NationStates Jolt Archive

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?

It sucks. God damn it sucks. It's terrible and I hate it. "Reality" Tv sucks. New cartoons suck. They ruined Bugs Bunny. AAAAH! I HATE THEM!!

And the new Simpsons? *shutters*

I'm still in mourning over the cancellation of Firefly.

Why is American television programming such garbage these days?

A question that I think we, a public-minded, God-fearing couch-potoatoes must bring to the attention of the big media companies.

(oh and Mythbusters is the ROXORS!)

I'd recommend House, Law & Order (the original one's), Lost and ER on occassion.

Funny, I was about to post something similar to this.
I was going to note a connection between the decline of TV programs and the attitude of many kids these days. Considering the shows that were on when I was in elementary/middle school, the stuff kids have these days is crap.
Nick needs to bring back Real Monsters and The Angry Beavers. That was some damn good stuff :P
Ive noticed a trend in many programs these days, a certain lack of...plot. A five minute exposure to Dora the Explorer has shown that the shows plot seems to consist of "BOOT, we found a BOOT, BOOT BOOT BOOT BOOT BOOT". And people wonder why their kids get ADD.
Bring back ReBoot, Angry Beavers, hell, even Scooby Doo at least HINTS that the charecters have a life outside of the show.
'Scuse my rant :P

I forgot to mention crime dramas. I despise them. Law and Order was fine, its offshoots are OK, but when we get into CSI, CSI: New York, CSI: Miama and the upcoming CSI: Vladivostok, not to mention all the other crap, it gets annoying. Especially when your parents watch the shows at every oppurtunity.
I find the CONCEPTS that some reality shows present interesting. The presentation and the shows themselves, however, are always lacking. I am all for locking self absorbed 20-somethings in a room alone for weeks on end, but when its obviously faked, it sucks.
The best idea for a reality show Ive heard yet was Survivor: Sentient Carniverous Monkey Island. I would SO watch that.

"Jane, I have something to tell you."
"Yes Jimmy?"
"Im cheating on you with Jeremy."
"OH GOD!"
"I know, its hard to accept, but..."
"IT THREW FECES INTO MY FACE! ARGHHH! ITS GNAWING MY THROAT OUT! HELPHELPHELP! AHHHH!"

Dude, television has ALWAYS been crap, with a few exceptions.

The only reason I used to watch TV was for Toonami (on CN). Now that that's gone to hell, I only watch TV for Adult Swim and for the UFC shows they have on Spike. Other than that... I can't think of any shows that I would actually sit down and enjoy watching.

Dude, television has ALWAYS been crap, with a few exceptions.

The only reason I used to watch TV was for Toonami (on CN). Now that that's gone to hell, I only watch TV for Adult Swim and for the UFC shows they have on Spike. Other than that... I can't think of any shows that I would actually sit down and enjoy watching.
Cartoon Network should die a horrible slow death for what they did to Toonami. Its been going downhill ever since they got rid of Moltar though.
BRING BACK MOLTAR!

funny thing is, those kids who grew up watching stuff like bugs bunny, are the same people who are writing all this crap. I grew up watching Bugs Bunny. That was good. I never cared that he was a cross dressing, man smooching, womanizer of a rabbit, because that wasn't the point.

Oh and if you wanna know why kids are ADD, watch 5 minutes of Sesame Street. Spaz city.

funny thing is, those kids who grew up watching stuff like bugs bunny, are the same people who are writing all this crap. I grew up watching Bugs Bunny. That was good. I never cared that he was a cross dressing, man smooching, womanizer of a rabbit, because that wasn't the point.

