Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Is there anyithing good on Network TV any more?

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-11-2004, 05:20 PM:

In realtion to the Disney shakeup of ABC please post and add your thoughts as to the dismal state of Network Television..... Mine is as follows.....

As TV technicaly gets better and better all the time with HDTV, Flat screen displays and other goodies there's really not very much that I can think of worth watching on network TV excepting some sports stuff. All of the networks have really lost it big time IMHO. Cable is also fairly dismal and getting worse daily but at least there is Sci-Fi Channel, Nick At Night, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and a few others that are good. Thank goodness there is PBS and the above mentioned cable channels, as without them I doubt I'd even own a TV.

Mark

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 04-11-2004, 05:35 PM:

In a word, no.

JJ

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 04-11-2004, 05:35 PM:

I'll never understand why people put up with the continuous logos all the networks are showing now. This has been going on for over 6 years now and I refuse to watch any show that has this. If I were just a lowly board operator I would walk off the job if ordered to put on a logo and keep it there, so I don't know why the people behind the actual shows don't complain about it. It's especially ironic that this practice started around the time HDTV finally got off the ground too- what's the point of better picture quality if you're going to intentionally ruin it? That's like upgrading your projection equipment but also putting an EXIT sign right next to the screen.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-11-2004, 05:57 PM:

I agree with you Mark. If the programming situation gets much worse, I may turn off my satellite TV service. The only TV series' I watch faithfully are a few of the shows on HBO. That, and a few of the documentaries I see from time to time are the only things that make me agree to pay for pay TV. "24" is the only program that gets me to switch to my broadcast antennae, and even that show is getting kind of stupid now (not nearly as good as season 1).

Part of the problem is so many of the viewer ratings and ad dollars that chase them have been spread far too thin between way too many channels. That has hurt the networks on their ability to fund good quality productions. I remember back in the early 1980's it took a 20 share in the Nielsen ratings to win the week. Now you can do it with half that amount.

Another problem is the fact major networks have been corporatized by companies like Disney, GE, etc. They seem only interested in boosting stock prices from quarter to quarter and often that means cost cutting the "good" out of a good product. Hence the plague of so-called "reality TV" programming.

You don't have to spend millions hiring good actors and writers to put together a reality TV show. The producers and networks rake in more profit. TV producers are cost cutting in other areas, like filming or videotaping most TV shows outside of the United States.

On top of that, most networks are blocking out giant sections of programming time with re-tred shows. Do we really need 84 different versions of the Law and Order series? Is "CSI" going to eventually have shows based in every major American city? I heard a joke that "CSI Scranton" might be interesting. Of course every one of those shows with a different city name will contain the tagline: "shot on location in Vancouver, BC."

It really seems all the MBA bastards out there are forgetting one big thing. Viewers have no obligation to watch and can do other things in the evening, such as working a second job to try in vein to pay for health insurance. The broadcasters really need to come up with something better for viewers to watch.

Sony came up with an interesting market study showing a great deal of adults spend a lot of time playing video games instead of watching TV. I wonder how much time Internet surfing, DVD watching, etc. eats further into that potential TV viewing audience.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-11-2004, 06:13 PM:

To be honest the most TV viewing I do is on TVLand. They play all the great shows of years past lik Bonanza and many others. Shows that had meaning and I enjoyed while growing up. Shows today seem to have more meaningless violence and no plots. Reality based shows are rediculous like Survivor. That show is as meaningless as anything out there. Wish people would stop watching it so they will stop making them.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-11-2004, 06:23 PM:

I would say the programming is all a matter of opinion. Yes, there is a lot of crap out there but I am totally happy with my soap Passions (when I actually get a chance to watch it), Will & Grace, my Lifetime TV shows, some crap on Sci-Fi, Star Trek (which you can find on numerous stations), and I used to always watch Sex and the City (WHAAAAAAAAAAAA!). I don't really have much of a problem finding things I like when I actually watch TV.

Now if you asked Don on the other hand, he only watches movies. He HATES network television and HATES sitcoms.

Maybe its partially a matter of opinion because of age. I grew up with this shit so it's what I'm used to. Yes, I used to watch Nick at Night everynight before I went to bed and I like a lot of the older sitcoms but not as much as my Will & Grace or Darma & Greg. [Smile]

Plus, add that to the fact that they seem to lean new shows towards women now-a-days more then they used to.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-11-2004, 06:42 PM:

Yes and no. Yes, the networks DO put on good new shows from time to time. And then promptly cancel them with no warning.

Wonderfalls: a quirky new show that I really liked out the gate. First moved (with no notice) to another night, then promplty cancelled when the new time slot didn't do the trick (duh! Few people knew about the switch). The story was similiar to the concept of Joan of Arcadia, but different in tone and execution.

