TLC keeps showing an ad for 'Toddlers and Tiaras' and it gives me the CREEPS. This is a show about little kids in pageants, and they act like teenagers or older with the moves they're supposed to do and the makeup and clothes they're wearing. It's disturbing. Aren't these supposed to be little kids, running around in pigtails, getting dirty?
Why are they wearing more lipstick than me?
Creepy.
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Television. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Rebranding - or This Ain't Your Papa's Cable
I tuned in last night to watch 'Warehouse 13' on Sci Fi channel, which is now SyFy. (Raise your hand if you want to pronounce that 'Siffy.' Me too.) Apparently the channel wants to branch out beyond science fiction to 'imagine more' or whatever the new tagline is.
And it's also showing wrestling.
So why do niche networks suddenly drop the niche that made them household names and go broad? I assume it's because they see what networks like USA and TNT are doing - creating original TV that doesn't fit into a narrow box and get success. (FX is another one I forgot to mention, and AMC.)
What are we getting instead? Not just 13 channels of generic TV, hundreds and hundreds of them!
Look, I like the idea of niche TV. If I was into golf, I would turn to the Golf Channel because I know, shocker, it's all about golf! I turn to HGTV because I want to watch home and garden-related television shows. And I turn to Sci Fi to watch SCIENCE FICTION and maybe fantasy, which I consider kissing cousins. I consider that a pretty broad genre that can show a lot of really great television and movies (and some not-so-great, like that sand worm movie they're advertising). I don't want to watch wrestling.
Nobody wants to be niche anymore because they want to attract a broad scope of viewers. I used to watch A&E to catch old episodes of Masterpiece Mystery, like Poirot or Midsomer Murders. Nowadays I couldn't even tell you what's on that station because I never watch it. I think it's a bunch of reality television. But apparently its ratings are up.
TLC, the learning channel, has stopped focusing on teaching you anything and is now focused on reality - and so has its pal Discovery. What should I wear? What should I blow up? That's about it, and I LIKE some of those shows. (At least Mythbusters includes some actual SCIENCE.) But I miss the idea that Arts and Entertainment was full of shows that might air on PBS or BBC America, and that TLC and Discovery were aimed at teaching me something.
I'm waiting for Animal Planet to drop shows about animals in exchange for another incarnation of The Real Housewives of New Jersey or wherever they're from these days. I can hear the executives now. "Well, they behave like animals, so it fits."
Somebody hand me the remote. I'm going to go read a book.
And it's also showing wrestling.
So why do niche networks suddenly drop the niche that made them household names and go broad? I assume it's because they see what networks like USA and TNT are doing - creating original TV that doesn't fit into a narrow box and get success. (FX is another one I forgot to mention, and AMC.)
What are we getting instead? Not just 13 channels of generic TV, hundreds and hundreds of them!
Look, I like the idea of niche TV. If I was into golf, I would turn to the Golf Channel because I know, shocker, it's all about golf! I turn to HGTV because I want to watch home and garden-related television shows. And I turn to Sci Fi to watch SCIENCE FICTION and maybe fantasy, which I consider kissing cousins. I consider that a pretty broad genre that can show a lot of really great television and movies (and some not-so-great, like that sand worm movie they're advertising). I don't want to watch wrestling.
Nobody wants to be niche anymore because they want to attract a broad scope of viewers. I used to watch A&E to catch old episodes of Masterpiece Mystery, like Poirot or Midsomer Murders. Nowadays I couldn't even tell you what's on that station because I never watch it. I think it's a bunch of reality television. But apparently its ratings are up.
TLC, the learning channel, has stopped focusing on teaching you anything and is now focused on reality - and so has its pal Discovery. What should I wear? What should I blow up? That's about it, and I LIKE some of those shows. (At least Mythbusters includes some actual SCIENCE.) But I miss the idea that Arts and Entertainment was full of shows that might air on PBS or BBC America, and that TLC and Discovery were aimed at teaching me something.
I'm waiting for Animal Planet to drop shows about animals in exchange for another incarnation of The Real Housewives of New Jersey or wherever they're from these days. I can hear the executives now. "Well, they behave like animals, so it fits."