Oh and if you wanna know why kids are ADD, watch 5 minutes of Sesame Street. Spaz city.
Yes, and I bet if they tried to write something like Bugs Bunny in a modern context, they would be sued to hell and back, then banned from television forever. Consider, for a moment, the casual sexism and racism, the violence and sexual themes, and all the other stuff that made Loony Toons funny.
Now put it next to, say, Dexters Lab.
Yeah, now you see :P

funny thing is, those kids who grew up watching stuff like bugs bunny, are the same people who are writing all this crap. I grew up watching Bugs Bunny. That was good. I never cared that he was a cross dressing, man smooching, womanizer of a rabbit, because that wasn't the point.

Oh and if you wanna know why kids are ADD, watch 5 minutes of Sesame Street. Spaz city.
Yes, and I bet if they tried to write something like Bugs Bunny in a modern context, they would be sued to hell and back, then banned from television forever. Consider, for a moment, the casual sexism and racism, the violence and sexual themes, and all the other stuff that made Loony Toons funny.
Now put it next to, say, Dexters Lab.
Yeah, now you see :P

funny thing is, those kids who grew up watching stuff like bugs bunny, are the same people who are writing all this crap. I grew up watching Bugs Bunny. That was good. I never cared that he was a cross dressing, man smooching, womanizer of a rabbit, because that wasn't the point.

Oh and if you wanna know why kids are ADD, watch 5 minutes of Sesame Street. Spaz city.
Yes, and I bet if they tried to write something like Bugs Bunny in a modern context, they would be sued to hell and back, then banned from television forever. Consider, for a moment, the casual sexism and racism, the violence and sexual themes, and all the other stuff that made Loony Toons funny.
Now put it next to, say, Dexters Lab.
Yeah, now you see :P

I think the saddest thing about crappy TV is that kids are watching it and growing up on it, and it shapes their tastes as they turn into adults. I saw some cartoon on Nickolodean one time about a bunch of people sitting in a car and farting- or something. It was really retarded...but I guess that that's the best that the people who get paid to write kid's cartoons can come up with.

On the positive side...I think it's getting better.... or at least better than it was about five or six years ago. Saturday Night Live has been pretty funny as of late, for example. Maybe because of the FCC bossing everyone around, so writers of TV shows have to be somewhat creative, instead of trying for cheap shock value? Or maybe people are demanding better entertainment?

Yes, and I bet if they tried to write something like Bugs Bunny in a modern context, they would be sued to hell and back, then banned from television forever. Consider, for a moment, the casual sexism and racism, the violence and sexual themes, and all the other stuff that made Loony Toons funny.
Now put it next to, say, Dexters Lab.
Yeah, now you see :P


yeah but, who would it be suing them? The people who grew up on those cartoons! That's who. Anyway you look at it Gen X has done a great deal to screw up America, atleast in terms of decent television

80% of everything is crap. And most of the rest isn't so hot. So, you'll always have only a small portion of truly watchable TV. In my case that'd be House, South Park, The Wrong Coast, the Daily Show/Colbert Report, and Battlestar Galactica; at least at the moment.

At least Cartoon Network moved away from all the "Cartoon Cartoon" bullshit with the disconinuations of major airings of Dexter's Lab and Powerpuff Girls along with Cow & Chicken and I Am Weasel. Too bad they still air Ed, Edd, and Eddy and created My Gym Partner is a Monkey and Camp Lazlo. But at least they still hold most of the cartoons worth watching.

Nickelodeon has been in the crapper since the early '90s when the last of its classic shows stopped seeing regular airtime. The only thing good it has now that is reminiscent of crap is Avatar, which they should promptly sell to Cartoon Network before they kill it.

Reality shows are good, by which I mean taping of real people doing real things, not people put together in such a manner that what happens is predictable and controlled but it doesn't have a script so it's called "reality." No script does not reality make. Mythbusters, American Chopper, Miami Ink, Dirty Jobs, etc are all good.

Disney was never worth watching. Sci Fi has good shows during the fall and winter when it's network series pick up - Stargate:SG1 and Atlantis, Battlestar: Galactica, and whatever else I forget.