The D.A. - a four episode series that was fairly routine but had its moments.

Other network and cable dramas I watch regularily: Alias, 24, Enterprise, Smallville, The Shield, and Nip/Tuck, OZ(re-runs), Deadwood (for now), and The L Word. I plan to start watching re-runs of The Sopranos, Queer as Folk, Six Feet Under, The Wire and Street Time whenever their shows start re-runs from the beginning (missed the opening cycle).

Network dramas still on that I've given up on: CSI, CSI Miami, NYPD Blue, ER.

Comedies I like: Arrested Development, Scrubs, Malcolm in the Middle, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, South Park. Currently watching Arliss re-runs on HBO Comedy.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-11-2004, 06:55 PM:

Nip Tuck rules! Can't wait till it returns. It's kind of lame the CSI people have chosen the route of the Law and Order people with multiple shows, etc. I've grown to like the Miami show (and love the original Vegas show) and hopefully the New York one will be good as well.

Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 04-11-2004, 07:22 PM:

The quality of TV programing over the years has been inversely proportional to improvements in broadcast and receiver technology. [thumbsdown]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-11-2004, 08:11 PM:

When I was growing up we got 2 channels (and later 3) and we could almost always find something to watch.

Now, we get over 50 channels on basic cable and I STILL watch DVDs or videos a lot of the time.

The only Network show I watch is Letterman, but I suppose that's mostly because of being at the theatre. I've never seen Survivor, Apprentice, Fear Factor, TRL, The Osbournes, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, The Real World, CSI, Law & Order, or Seinfeld (except the final episode). Out of that list, the only one I regret missing is Seinfeld.

Posted by Shane Hoffmann (Member # 1620) on 04-11-2004, 11:14 PM:

The only show that I watch faithfully anymore {on network TV} is "Alias." I used to watch the Simpsons everyweek, but now that is getting lamer all the time.

I can't wait until the new episodes of "Family Guy" next year.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 04-11-2004, 11:23 PM:

As far as networks (ABC CBS, NBC) and such go, I would agree that their shows suck. I watch mostly documentaries and historical programs. I do enjoy shows like Monster house and monster garage on discovery. I like TV when I am learning something. I also like home improvement shows like This old house.

On the other hand, there are some mindless shows that I watch like Futurama, simpsons, Star trek, Viva La bam, and teenage mutant ninja turtles.

I also watch the best show on TV, Southpark.

Absolutely NO reality TV

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-11-2004, 11:51 PM:

What do you all mean there's nothing good on network television?! The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour is on right now! [Devil]

Posted by Kyle McEachern (Member # 2250) on 04-11-2004, 11:53 PM:

You're a sick sad man, Adam Martin.

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 04-11-2004, 11:58 PM:

As far as network tv goes,

NBC: The Apprentice...cant wait till the finale this week
ER....I just am addicted
Maury.....When I'm at home at 12n

ABC: 8 Simple Rules....Been Watching Sine John Ritter died
The Practice...Lawyer shows are so cool
Lizzie McGuire.....Saturday Morning Cartoons/Shows

CBS: SUCKS!!!!!

FOX: The Simpsons.....'nuff said
That 70's Show
Tru Calling.....Eliza Dushku 'nuff said [Smile]

Yes....I watch American Idol [Eek!]

For the rest I have satellite

I watch numerous shows including Real TV, Baywatch, Full House, Saved By The Bell, South PArk, Insomniac, ER (reruns), Home Improvement, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Pimp My Ride, American Chopper, and the ultimate for my Sunday Night fix (after work) The Sopranos.

God I love my TiVo!!!!

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 04-12-2004, 01:14 AM:

There is nothing worth watching on tv nowadays. Everybody and their brother is pushing this HDTV, widescreen tv, digital tv crap instead of concentrating on original creative programming (like Family Guy!).

Come on networks----a wide screen picture is no substitute for a good story and good acting.

Posted by Daniel Fuentz (Member # 1684) on 04-12-2004, 02:01 AM:

How can you guys say there's nothing good on network TV when Life With Bonnie is going into it's THIRD exciting season! (I really, really find that show to be the most UNfunny thing on TV.. Maybe it's a drama being mismarketed as a comedy?)

Seriously, I rarely watch anything on TV anymore. The old shows I used to watch have gotten really stale and boring, and any new show I like will get cancelled after a couple episodes so it's not worth investing any time in something new, either. (Of course, when I'm at work I HAVE to monitor whatever's on -- sometimes I wish there was a channel changing feature on those control room monitors!)

