017, 04:58 PM

I am so use to it. All the commercials. To takes money to put the shows on the air and that where paid ads fill the bill. Even PBS isn't like it used to be. I do love my dvr where I can zip through. Again if we couldn't zip through them due to machinery, a change might happen. More technology more things to bother you. Also I read somewhere about ad for kids isn't the same. Groups pesters the cereal companies not to advertise cereals with tons of sugar. I am waiting for the marjuana ads. think we will see them??

01-30-2017, 11:47 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	The state of television in 2017 Hello. I am an America. Who has lived overseas the last 15 years, and I have only been back to the United States twice in that time, once in late 2015 (after being gone for 14 years) and now in early 2017. I am an only child living with my aged parents who are of marginal health (not housebound at all, but hang out at the house a lot more due to health) who watch a lot of television, but they have always watched a lot of TV. First, there are so many channels, it is difficult to wade through all the choices and pick out what I want to watch, if that makes sense. It is difficult to me to guide which programs I want to see or not. Also, because there are so many channels now, it is somewhat difficult to remember the channel number itself. It seems to me that these channels mainly show commercials, and it seems that there are more commercials that the show itself. It seems that there is at least five minutes of commercials every break. Trying to switch channels doesn't seem to help because they are also showing commercials...... Many of the commercials are embarrassing and annoying. The damn blue bears in the toilet paper commercial. The ads for stool softeners or Viagra. I notice to my amusement that most commercials are for medication or fast food. Comcerning medication, I don't want to suggest to my doctor that I should take this medicine for my medical problem. Or it seems, at least in my town, several lawyers advertising their services "been injured, call us". How much business do these lawyers get? Living overseas, I watch YouTube or other websites where I can watch my show without the damn commercials or the "teasers". Actually, I wish the commercials could be done away with altogether, but this will not happen. I would make a law however that advertisements for sex, stool softeners or personal injury lawyers be made illegal. I have said this before, but Law and Order needs to be its own network. I guess Dick Wolf and company make a lot more money selling the show to five different cable channels. I love Law and Order and SVU, so it doesn't bother me. I do like when they show many episodes of one old show, ome channel shows multiple episodes of Sanford and Son and Seinfeld. But again, there are the commercials to contend with. The news is constantly on. The news is now a source of entertainment it seems, which is why seemingly America (sort of) voted for an entertainer for President. At least in my market, the local news is always on. The CBS affiliate has news basically from 5 am-9am, Noon, and then 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 10 pm, with some channels having local news at 9pm. Nothing interesting happens in my city except for robberies, and murder, and then weather. Lots and lots of weather. Weather is very important, and the different local news trip all over themselves to make their weather better than anybody else. TV is somewhat entertaining, but it is difficult to wade through the garbage, the obnoxious international and local news and the embarrassing commercials. If I were to live back in the USA, I probably wouldn't even have a cable subscription and just have my internet, my shows without commercials, amd YouTube. However, I have read and heard that cable and Internet are in a "package" and one cannot get internet without the cable or some nonsense, and that cable is expensive. Dunno. I am not sure TV isn't a monster like Frankenstien who should be killed and not fed. There has to be a better way!

01-30-2017, 01:30 PM	#2
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	I gave up on commercial TV a decade ago. Like you I got P'Oed at the commercials, ESPECIALLY the medical ads that dealt with bodily functions. The last straw for me was when I saw an ad for Viagra ON A CHILDREN'S SHOW! I cancelled my subscription to Cable TV and used the money I saved to purchase my shows on home video, mostly DVDs, along with a few Blu-Rays and some old-fashioned VHS. In the last ten years the price of a subscription to a Pay-Tv Provider has more than doubled, but the price for home video has FALLEN. I can buy twice as many DVDs now for the same price as I did 10 years ago. Today I own over 1,000 TV shows (over 45,000 episodes) along with over 2,700 movies, 80 movie serials (over 1200 chapters) and over 500 documentaries. I watch what I want when I got to, nobody butts in to hawk a product I'm not interested when I want to. After I watch a program, I put it away (Every now and then I like to watch an old favorite for old time's sake, sometimes with friends and relatives) I won't be returning to "Appointment TV" anytime soon (I most likely have enough videos to last me the rest of my life).
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