Comedy Central is pretty good now.
But yeah, the best shows are 10 years old or more. Sci fi seems to have finally picked up Dark Angel, I watched it yesterday, but it only sparsely plays its better series and runs Star Trek all the time or made for tv movies. If they replaced their made for tv movies with rerun sets of The Crow, Dark Angel, Quantum Leap, Battlestar: Galactica - original and new (but not 1988), and restarted their anime movie Saturdays it would be better. Either Cartoon Network or Nick need to bring back their old shows: Are You Afraid of the Dark, The Secret World of Alex Mack, Hey Dude, Salute Your Shorts.

Cartoon Network moved all the really classic cartoons to Boomerang.

And look at Fox? They had decent stuff back in the day, but now its all crap. Except for new TMNT.

Yup, the cartoons are easily beyond saving. It really is quite sad.

TV is dying a horrible painful death. What happened to the shows of long ago like the original Power Rangers!!!! That was my favourite show as a kid. At least it had some intelligence and the Muppets. Haha the small amounts of satrical comedy . Only things worth watching now are South Park, Lost, reruns of Futurama, The Simpsons. The crap nowadays though almost wants to make you cry

I'm still in mourning over the cancellation of Firefly.

Amen! Best damn show out there these days, and they gave it the axe. Bastards...

If its quality series youre looking for, I suggest HBO.

Sopranos.
Rome
Carnivale
Deadwood...

Some of the best series on the air.

If its quality series youre looking for, I suggest HBO.

Sopranos.
Rome
Carnivale
Deadwood...

Some of the best series on the air.

Superb programmes. I suppose we tend to get the best of US TV over here in the UK so I have a higher opinion of some of the programmes than of the reality tv bilge we are turning out.

Superb programmes. I suppose we tend to get the best of US TV over here in the UK so I have a higher opinion of some of the programmes than of the reality tv bilge we are turning out.

I think its the same for us over here with UK programs.

Father Ted.
Monty Python
Fawlty Towers.
Ab Fab...

Etc....

As for reality TV bilge..man do we put out our share.

Has anyone seen "Who wants to be a Superhero?"

Eegad.

From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean)

Nickelodeon is just another victim. The real bad guys here are the various censorship boards which were operating back in the day when Walt Disney, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, Leon Schlesinger, Friz Freleng, Max Fleischer, and everyone else were at their height. Puritanical Americans couldn't stand what a bunch of male animators produced for entertainment. Of course, today an entire artistic genre lay in ruins, the idea of a cartoon -- now by definition children's fodder -- being made for an audience over two years old in age driving parents mad with psychotic "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!111!!1one" moralizing and general nonsense. God help us if someone should even think about making a cartoon actually targeted to an adult audience.

A while ago there was a thread that asked what decade one would wish to travel/move to. I'd have to pick from the 1920's to 1960's so that I could watch some decent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tex_Avery) animation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_Toons#Controversy) for once. (Yes, there was plenty of animation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loony_Toons#The_stereotypes) that promoted unjust ideologies and practices. Even so, the righteous fight against such injustice does not and should not include pretending that injustice did not exist. The historical, academic, and artistic value, as well as the educational value in helping to demonstrate why and how injustice operates, all demand and require free and open access. At any rate, I am an intelligent adult capable of making, and being responsible for, my own decisions; I do not need anyone, public or private, treating me like a child, shielding me from history or current reality)

Because most of the American public has childish and crass humour. Even fart jokes.

I think its the same for us over here with UK programs.

Father Ted.


Do not isnult the greatness that is Father Ted! :D

It may be crass at times, but it can be quite smart. Besides, Blackadder makes up for any bad comedies the UK made.

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?

TV - like everything else - has always been mostly crap. It looks better when you think back on it - because you REMEMBER how good that one season of "Earth 2" was, but you conveniently forget that it was one good show, out of seven evenings of crap.

The biggest flaw is the dollar. It all comes down to advertising revenue. Thus, a show that deals with issues that are not always palatable (Firefly) gets a one-season-run, while turgid bollocky toss like "The Shield" (which brings in a constant supply of bums-on-seats) runs forever.