Posted by Peter Kerchinsky (Member # 1098) on 04-12-2004, 05:05 AM:

Network TV sucks and never watch it. Those damn commercials go on forever, to the point where I used to forget what I was watching. No more.
I have digital cable and watch Turner Classic Movies alot, CNN, MSNBC, Discovery and History Channel.
In fact when I get through posting this AM, I'm going to turn on MSNBC and watch Don Imus. He's a grumpy ol' bastard, somewhat like me, and says what's on his mind. Only problem with his show, in brief, is those damn commercials go on and on so sometimes I forget what I'm watching. But, it's 3am here and I've worked all day.
Good night all.

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 04-12-2004, 06:14 AM:

Does nobody here watch Chappelle Show? It is probably the funniest thing on TV now...

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-12-2004, 06:31 AM:

quote:
Does nobody here watch Chappelle Show? It is probably the funniest thing on TV now...

I was wondering if anybody was going to include this show. It is, in my mind, the funniest thing on TV in a long time. Other than this, I watch the NBA, The Man Show, Seinfeld reruns, My Wife and Kids, and the news.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 04-12-2004, 06:42 AM:

I grew up with 3 networks. Also, in addition to the network fodder, the local stations each played alot of syndicated stuff in the afternoons: 1950's comedies, "The Life Of Reilly," I Married Joan," etc. "Donahue" was one of the first non-sitcoms that I remember seeing. Now, its Oprah, and the list goes down from there. Rikki Lake, Maury, Montel Williams. From 5pm to 6:30, all of the local network stations run news news news. Basically, they repeat the news twice, then at 6, they give us the best version, which is not much.

Here, the locals run nothing but stuff like The Ellen DeGeneres show, which is good sometime, then the soaps start. Wow. Look at the sex! After the soaps. Jerry Springer, etc. More sex and fighting, cursing, beep sounds, and digitally blurring of the lips of the 'guests' when they say one of those dirty words that we are not allowed to hear, but do all the time. Prime Time is more violence, and sex. See a pattern here?

There is no good clean entertainment, and almost no movies shown anymore. No Creature Features!

WHY?

I dropped CABLE and went to Satellite in 1995 after CABLE (UA cable) pissed me off. I dropped the SATELLITE when I noticed that I was not watching anything anymore. After a steady diet of TV from 1957-on, I feel that I have successfully weaned myself from having to have the TV turned on 18 hours a day.

Now I have the internet. [evil]

What do I watch? Lots of DVD's.

Dont get me wrong. I like sex, just not all the time.

Dont get me started on the logos on the screen. Aaraugh!

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 04-12-2004, 11:21 AM:

I just don't really watch TV at all. I might catch part of a movie or a show as I'm surfing channels but I always end up just not watching TV.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-12-2004, 11:48 AM:

quote:
I just don't really watch TV at all. I might catch part of a movie or a show as I'm surfing channels but I always end up just not watching TV.

So, what do you do then?

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 04-12-2004, 12:05 PM:

What ever happened to "Futurama" on FOX? That was one of the VERY few showes that I enjoy (just my weird sence of humor, I guess). Reality showes have nothing to do with reality, but they are cheep to make, I find them dumb, and worthless.

I was at a SMPTE meeting some years ago, when HDTV was still being talked about. The topic came up, if the networks send compressed video to the local stations, it would make it hard to insert local logos. I made a comment saying that viewers have said they hated the logos, and maybe it's time to get rid of them. I was promtly told that you have got to have "branding".

I believe it is the managment-moron types at the networks, that only care about profits, who are putting on the cheepest crap they can come up with. Only people are turning it off, so their profits are going down, and they are just too stupid, and removed from reality, to figure the whole thing out.

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 04-12-2004, 08:57 PM:

Jeremy: I go to school, hangout with friends, work, chat on AIM and surf the web.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 04-12-2004, 09:25 PM:

quote:
What ever happened to "Futurama" on FOX? That was one of the VERY few showes that I enjoy

Sadly, Futurama fell victim to a misunderstanding between the series producers and the network programmers.

What happened is that as work completed on season five, no contract existed for a sixth season or beyond. Instead of signing a new one with the series to continue work, the network instead decided that since they had put it in an unstable time slot that was repeatedly preempted by football, that they actually had nearly two years of episodes to show at that time.

So the network big wigs decided not to pay out for new episodes at that time. Instead, reruns went to cartoon network and had great ratings, and that intensified the ratings on the new episodes on first run fox.

When the last of the episodes were coming to a close, the network approached the producers and creators of Futurama about another season. This could not happen.

You see, it takes a LONG time to write, animate, and voice a cartoon. IT is a long process. While they were not against the idea, the main problem is that the ENTIRE staff of writers and CGI artists (half the image is computer animated, half is drawn), had all contract work elsewhere, and an entire new staff had to be hired, a process that could take up to two or three years to complete for a show of this magnitude.

In essence, it was impossible. So the show aired its final episode and that was it.

Well however there is a movie in preproduction. They are working on a script and are trying to get as many of thier original writers and artists back (this can be done for a movie deal as it does not interfere with other contractual obligations as per union rules).

