It's Amazing To Me Just How Bad New TV Shows Are Today

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MrChad

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: loup garou
You can't just pick up Lost any old day of the week unfortunately. You have to watch every episode, from the beginning. It is daunting at this point in it's lifespan, but it is an excellent show, and I guarantee if you start from the beginning you will be hooked. I agree on 24, I never understood the appeal of the show, and I watched the first 2 seasons, trying to get into it. Entertaining at first, but then hopelessly repetitive. Friday Night Lights holds no interest for me, I like inspirational sports movies as much as the next guy, but don't see how they can be stretched over multiple episodes, not to mention multiple seasons. Doomed from the beginning to turn into a soap opera.

I'd say this season of television has introduced more good (so far) new shows than any I can remember in the past 5years.
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Yes, there definitely seems to be a new trend of TV shows that require the viewer to follow every episode from the beginning of the series. "Lost" and "24" are two popular examples. I imagine that "The Nine" will be that way as well.

I can see how jumping into Wednesday's episode of "Lost" without seeing the past two seasons would lead to disappointment.
 
A

Alex

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 1999
6,995
0
0
i actually think the quality is improving... there seems to be quite a few good shows on now... the definite worst moment was right after seinfeld broke up when there was like 1 spinoff show for george, elaine and kramer and all 3 sucked... and then there's always cosby, everybody loves raymond and you're screwed no good tv that year.... i think friends was still on too.... arghh
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
I watch (in order of entertainment value)

- The Office
- House
- Studio 60 (getting a little too preachy for my tastes; Aaron Sorkin is just producing his West Wing quickfire-quip dialogue under a new name, and even reusing two actors in the process)
- South Park

Everything else is garbage. There was a time when Family Guy would have been up there, but it's trying too hard anymore. Perhaps the creators and cast are too wrapped up in auxillary projects to make Family Guy as good as it started out to be.
 
G

gnumantsc

Senior member
Aug 5, 2003
414
0
0
I see the oldie shows like All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Three's Company and I still laugh. The only show that really gets a good laugh out of me is Boston Legal thats cuz of Denny Krane.
 
T

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
Perhaps you could enlighten us as to when new TV shows were good? I don't recall there being a golden age. It was always 99.9% crap.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Sounds like FNL is a lot like those MTV "reality" shows where all the "actors and actresses" sound like they've got a monotone voice box reading off the cue cards and no normal clothing.
 
S

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
Originally posted by: torpid
Perhaps you could enlighten us as to when new TV shows were good? I don't recall there being a golden age. It was always 99.9% crap.
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Growing up I seem to recall Thursday nights, Saturday nights, and Sunday nights as being really good.

The problem I think is that viewers are much more sophisticated, the humor they expect is much more sophisticated, and a lot of the typical plots have been played out. In the 80's and 90's it was simply easier to please the audience. Anymore, I rarely find myself entertained. We've matured faster than the writers' ability to humor us.

I don't necessarily fault them for it... if I were in charge, I sure as hell don't know what I'd put on the air. I think I like to see things that I can relate to. For instance, The Office. The show is funny by itself, but what really sets it apart for me is that I can relate to it. It takes real world situations in the office and puts them on steroids, and capturing everyday Joe's and Jane's reactions to them. Gone are the days where you can slap a 4 year old on a show, have them say something silly, and get ratings from it. People aren't interested in seeing picture-perfect families going through everyday life.

Cast a humorous light on the day to day garbage I have to put up with, and I'll watch it.
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
But, I wish there was a show I could get into, they are all crap these days.
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Why? Get a hobby, read books, do anything else; "getting into" a show is ultimately just a waste of time.
 
Gunslinger08

Gunslinger08

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
13,234
2
81
Originally posted by: jbourne77
Originally posted by: torpid
Perhaps you could enlighten us as to when new TV shows were good? I don't recall there being a golden age. It was always 99.9% crap.
Click to expand...

Growing up I seem to recall Thursday nights, Saturday nights, and Sunday nights as being really good.

The problem I think is that viewers are much more sophisticated, the humor they expect is much more sophisticated, and a lot of the typical plots have been played out. In the 80's and 90's it was simply easier to please the audience. Anymore, I rarely find myself entertained. We've matured faster than the writers' ability to humor us.

I don't necessarily fault them for it... if I were in charge, I sure as hell don't know what I'd put on the air. I think I like to see things that I can relate to. For instance, The Office. The show is funny by itself, but what really sets it apart for me is that I can relate to it. It takes real world situations in the office and puts them on steroids, and capturing everyday Joe's and Jane's reactions to them. Gone are the days where you can slap a 4 year old on a show, have them say something silly, and get ratings from it. People aren't interested in seeing picture-perfect families going through everyday life.

Cast a humorous light on the day to day garbage I have to put up with, and I'll watch it.
Click to expand...

I hate sitcoms. They're never funny. That hasn't changed in the past 30 years.
 
revnja

revnja

Platinum Member
Feb 1, 2004
2,864
0
76
Originally posted by: jbourne77
The problem I think is that viewers are much more sophisticated
Click to expand...

I think it's just the opposite. The reason these shows appeal to a large audience is because they are targeted towards the intellecutally inferior (the majority of Americans). This is the reason you and I deem them to be 'crap' because they are not on our 'level', so to speak.
 
S

SVT Cobra

Lifer
Mar 29, 2005
13,264
2
0
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: F22 Raptor
But, I wish there was a show I could get into, they are all crap these days.
Click to expand...

Why? Get a hobby, read books, do anything else; "getting into" a show is ultimately just a waste of time.
Click to expand...

I am an avid reader and I have a lots of hobbies, but sometimes I like to plop down and watch the TV, it is even better than the computer because I don't have to type of move the mouse or anything.
 
B

BuckNaked

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,211
0
76
Originally posted by: torpid
Perhaps you could enlighten us as to when new TV shows were good? I don't recall there being a golden age. It was always 99.9% crap.
Click to expand...

Probably true... I remember shows that truly stood out, like Taxi, Barney Miller, Hill Street Blues among others... but I am sure there was a lot of bad TV as well that I don't remember...

That being said, I haven't regularly watched a TV program since Seinfeld went off the air... I do own the Sopranos, but didn't watch it on TV at the time it was out. I sometimes catch a few minutes of some current shows when I am over at my mom's house, and just shake my head at it....

I tried watching 24, but thought it was one of the dumbest things I had ever seen... so maddeningly repetitive it was like pulling teeth over and over again...
 
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