01-30-2017, 01:50 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	When I was young, we had 13 channels to choose from (and even that was a lot; we were one of the first to get cable in our area, not because we were rich just because my dad wanted to see the Cubs games). As a kid, I can rarely remember a time when it seemed like "there was nothing good to watch." Game shows, sports, sitcoms, adventure, talk shows, local TV fare like kiddie and horror movie hosts, etc. Sure I played outside a lot, too, but after dark, or when it was cold or bad weather...always something good on. Now I have 150 channels and I surf in vain to find anything good. You are right; way too much of TV is just commercials and commercials disguised as real entertainment. I'm getting rid of my dish this week, partly due to finances and partly just because I get very little value from it. Very sad. I know there will be folks who chime in and say "oh, you just aren't giving everything a chance" or "this is a golden age for TV, what are you talking about?". Well, I have given it a chance, and no I haven't watched every single program because I don't have the time or energy for that. But I have looked a LOT, and what I see is dreary repetition, characters I either don't care about or relate to or just outright dislike, and diminished quality in terms of "bang for your buck." I don't have HBO either, because I can't afford it; basic cable is enough expense for me, and even that's too much. Maybe someday I'll feel differently, but I rather doubt it.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

01-30-2017, 02:50 PM	#4
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	I read that the most recent episode of "The Big Bang Theory" only ran for 19 minutes with 6 minutes of uninterrupted commercials. They are putting themselves out of business eventually. No wonder most sitcoms now just seem like random scenes with a paper thin excuse of a story.
	__________________ “It was ‘Will and Grace,’ it was the social media. Literally. That’s what changed peoples’ attitudes. That’s why I was so certain that the vast majority of people would embrace and rapidly embrace” gay marriage, Biden said. “Think behind of all that, I bet you 85 percent of those changes, whether it’s in Hollywood or social media are a consequence of Jewish leaders in the industry. The influence is immense, the influence is immense." -Vice President Joe Biden May 2013

01-30-2017, 03:08 PM	#5
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	When Cable TV came to my town in 1980 I was like a child on Christmas. Oh Boy! 28 channels! All MINE! For $22.00 a month you basic and all three "Premium"(HBO, Showtime & The Movie Channel) channels. That weekend I invited all my friends to my house for a "Cable TV Party". arty: I couldn't have chosen a better date. On that evening a childhood scourge, the Presidential News Conference, was about to be ERADICATED. We first tuned in to ABC. We watched the first minutes of the conference, "This an ABC News Special Report". When the announcer said "Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States" we all shouted in unison "Three...Two...One...SWITCH!!! and changed the channel to HBO and watched the James Bond Movie *Moonraker*. Good times it was, I had no idea a time would come when I happily CANCEL that subscription. Today my purchase of videos has slowed considerably. It's not like there's modern shows for sale only. it's like I own most of the shows I like to watch, and if a show I like gets released I'll just wait until gets placed in the bargain bin.
	Last edited by Regulus; 01-31-2017 at 02:39 PM.

01-30-2017, 05:03 PM	#7
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	No matter how many channels you have there is far too many episodes of the same show airing half the day. I saw one commercial for "Criminal Minds, all day tomorrow". It burns you out on the show. Add in 11 minutes of commercials in the latest episode of "Big Bang" and it is downright a chore to watch. As long as I have something to play my dvd's on I'm pretty much set for something to watch any time I want it.

01-30-2017, 07:18 PM	#9
Spark Of Spirit Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 20, 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 563	So many channels and yet so many shows still not airing anywhere.
	__________________ “A thing may be too sad to be believed or too wicked to be believed or too good to be believed; but it cannot be too absurd to be believed in this planet of frogs and elephants, of crocodiles and cuttle-fish.” ― G.K. Chesterton

01-31-2017, 04:10 AM	#11
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,634	Just chiming into say that loaferman I think it's bizarre you don't know who Harry Connick, Jr is. Wow. Ed.

01-31-2017, 06:25 PM	#13
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	So most talk shows are cheaper than other types of shows? Then it all makes sense! I remember in the 90's when cartoons were STILL in the weekday mornings and afternoons, But since cartoons and syndicated shows are more expensive than talk shows or court shows...It looks like syndicated stations like WUAB and WBNX (two stations in Cleveland) play these shows...Unlike WBNX, WUAB plays more infomercials which are cheap as well. I feel now that stations are TOO corporate and follow the almighty dollar! If stations want to compete against Netflix and Hulu, TV Stations should promote itself with quality rather than quantity. That and reality shows should go...The cheapest type of television shows out there!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

01-31-2017, 06:41 PM	#14
JasPets Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 14, 2010 Location: Kansas Posts: 12	I DVR two shows on TV, and watch later so I can buzz through commercials. Everything else I watch on Netflix, Amazon or apps on iPad.
	__________________ Still Lost without Lost.

02-05-2017, 04:58 PM	#15
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,181	I am so use to it. All the commercials. To takes money to put the shows on the air and that where paid ads fill the bill. Even PBS isn't like it used to be. I do love my dvr where I can zip through. Again if we couldn't zip through them due to machinery, a change might happen. More technology more things to bother you. Also I read somewhere about ad for kids isn't the same. Groups pesters the cereal companies not to advertise cereals with tons of sugar. I am waiting for the marjuana ads. think we will see them??