If you want a bright spot in the current lineup... "Eureka" has some potential.

Wait for the new season to start.

I watch
Mondays- no TV
Tuesdays- Gilmore Girls and House (which are on at the same time this new season, so I will DVR house and watch GG live)
Wednesdays- no TV
Thursdays- Smallville, and Grey's anatomy
Fridays- no TV
Saturday- Batman, Spiderman, X-men....
Sunday- no TV

wait, I don't watch much TV..... sorry.


I don't have cable anymore, but when I did have it Mythbusters was pretty nice.

Oh, if you have PBS, they show Monty Python's Flying Circus late at night :D

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?


Most of television has always sucked. You've just gotten mature enough to notice it.

Komyunizumu']Do not isnult the greatness that is Father Ted! :D

It may be crass at times, but it can be quite smart. Besides, Blackadder makes up for any bad comedies the UK made.

BackwoodSquatches is not insulting it but saying it is good.

Does anybody remember Pinky and the Brain?

It was a stupid show, but for a show that's chief demographic was somewhere in the ages 4 to 11 range, it sometimes had things that you could only understand if you were an adult.

For example: I don't think most American 4 year olds knew who Johann Gutenburg, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O'Connor, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Nelson Mandella, Colonel Gaddafi, Idi Amin, Josef Stalin, Bill Gates, Jacques Chirac, Boris Yeltsin, Bob Dole, Hillary Clinton, or Bill Clinton were, although at the time Bill Clinton was president so maybe they would know who he was. Yet these people were all on the show at one point or another. Maybe they knew Saddam too, but I don't know if four year olds knew who he was. I never asked them.

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?
Get HBO and watch shows like Deadwood.

Does anybody remember Pinky and the Brain?

It was a stupid show, but for a show that's chief demographic was somewhere in the ages 4 to 11 range, it sometimes had things that you could only understand if you were an adult.

For example: I don't think most American 4 year olds knew who Johann Gutenburg, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O'Connor, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Nelson Mandella, Colonel Gaddafi, Idi Amin, Josef Stalin, Bill Gates, Jacques Chirac, Boris Yeltsin, Bob Dole, Hillary Clinton, or Bill Clinton were, although at the time Bill Clinton was president so maybe they would know who he was. Yet these people were all on the show at one point or another. Maybe they knew Saddam too, but I don't know if four year olds knew who he was. I never asked them.

And then there are gems like this:

Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Pinky: I think so, Brain, but isn't Regis Philbin already married?

:D

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards.

Hell, they labelled Dr. Who as a Sci-Fi original series. :rolleyes:

I watch the news, Judge Judy, the occasional BritCom, and, when I am with my fiance, Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs, Ghosthunters, Battlestar Galactica, Modern Marvels, and Doctor Who.

There ain't much. And when I look at crap like Jerry Springer, I see we haven't progressed much from tossing the Christians to the lions.

Does anybody remember Pinky and the Brain?

It was a stupid show, but for a show that's chief demographic was somewhere in the ages 4 to 11 range, it sometimes had things that you could only understand if you were an adult.

For example: I don't think most American 4 year olds knew who Johann Gutenburg, Colin Powell, Sandra Day O'Connor, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Nelson Mandella, Colonel Gaddafi, Idi Amin, Josef Stalin, Bill Gates, Jacques Chirac, Boris Yeltsin, Bob Dole, Hillary Clinton, or Bill Clinton were, although at the time Bill Clinton was president so maybe they would know who he was. Yet these people were all on the show at one point or another. Maybe they knew Saddam too, but I don't know if four year olds knew who he was. I never asked them.