Somebody hand me the remote. I'm going to go read a book.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Fan Fiction Frenzy
With the advent of the internet, I've noticed that what used to get people all in a tizzy is now accepted as normal. We used to call it plagiarism. Now we call it fan fiction.
All over the Web, you can find stories involving television, movie and book characters in brand new stories, not written by the original authors, creators or writers. And nobody minds. In fact, they have great followings.
I'm glad about that, actually. Nobody's trying to make any money off of it (which is probably why nobody objects) and it gives people a chance to try on pre-created characters and settings. Sometimes it can give you a better idea of where the original writers are going. Other times it points out where a show could or should be headed, especially when it comes to character development (Oh the frustration when you know you've come up with a cleaner way to explain something than the show actually uses!). I've even dabbled in it a little myself. And I've actually seen some elements of fan fiction stories I've read suddenly turn up in the show itself. In many cases, it was probably a coincidence, but sometimes, well, it's just eerie.
If I were in one of these shows, I would find it weird to surf the internet and find stories involving my character, some verging on pornography and some with relationships not intended by the writers. (Somebody out there has written something kinky involving Fred and George Weasley. Never mind that they're brothers.) I know of some actors who read the stories and crack up laughing, which is very generous considering some of the plots I've heard. But other times the intention is just to put the writer into something they really enjoy and want to emulate.
After all, they do say that imitation is the finest form of flattery. If that's the case, a lot of people should feel immensely flattered.
All over the Web, you can find stories involving television, movie and book characters in brand new stories, not written by the original authors, creators or writers. And nobody minds. In fact, they have great followings.
I'm glad about that, actually. Nobody's trying to make any money off of it (which is probably why nobody objects) and it gives people a chance to try on pre-created characters and settings. Sometimes it can give you a better idea of where the original writers are going. Other times it points out where a show could or should be headed, especially when it comes to character development (Oh the frustration when you know you've come up with a cleaner way to explain something than the show actually uses!). I've even dabbled in it a little myself. And I've actually seen some elements of fan fiction stories I've read suddenly turn up in the show itself. In many cases, it was probably a coincidence, but sometimes, well, it's just eerie.
If I were in one of these shows, I would find it weird to surf the internet and find stories involving my character, some verging on pornography and some with relationships not intended by the writers. (Somebody out there has written something kinky involving Fred and George Weasley. Never mind that they're brothers.) I know of some actors who read the stories and crack up laughing, which is very generous considering some of the plots I've heard. But other times the intention is just to put the writer into something they really enjoy and want to emulate.
After all, they do say that imitation is the finest form of flattery. If that's the case, a lot of people should feel immensely flattered.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
One TV Guilty Pleasure
With only a little bit of shame, I admit to occasionally watching "World's Wildest Police Videos." It's not so much that I get a kick out of police chases per se, but that it reminds me what law enforcement officers, firefighters and others have to deal with daily - how they risk their lives repeatedly in the line of duty, sometimes dealing with psychotic crazy drugged-out people who don't care about anybody else but themselves.
I love it when the semi drivers get involved in a police chase, blocking the road. And I don't remotely feel bad when the crazy armed robber, who just threaded through city road traffic, gets his ass pulled from his car and is slammed to the pavement as the cops make sure he's no longer a danger.
And I do admit to a bit of a thrill when the police dogs get involved. Mess with the poochie, get the teeth.
I love it when the semi drivers get involved in a police chase, blocking the road. And I don't remotely feel bad when the crazy armed robber, who just threaded through city road traffic, gets his ass pulled from his car and is slammed to the pavement as the cops make sure he's no longer a danger.
And I do admit to a bit of a thrill when the police dogs get involved. Mess with the poochie, get the teeth.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Some Television Rambling
Most of you know I happen to like my TV on, and it's generally on regardless of what I'm doing. This morning while I was reading the paper and catching up on the circulars (I love to see what's for sale even if I have no intention of going shopping) I turned on CMT's 'Crossroads' because a couple of my friends raved about it, and I'm watching LeAnn Rimes and Joss Stone really tear it up. (Plus, it's nice that it's a show I can listen to instead of actually having to watch intently.) They both have such incredible voices, and while their musical styles are entirely different, they really mesh well together. I saw a video once of a song Martina McBride and Pat Benatar did, and I wish I'd seen that show.
