Today's TV: Are quality shows passe`?

May 25 05:16 UTC 1993

      Reading in TV Guide this week, I was shocked to see that most if
not all the quality shows like "Homefront", "Quantum Leap", and "Brooklyn
Bridge" are in danger of being vaporized, while inane shows like "Full House",
"Family Matters" and "Step by Step" just won, on the average renewals for
2-3 more seasons. 
     What do you want in a TV show? should it be intelligent and thought
provoking, or should it be less than that?? 

response 2 of 40:

May 25 13:22 UTC 1993

There are times that I want intelligent and thought provoking and times I
want silly sitcoms.  There is room for both.  Unfortunately the network
program people seem to lean too far toward the sitcoms instead of aiming
for a good balance.  If I can't find intelligent when I am in the mood for
it, I turn to PBS, The Learning Channel or Discovery, there are plenty of
good shows there.  TLC has even come up with _Beakman's World_ which is
intelligent, thought provoking and silly.  It is a program which explains
science in a way that even young children (Staci cries when it finishes
and when she wants to watch it at times that it isn't showing, its one of
her favorite shows) can understand.  It is one of the few shows on that we
all sit down and watch as a family.  I would like to see others like it.

response 4 of 40:

May 26 02:37 UTC 1993

  yes and no , Misti. The no, being that Homefront and BB were good shows, 
and it seems that IS what America wants, but there is a question of which
America is speaking, IS it the teenage America that rules the ratings or
is it the people of outr generation?? Seeing that a crud show like 90210
or Married with children flourish it must be the latter.
   I'd like to see quality programming and honest straitforward advertising
with occaisonal quality movies tossed in to make the mix interesting. But
it seems that we are evolving toward more panderous and tittlating material
during the ratings period. That may be what it's gonna take.

response 6 of 40:

Jun 6 14:41 UTC 1993

What day and time does CBS show Beakman's World?  I've not seen it listed
anywhere but TLC.

response 8 of 40:

Jun 6 21:13 UTC 1993

It's a lab rat, Jim.

response 10 of 40:

Jun 10 06:38 UTC 1993

I really don't see how you can compare Married w/children to
90210...  MWC is totally unwatchable, at least to me, while
I follow 90210 most of the time.  I'm not saying 90210 is classic,
perfect TV, but it is *reasonably* well written, *reasonably*
well acted, and I guess it kind of makes me wish my teenage
years had been a lot more fun than they were (wishful
thinking or something).

What really annoys me about the networks lately is how they
keep reneging (how do you spell that?) on their promises
to viewers.  When they brought back Brooklyn Bridge, they
said they'd show the last six episodes of the series.  
*beeeep* wrongo!  They only showed 3 episodes, and then
cancelled it again with no warning.  Same deal with
Delta when they brought *that* back:  3 episodes instead
of the 6 that were promised, and Delta even got really
good ratings (hitting #11 one week, I think)!  And how
the hell do they expect a series to develop a following when
they move its time slot constantly, or preempt it every
other week?  I think network television may be
dying a slow, and very painful death.

response 12 of 40:

Jun 10 15:22 UTC 1993

re #10:  I just checked some old TV ratings.  Seven episodes of Brooklyn
         Bridge were made last season, and they tied for 99'th place in the
         ratings with "I'll Fly Away."  "Quality" or no, people have to
         watch shows if they want them to stay on TV.

response 14 of 40:

Jun 10 20:26 UTC 1993

   I did catch part one of that episode, and if you don't mind me saying
so, she *deliberatly* showed up to the prom drunk, even after they were warned
about it. I say that she got everything she deserved. Is it now the trend to
do the "crime" then deny you were ever there? what kind of example did
this show to the young folk? I think what it said was " Go ahead and break
the rules, you can always rally your friends and get off without a hitch"
and this is the wrong message to send. I think that 90210 should be 
vaporized into oblivion.

  I'd be embarrassed to rally for a cause I thought was wrong.

shame on Arron Spelling.

response 16 of 40:

Jun 11 04:58 UTC 1993

  for endorsing ok

response 18 of 40:

Jun 11 14:38 UTC 1993

Ah...  So television programs must protect us from reality....

response 20 of 40:

Jun 19 04:10 UTC 1993

  oh brother!!!
..

response 22 of 40:

Jun 20 18:47 UTC 1993

I did not spend my childhood watching television.  I've never followed
any sitcoms except for maybe six or eight episodes of All in the Family
when it was first being broadcast.  I find commercial television a wasteland
and if it were not for the video rentals I wouldn't have a tv in the house.

I have about as much respect for television junkies as I do Catholics. ;-)

response 24 of 40:

Jun 21 16:17 UTC 1993

Re #21:
I'm *sure* my father has watched far more television as a middle-aged
man than as a child or teenager.