Ah, Pinky and the Brain... I was in the older demographic at the time it aired(between 9 and 12), and I did actually know who alot of those people in that list were. It might have had something to do with with the fact that I watched both local and national/world(whichever you prefer to call it)news every single day in both the mornings and the evenings at the time, along with 60 Minutes sporadically(ya, I was a freak). Even the show it spawned from, Anamainiacs!(which was spawned from Tiny Toons, which was spawned from Loony Toons), was good. It had a very deep episode once, in which one of its characters, an elderly squirrel chic named Slappy Squirrel, got the cartoon equivalent of Altzheimer's disease. The 90's... back when even cartoons that more often than not had mostly semi-to-completely low-brow humour could produce semi-educational and the occasional deep episodes.

But, ya I agree with the OP: TV has barely anything worth watching anymore. I remember, back when I was about 4 or 5 being allowed to watch Geraldo. You heard me-daytime talk shows used to be alright enough to allow your children to watch. Of course, I wasn't allowed to watch it for very long(about a year or so), the show has since been cancelled, and now I realize there really isn't much good to watch on talk shows, anyway. PBS also used to air good stuff, too. Anyone here remember Shining Time Station, Lambchop's Playalong(however it's written), Reading Rainbow, and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood(now eternally on reruns)? Even Sesame Street used to be somewhat alright, or at least better than it is now. And let's not forget those National Geographic specials and the various Nature/Nova programs. As for cartoons, there was Batman, Superman, Gargoyles, The Fantastic Four, Woody the Woodpecker reruns, The Hulk, Spiderman, Garfield and Friends, TailSpin, Rescue Rangers, King Arthur and the Knights of Justice, Beast Wars, and The X-Men(along with the stuff on the previous paragraph). Even Captain Planet, the show guaranteed to have been produced by hippies on acid, and Beast Machines, the show made by people who watched too much Captain Planet while possibly on acid, beats out much of what is on in children's entertainment today:(. About the only things, animated wise, worth watching are the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(except for the fact that they recently decided to skip a whole bunch of eps.)and Avatar:The Last Airbender. Of course, there are still the shows on Adult Swim-Ghost In the Shell:Stand Alone Complex and the recently re-aired Neon Genesis Evangelion(though the very last episode made me think of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood!). Did you know that now there's a channel specifically for 6 month to 2 yr. olds!? It's called Sprout.

For those who don't care much for animation, there's..... um... uh.... Stargate! And Dr. Who! Eureka, as previously stated, seems to have potential. Speaking of sci-fi shows... Remember back when Invasion and the show about the Loch Ness monster or whatever(posssibly called "The Deep" or something)first aired? There was a 3rd show that was on CBS called Threshold. Granted, the only reason I watched the first ep. was do to Brent Spiner(Data from TNG)being in it, but the series was pretty good. And then, the BASTARDS at CBS decided to purposefully make it DIE without even so much as a warning, even allowing the last aired episode to show scenes for what was supposed to be the following episode.... which NEVER aired! There's this 1 webisite called http://www.tv.com which has listings, dates, and descriptions of almost every show ever aired, and it had the titles for at least 3 episodes after the last aired 1! And then of course there was Firefly. It was the only sci-fi show to ever have no sound in space, just as it really is. And, of course, it got cancelled. At the same time it was airing, there was a show called John Doe that was also on. It was fairly alright(at least, I thought so), but it only got to air one full season before it was cancelled. It seems to me the reason there is so much crap on anymore is because networks want shows that at the least have a steady audience to being smash hits within a time span of the first 5 eps., otherwise the shows get in line for the axe. Of course, they forget that many series that became smash hits took more than 1 season to get there(like the X-Files). For non-science fiction fiction, tune into any of the Law & Orders(yes, I do happen to like its spin-offs)or perhaps CSI(though, I don't like it as much as Law&Order). For more educational stuff, watch the History&History International Channels, the various Discoveries, the Science Channel, and the National Geographic Channel. For reruns of your favorite(or not)stuff, watch Sleuth(Knight Rider, Miami Vice, Matlock, Homicide:Life On the Street[which is what L&O wishes it could be], The Equalizer, John Doe, The A-Team, and movies), TV Land, TV1, Boomerang(which has Batman, Superman, and Justice League/JLU late at night), and VH1 Classic. G4 airs original Star Trek eps., unedited, every Sat., and 2 eps. of TNG every night at 8 and 9 for those who are interested, and ABC Family airs Family Matters and Boy Meets World during the day. I also recall seeing that someone(don't know who)airs Saved By the Bell early morning on the weekend.