So be not for fear, Futurama in less than three years will be here, ON THE BIG SCREEN... CUZ NETWORK TV IS A BITCH, and it sucks.

Ciao

dave

Posted by Roger Katz (Member # 1625) on 04-12-2004, 09:34 PM:

All the best shows get canceled in their first season because networks don't give them time to gather an audience: Freaks And Geeks, Push Nevada, Wonderfalls, etc. Two other shows I like The Practice and Kingdom Hospital are just playing out their few remaining episodes. About the only thing left is The Simpsons.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-12-2004, 09:39 PM:

"Come on networks----a wide screen picture is no substitute for a good story and good acting. "

Ken, I really dont think that the shape of the screen and how many lines or pixels its made up of affects the program content at all. You just seem to be anti HDTV for some reason. Actually in television two completely differing departments make up engineering and programming. Take PBS for example....they do more HDTV programming than just about all the networks combined and they do a really good job with it. Many of the shows are film originated and look great! As for networks and HDTV, at least we have Jay Leno in HD.... Its pretty neat to watch him that way. HDTV is really cool and I've been fortunate to watch it develop from its infancy. Here in SLC we have something like 13 DTV channels of which at least a third are broadcasting HDTV failry regularly. Then there is always Satellite HDTV and all the usual films, etc. There was also a travel show that was broadcast by PBS for a while and watching that show in HD is a knockout.
I watch the 9/11 movie last night and what a stupid ending! The commercials WERE actually MORE entertaining and informing than the movie was.....
Now if the networks could just come up with some good ole old fashioned decent programming to keep our attention.

Mark

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 04-12-2004, 10:37 PM:

I guess I really dont need to tell you guys what I watch, the sig says it all.

Speed TV two wheel tuesday Tuesdays 7:00-8:00P

Spike TV inside motorcycling Sat. 9:00-9:30A
"""""""" motoworld sat. 10:30-11:00A

Thats about it. I try to catch the occasional racing as well.

If I had digisat, I think I'd watch

Fuse TV (the less sitcom version of MTV)
Fuel (extreme sports......and stuff)

Thats about all I'd watch. Still not worth $40 a month.

Josh

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 04-13-2004, 12:00 AM:

PBS doesn't put logos on its national feed (yet, anyways) but our local stations in both Sacramento and San Francisco make up for that by sticking their own station logos on instead. I've seen our local PBS digital channel and they have "KVIE-DT" in the corner, should you not know you were watching a digital station. My mom and dad were "members" for a while but cancelled after they put their logo up full-time, and then got nothing but cryptic responses when they asked it be taken off. (I think they actually only run it during prime time but that's still unacceptable, and I've never seen them turn it off on the HD station which makes the whole thing pointless.)
Scary the number of people who don't differentiate cable channels from regular TV- at least the price of getting them ought to remind them. BTW last time I saw the Playboy Channel they actually had the rabbit-head logo in the lower-right during all programming!

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-13-2004, 06:16 AM:

quote:
Jeremy: I go to school, hangout with friends, work, chat on AIM and surf the web.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 04-13-2004, 03:07 PM:

I love TV. [Smile]

I haven't had a TV in 11-months. I moved in to a new house and denied myself TV till the landscaping was done. I tend to get stuck in front of the TV and then I don't move for 6-hours or so. I got 90% of the landscaping done but I have yet to finish the last 10%. I also want a nice HDTV and a good Surround system. As a result of sticker shock, I have yet to purchase anything. This in spite of the fact that the system will be about half the cost of the landscaping.

No before you berate me that I'm an idiot to have spent so much on landscaping, know that landscaping increases the value of the home and TV doesn't. Boy could I have had a super system for what I put in to the landscaping. [Eek!]

When I was living over at Ky's house, I bought them a satellite system and the PVR to go with it. PVRs like Tivo are the best thing for television since color. It's great to record shows and watch them when you want and skip through commercials.

About once per month I sneak in to Ky's house and see whets on the PVR. This year it has been West Wing, Charlie Rose, The L-Word, Inside the Actor's Studio and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I watch West Wing, Actor's Studio and Queer Eye.

If on any random night I have worked my way through what's on the recorder, I then skip around channels to see what's on. I have yet to find anything worth watching.

So I alternately want a killer video system [dlp]

and then I could care less about it. [thumbsdown]

I guess that is the curse of being a Gemini, I'm of two minds about everything. As a result, I have been reading a great many books; my Father would be proud.

What I wish was that I had installed in-wall speakers when the house was being built. I know they don't sound as good, but they would be great for watching TV. And I bet people would think they were cool when I sell the house. I would put in good in-wall speakers of course.

While I think about this some more, it’s off to the bookstore to stock up. [thumbsup]