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discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,479 posts) Mon Dec 10, 2018, 09:49 PM Dec 2018

Has TV come a long way or not?

I watched sitcoms like WKRP 40 years ago.

My wife likes to watch Teen Mom so tonight we saw an 8 year old learn to shave her legs.

My conclusion is not so much. Today in the age of reality TV, the "real" stuff that happens isn't scripted. It's just instructions from a producer. About 30 or more years ago stuff that happened was written by a writer and transmitted to the actors by a director.

It's TV. I'm okay with it.

Anyone out there with strong feelings?

6 replies

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Has TV come a long way or not? (Original Post) discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2018 OP

Not much creativity on TV. I have never watched "Reality" shows Raven123 Dec 2018 #1

I watched the first ever episode of Survivors. I thought it was really about survival. Didn't know dameatball Dec 2018 #3

Yes. This is the golden age of television Generic Brad Dec 2018 #2

It's a mixed bag as always, just a bigger mixed bag. Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #4

It has evolved, but each of our life situations are different too. NRaleighLiberal Dec 2018 #5

I think there are more great comedies today ghostsinthemachine Dec 2018 #6

Raven123

(4,844 posts)

1. Not much creativity on TV. I have never watched "Reality" shows

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Original post)

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 10:00 PM

Dec 2018

Even the advertisements for those shows bore me.

dameatball

(7,398 posts)

3. I watched the first ever episode of Survivors. I thought it was really about survival. Didn't know

Reply to Raven123 (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 10:13 PM

Dec 2018

it was a voting contest. That was pretty much it. Never saw "The Apprentice" either. My ex did get me to watch the show with Simon Crowell a few times. It was okay, but I never watched it when she wasn't around.

Generic Brad

(14,275 posts)

2. Yes. This is the golden age of television

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Original post)

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 10:01 PM

Dec 2018

Forget the reality genre. There are more quality series available than at any other time in history. There are some amazing stories being told through top notch writing, risky directing, spectacular acting in a buffet of styles.

If you’re focusing on things like Teen Mom, you’re missing out on so much.

Pope George Ringo II

(1,896 posts)

4. It's a mixed bag as always, just a bigger mixed bag.

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Original post)

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 10:19 PM

Dec 2018

Instead of three channels, we have hundreds of channels and that's not even counting Netflix or Youtube.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,014 posts)

5. It has evolved, but each of our life situations are different too.

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Original post)

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 10:27 PM

Dec 2018

when I was small, the Flinstones were on prime time, test patters appeared at midnight, there were only three stations...our TV was a small box on legs with black, grey and white images.

When we cut the cable 10 years ago, there was an infinite selection of crap with some good things tucked in here and there. The real quality seems to be the long run series such as Sopranos, Six Feet Under - and now Amazon and Hulu and Netflix are producing loads of stuff (that is what we watch - using Roku)

We stopped watching TV 10 years ago because of the endless crappy politics - 24 hour news cycle - "reality" shows, and so many ads.

So, yes, strong feelings!

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)

6. I think there are more great comedies today

Reply to discntnt_irny_srcsm (Original post)

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 11:20 PM

Dec 2018

Than ever. Modern Family a top 20 all time show. Big Bang Theory, the same. The Good Place. Blackish is funny and breaks new ground while dealing with social issues every week. Mom is very funny, and at times uncomfortable. Speechless is a terrific show, very different with the amazing Minnie Driver. Even most of the family comedies like The Goldbergs, American Housewife are pretty funny.

I do like Survivor however. This season better than the last few.

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