Rocket Ride

You know how the cable networks named themselves based on the content?  SciFi = Science Fiction, CNN = Cable News Network, MTV = Music Television, etc.  It made sense, right?

Now, this isn’t about MTV and VH1’s complete lack of staying true to thier namesakes…this is about all of the networks committing this act of false advertising!!!!

Okay, it’s not *that* intense but it’s funny.

The real question is what made it happen? Well, first off, reality TV really screwed everything up.  It’s cheaper and easier to fund…easy to get the “actors”..and there’s an endless number of ideas out there so there’s little chance of a dry period, short of a complete lack of interest (God be praised when that day comes).  Maybe Hollywood has hit a creative block.  Whatever the reason, it really put things in a tizzy for network TV.  MTV and VH1 slowly started loosing thier music blocks to marathons of The Real World spin-off shows.  And to be honest, I’m not sure they’re really reality TV shows.  The Real World had it’s moments…Road Rules has it’s purpose…now what do they do?  Serve as a way to watch people hook up.  Big deal, I can watch that on vacation…I can watch that at a nightclub.  Stupid. At least, for a few seasons, the Real World had more of a purpose or a plot to it…Miami had the housemates start up a business…Boston had then running a big-brothers/big-sisters type of thing…Seattle - they worked at a radio station (in fact, one of those girls ended up on the morning show for a station here in Atlanta….and they were BORING AS FUCK! It was listening to coffee converstation…I wanted to yakk.

Remember A&E?  It used to be known as “The Art’s & Entertainment Channel”. It was there that I saw an episode of Biography in ‘94 on Frank Zappa.  Watching that made me a huge fan…I loved the music I heard and loved his thought process. If he were alive today, I’m sure he’d have some sort of show on Bravo or IFC or he’d be doing talk radio.  Anyway..now A&E airs more reality shows, reruns of CSI:Miami and loads of other crap.  Much like MTV and VH1,A&E is a channel that clearly lost it’s way.  I’m sure the excuse they’re throw out has to do with the competition, funding, other mediums….internet access, you tube, Hulu, digital downloads…ya ya ya.

Waaaa for you guys!!  You lost your way.  Change the name of the networks instead of riding on the names that made you successful.  You’re currently like those hollywood party kids who’s only real claim to fame is late night antics, poor driving skills, moronic statements to the paparazzi who they’re THEY’RE rock stars and having a parent who’s a celebrity.

Reality TV, imho, really messed up TV entertainment. It eliminates the need for writers and real actors.  Notice how you hear more actors voices and images in commercials now?  I think that network TV should only run reality TV during the summer.  Prime time TV shows are finished for the season by mid-may.  Three months is plenty of time to barrage the viewers with the same crappy competitions, hidden camera escapades, game shows and celebrity showdowns.

TV  networks and studios ares going to have to step up the game soon.  I mentioned it before:  hulu, youtube, digital downloads - on demand.  That’s the next stage in the evolution of entertainment.  I already know people who have gotten rid of their cable/satellite services because they can watch all the TV entertainment from a computer.

Only a matter of time.