Wait for the new season to start.

I watch
Mondays- no TV
Tuesdays- Gilmore Girls and House (which are on at the same time this new season, so I will DVR house and watch GG live)
Wednesdays- no TV
Thursdays- Smallville, and Grey's anatomy
Fridays- no TV
Saturday- Batman, Spiderman, X-men....
Sunday- no TV

wait, I don't watch much TV..... sorry.


I don't have cable anymore, but when I did have it Mythbusters was pretty nice.

Oh, if you have PBS, they show Monty Python's Flying Circus late at night :D
Hehehehe, I tend to watch more DVD stuff anyway... or play games. :D


the problem with American T.V. is that they are becoming more and more Politically Correct. Television in the past, (Popeye, Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny) were originally not meant for children (consider Betty Boop's usual outfit, the amount of explosions, running over with vehicles, the speed of which fights are started...) I would say the start of the less violent/more kid friendly cartoons were actually started in the mid seventies, with Superfriends, Fat Albert and the like, where fights were usually done with less confrontation... if at all, and it also marked the first time cartoons were edited (Looney Toons)

even television shows strive not to cast judgement or even take sides on political topics.

for me, one of the best indicators that people are getting fed up is that for this year's Emmys, one show nominated for several is one that has been cancelled by the networks. I hope it wins because it really was a good show.

I watch the news, Judge Judy, the occasional BritCom, and, when I am with my fiance, Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs, Ghosthunters, Battlestar Galactica, Modern Marvels, and Doctor Who.

There ain't much. And when I look at crap like Jerry Springer, I see we haven't progressed much from tossing the Christians to the lions.
you should try Good Eats.

What? There’s plenty of good television.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Rescue Me,” “The Office,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Family Guy,” “South Park,” “Dog Bites Man,” "The Daily Show,” “Reno 911,” “The Colbert Report,” “Mind of Mencia,” “ER” and “House” are all great shows.

You’re right about there being no good sci-fi, though.

Here are some major problems in American television:
children's programming now means children only. Arther may have been a kids show, but teens and adults could be entertained enough not to shoot themselves. Mr. Roger's neighborhood? Educates through the use of NEW facts. Now, we have Dora (you are an idiot, so I'll reteach you EVERYTHING you already know. Barney? "Today's lesson is on sharing and being as loud and high pitched as possible. Same as last episode's. You'll never guess what the next lesson is. Nope, bot something new. The same god damn thing I've been telling you ungrateful fucking fucked up cunts all these years. If you still are surprised by the day's lesson, just quit hurting the laws of nature and die already. Turkeys may be dumb enough to drown in rain but at least they're smart enough to god damn survive."

Reality TV and talent shows. America's got talent? Not anymore. American idol? Now the leading cause of channel changes, outdoor non-tv related activities, and self imposed deafness. Super nova? The same god damn thing. Survivor? We put a bunch of idiots on an island, convince them that they are all alone(dispite the fact that there are cameramen everywhere), and make them do meaningless tasks that only serve to destroy not only their dignity, but also their survivability. Fear factor? People watch this crap without blinding themselves to stop the pain? That must be the scary part because I'm scared.

Censorship. I know that racism and cursing on tv is wrong, but were older cartoons, such as Popeye, really that horribly violent and gory? Wow. Just wow.

Anime. Wolf Rain and Inuyasha were genious. Dragon Ball Z WAS genious. Now it's just stupid. Bobobo? At least on Peewee's playhouse, there was a random collection of plots, which is better than none. Naruto? Come on. Teen Titans? There's a reason why anime is usually Japanese. They invented it, so they have some idea of what the hell they're doing.

