watercooler

Maybe I’m just getting old, but it seems like there is less and less on TV that’s worth watching.

The sitcoms are kinda stupid, but haven’t they always been? OK, they’re kind of entertaining, but it’s more like an escape for your brain – you can just sit back and veg out to ignore the stresses of work, school, kids, parents, bank accounts, or whatever is bugging you. There is always some modern-day ‘Brady Family’ that runs into some silly problem, yet within the span of 30 minutes (or 12 seconds without commercials) the have it fixed, and everyone lives happily ever after. No one has their house burn down, loses thier job, goes to jail, or has a loved one die. Of course, there’s always some funny stuff, but half the time they should light the “applause” sign on the screen so you can join in with the laugh track.

Then, my least favorite are those annoying “night-time soap operas” that lately are all based in either a hospital or cop shop. It’s almost as bad as the daytime soap operas, they’ve just got better lighting. At least the sitcoms don’t try to pretend that they are really real, these shows try to act like it. And yes, Mr. SuperCop is gonna solve 19 murders by a genius psycho because they “traced” a piece of dryer lint to the shirt he wore for 3 days in high school 10 years ago, all because he spilled some pizza sauce on it, and that sauce was linked through 2 countries, 17 states, and one apartment complex – straight to Mr. Bad Guy. Just like in real life, the bad guy who is able to keep it together and be a mob boss for a decade or so, will crack under the pressure of the SuperCop with a mean look on his face. Whatever makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, right?

It’s almost livable to sit around on my computer or read a book while the TV is blaring at me from the corner of my vision – if it weren’t for those stupid commercials. Yes, some shows have great eye-catching scenes and/or music to distract me to stare at the screen, but half the time it’s for some stupid commercial. I really don’t care if XYZ Inc bought 30 seconds of airtime for more money than I’ll make in 10 years, all to say they’ve got the best maxi pads (with wings). I don’t wanna watch it!!!!!!! No, I’m not gonna buy that new truck, the fake butter, or some weird new drug. Although I really don’t watch much TV, it’s almost worth it to me to buy a Tivo-type DVR so the rest of my family can watch their shows without getting bugged by ads. F those big ad companies that wanna basically ban time-shifting thier shows – I don’t wanna see them, and I’ll pay to avoid them.

No, I’m not really done ranting about this, I’m sure I’ll come back to do it some more, i just don’t feel like getting a publicist involved. I’ll write a book full of my whining later…