Earlier today I caught up on last week's Men In Trees. Well, parts of it. I skip all of the parts except the ones with Pastor Eric in them. (X-Files fans will recognize my favorite villain in the role, and he's such a doll in this part I just get all gooey watching it. Really. Goo.) I want one just like that. Except for the celibacy part. Well, and I don't see myself actually dating a pastor. But you get my point. He's freakin' adorable.
I've been catching up, a little, on Battlestar Galactica - SciFi replayed some of S3 (my shorthand for Season Three) and it's been nice to watch one of those and get a little caught up on the storyline. (So they don't talk about the other five models of Cylon? Really?) It's a little tough to fill in the blanks between episodes; I'm reading synopses of the episodes they're not showing so I know what's going on. It's so intense, and I love hearing the dialogue - well-written dialogue just brings me to my knees, really - and seeing how the characters have been written - how they take even the smallest part and it's written so well you never feel short-changed on backstory or find yourself not buying what the show's selling. So yeah, I don't just watch TV, I really LOOK at it - how were the characters written? What's the language like? ('Firefly' is a great example of excellent language - meshing today's language with that of the old west and the future - man, is that well done.)
Plus I'm catching up on The 4400; Isabelle is wreaking havoc wherever she can to keep Shawn by her side and nobody but Tom is taking her threat seriously. And Tom's girlfriend just left to keep herself safe from prosecution. This show has the weirdest premise, yet it's all so seamless and it always feels real to me, even when it wanders off into something quite unreal.
And while all this is going on, I'm cleaning house, wrapping presents, reading the paper, doing dishes, writing Christmas cards, that kind of thing. Sometimes if I want to watch something AND get something done, I'll let a taped program run instead of fast-forwarding through commercials, and clean house during ads. Today I just downed a high-caffiene tea and I expect to get a lot done! This house is kind of a mess - I finished most of my Christmas shopping yesterday - and I'm ready to tackle some wrapping! Wahoo!
Maybe I should get out of my jammies first?
Earlier today I caught up on last week's Men In Trees. Well, parts of it. I skip all of the parts except the ones with Pastor Eric in them. (X-Files fans will recognize my favorite villain in the role, and he's such a doll in this part I just get all gooey watching it. Really. Goo.) I want one just like that. Except for the celibacy part. Well, and I don't see myself actually dating a pastor. But you get my point. He's freakin' adorable.
I've been catching up, a little, on Battlestar Galactica - SciFi replayed some of S3 (my shorthand for Season Three) and it's been nice to watch one of those and get a little caught up on the storyline. (So they don't talk about the other five models of Cylon? Really?) It's a little tough to fill in the blanks between episodes; I'm reading synopses of the episodes they're not showing so I know what's going on. It's so intense, and I love hearing the dialogue - well-written dialogue just brings me to my knees, really - and seeing how the characters have been written - how they take even the smallest part and it's written so well you never feel short-changed on backstory or find yourself not buying what the show's selling. So yeah, I don't just watch TV, I really LOOK at it - how were the characters written? What's the language like? ('Firefly' is a great example of excellent language - meshing today's language with that of the old west and the future - man, is that well done.)
Plus I'm catching up on The 4400; Isabelle is wreaking havoc wherever she can to keep Shawn by her side and nobody but Tom is taking her threat seriously. And Tom's girlfriend just left to keep herself safe from prosecution. This show has the weirdest premise, yet it's all so seamless and it always feels real to me, even when it wanders off into something quite unreal.
And while all this is going on, I'm cleaning house, wrapping presents, reading the paper, doing dishes, writing Christmas cards, that kind of thing. Sometimes if I want to watch something AND get something done, I'll let a taped program run instead of fast-forwarding through commercials, and clean house during ads. Today I just downed a high-caffiene tea and I expect to get a lot done! This house is kind of a mess - I finished most of my Christmas shopping yesterday - and I'm ready to tackle some wrapping! Wahoo!
Maybe I should get out of my jammies first?
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