News.
anchorman"World peace is everwhere, poverty is extinct, and both cancer and AIDS are cured. But we have vital news!!! BUSH LOOKED AT SOMEONE!!!!! Oh the inhumanity. Now let's continue our bad news coverage with Steve."

Basically, the rule of American news is: If it's good news, ignore it. If it's bad in anyway, report it.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?This isn't limited to American television.

I very much miss "John Doe" and "Invader Zim". Shows that I watch right now include "Lost", "Eureka", "The Office", "Two and a Half Men", and occasionally "Judge Judy" or "My Name is Earl".

I saw the ad for "Who wants to be a Superhero" or whatever it's called, and it looks pretty ridiculous. A lot of new shows these days do.

Get HBO and watch shows like Deadwood.
Pay extra money to watch a lame Western. No.
Compilation of shows and cartoons worth watching:
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nick)
Mythbusters (Discovery
Dirty Jobs (Discovery)
Most Dangerous Catch (Discovery) - do not confuse with the new ripoff show about lobsters
American Choppters/OCC/whatever (Discovery)
The myriad of tattoo shows (A&E and Discovery)
Battlestar: Galactica (Sci Fi)
Stargate: SG1 (Sci Fi)
Stargate: Atlantis (Sci Fi)
John Doe (Sci Fi) - they might have stopped airing this, I dunno.
Dark Angel (Sci Fi) - I saw it the day before yesterday
Eureka (Sci Fi)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Fox) - though probably now the newer one where they are in "the future"
Mind of Mencia (Comedy Central)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Chapelle Show (Comedy Central)
Family Guy (Cartoon Network/Fox)
Futurama (Cartoon Network)
Venture Bros (Cartoon Network)
Pee Wee's Playhouse (Cartoon Network) - for nostalgia, and when you are high
The Boondocks (Cartoon Network)

Check your local station for listings

Pay extra money to watch a lame Western. No.
If it was lame I wouldn't recommend it. I personally think it's the best show on TV.

If it was lame I wouldn't recommend it. I personally think it's the best show on TV.
Which still culminates in having to pay extra money for a expanded cable channel thus it doesn't count.

US American TV programming might mostly be crap but where do most of your favourite television programs come from?

The majority of mine are from the US:
The Daily Show
Colbert Report
Family Guy
Simpsons
Futurama
South Park
Chapelle Show

*below are not programs but favorite channels from the US*
The History Channel
Discovery Channel
Food Network
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central (although the Blue Collar TV crap is really getting on my nerves)


