I have an embarrassing confession: I love TV. I don’t know why that’s such a bad thing, since clearly I’m not the only one: people shell out for the latest plasma TVs and buy premium cable packages. It adds up to a lot of money. Further, it’s not considered shameful to be a movie (or better yet, film/cinema) buff.
This doesn’t seem quite fair. People often refer to television as film’s “ugly step-sister.” Being a step-sister myself, I dunno. (As to whether I’m ugly, well, that’s for others to decide.) Also, people often refer to TV as a stupid medium. Movies are often a stupid medium, too- I’m sure we can all name at least 30 movies to lend credence that film is not necessarily nobler than TV.
Even nobler a medium is books. Now, movies aside, there are “smart” TV programs and “stupid” books. I think that House, MD is a “smart” show. It is very well written and researched, and my friend, who is a medical student, says she is actually learning from the show, so it is performing a public service! Again, I’m sure many of us can name “stupid” books. Typically those written by celebrities, but that’s just off the top of my head.
Among TV shows I have just adored over the years and would consider “smart”:
Seinfeld, before it bit the shark hard in 1996. The Simpsons. Family Guy. Northern Exposure. House, MD. Big Love. Married… With Children. Sesame Street. Futurama.
There have been “stupid” shows I liked over the years, particularly as a kid in the ’80s, the golden age of sitcomery, but anyone of my generation pretty much knows what those are and I’m embarrassed to talk about them.
What are your thoughts?
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