Dobbs Town
10-12-2004, 22:27
Okay I once admitted here, a long while ago, that the grandaddy of all 'reality' shows, COPS, was a secret, long-running Saturday night vice of mine. I used to really get a wicked little thrill watching the action and laughing at it all.
It was also useful to see just how the various police departments comported themselves while on camera - with the expectation that to a large extent, the featured cops would be on their 'best behaviour' with the video crew in attendance.
But over the last year, it's really fizzled for me. I never liked it when the arresting officers were unduly preachy or smug to the suspects, but lately, they seem to be going to great lengths to document particularly unpleasant policemen.
I guess the problem is that, much like Mystery Science Theatre 3000, I don't need smug commentary to be supplied to me as part of the program - I like providing my own. I get no Schadenfreude from watching someone else experience Schadenfreude on camera.
So now I don't watch it regularly anymore. I think I'm getting over it. What was really fun was seeing it paired up with 'To Serve And Protect' - Canada's own version of 'COPS'. The RCMP have such a different way of dealing with things...it was a total contrast to the goings-on down south.
Ah well. There's better things I can think of doing on a Saturday night anyway.
It was also useful to see just how the various police departments comported themselves while on camera - with the expectation that to a large extent, the featured cops would be on their 'best behaviour' with the video crew in attendance.
But over the last year, it's really fizzled for me. I never liked it when the arresting officers were unduly preachy or smug to the suspects, but lately, they seem to be going to great lengths to document particularly unpleasant policemen.
I guess the problem is that, much like Mystery Science Theatre 3000, I don't need smug commentary to be supplied to me as part of the program - I like providing my own. I get no Schadenfreude from watching someone else experience Schadenfreude on camera.
So now I don't watch it regularly anymore. I think I'm getting over it. What was really fun was seeing it paired up with 'To Serve And Protect' - Canada's own version of 'COPS'. The RCMP have such a different way of dealing with things...it was a total contrast to the goings-on down south.
Ah well. There's better things I can think of doing on a Saturday night anyway.