Then there are some shows that are not US American that I love:
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Benny Hill
The League Of Gentlemen
BBC World News


~~~~~~~~~~~~
brain no workey - I can't think of much else at the moment

What? There’s plenty of good television.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Rescue Me,” “The Office,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Family Guy,” “South Park,” “Dog Bites Man,” "The Daily Show,” “Reno 911,” “The Colbert Report,” “Mind of Mencia,” “ER” and “House” are all great shows.

You’re right about there being no good sci-fi, though.

Although I like Dog Bites Man and I think the premise of the show is brilliant, it wierds me out.

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?

There's a movie called Laughter on the 23rd Floor about an, intelligent, funny TV show that wend up against the incredibly popular and horrifyingly dull Lawrence Welk show.

Baisicly, you can make stuff that educated people find dull, but will still leave on because it beats having to sit down and talk with your family, but that uneducated people find novel and entertaining. But if you try to entertain sophisticated people, then simpletons will change the channel in frustration, and watch sports.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The only reason I didn't list that is because of the OP's comments on everything good being old, which I took to mean, no longer being produced.

The majority of mine are from the US:
The Daily Show
Colbert Report
Family Guy
Simpsons
Futurama
South Park
Chapelle Show

Of those, South Park has always been about shock value over substance (just IMO), Simpsons and Family Guy have seriously gone down in quality, and Futurama and Chapelle Show have been cancelled.

The Daily Show and Colber Repor are good, though...

I was just responding that the majority of shows i like come from the US even though I do try to seek out good foreign shows (and listed the ones I found that I like), they just arent very prevalent.


Also I disagree that Simpsons and Family guy have gone down hill and I like South Park precisely because of the shock value.

Plus they are still showing episodes of both Futurama and Chapelle Show on tv so they may not be making more of them they are still part of US American programming.

Of those, South Park has always been about shock value over substance (just IMO)
I love their fruity little messages.:)

And then there are gems like this:

Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Pinky: I think so, Brain, but isn't Regis Philbin already married?

:D

Still makes me laugh after all these years! :p

Ah, Pinky and the Brain... I was in the older demographic at the time it aired(between 9 and 12), and I did actually know who alot of those people in that list were.

Same. I wasn't an adult at the time. But some things I never got until I got older, like I had no idea who Colonel Ghadafi was until I got older.

It might have had something to do with with the fact that I watched both local and national/world(whichever you prefer to call it)news every single day in both the mornings and the evenings at the time, along with 60 Minutes sporadically(ya, I was a freak). Even the show it spawned from, Anamainiacs!(which was spawned from Tiny Toons, which was spawned from Loony Toons), was good. It had a very deep episode once, in which one of its characters, an elderly squirrel chic named Slappy Squirrel, got the cartoon equivalent of Altzheimer's disease. The 90's... back when even cartoons that more often than not had mostly semi-to-completely low-brow humour could produce semi-educational and the occasional deep episodes.

I remember that squirrel...

I watched world news every night and 60 minutes sporatically also. My first memory was of the 1991 Russian Coup. I was little but I remember all those BRDMs on the highway and that hotel burning (I forget what it was called but it was white and on fire). Then my first really good memory of a news topic was of the L.A. Riots with the riots and the aftermath being the major news for like three years. Then came Waco...

PBS also used to air good stuff, too. Anyone here remember Shining Time Station, Lambchop's Playalong(however it's written), Reading Rainbow, and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood(now eternally on reruns)? Even Sesame Street used to be somewhat alright, or at least better than it is now. And let's not forget those National Geographic specials and the various Nature/Nova programs. As for cartoons, there was Batman, Superman, Gargoyles, The Fantastic Four, Woody the Woodpecker reruns, The Hulk, Spiderman, Garfield and Friends, TailSpin, Rescue Rangers, King Arthur and the Knights of Justice, Beast Wars, and The X-Men(along with the stuff on the previous paragraph). Even Captain Planet, the show guaranteed to have been produced by hippies on acid, and Beast Machines, the show made by people who watched too much Captain Planet while possibly on acid, beats out much of what is on in children's entertainment today.

That sums up about every show I ever saw when I was little...

Even Captain Planet, the show guaranteed to have been produced by hippies on acid

http://www.turner.com/planet/mp3/cp_close.mp3

EARTH! FIRE! WIND! WATER! HEART! GOOOO PLANET!!! lololol :p :p :p

Do you know that Danny Glover, Meg Ryan, and LeVar Burton were on that show?

If its quality series youre looking for, I suggest HBO.

Sopranos.
Rome
Carnivale
Deadwood...

Some of the best series on the air.

All good shows.... But Rome was fantastic!

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?

Nickolodeon's gone to hell, Disney's gone to hell, ABC, CBS, Spike TV, MTV, CN's gone to hell. AMERICAN PROGRAMMING HAS GONE TO HELL. All the "teen shows" you see are retarded as crap- it's a bunch of 35-50 year olds remembering their own high school/middle school days and trying to twist them around to make them funny/interesting, and it's crappy. It's fake- everyone is rich, pretty, and smart (except one person, who is infernally idiotic). There's all these talent shows on TV such as "America's Got talent" and "American Idol", which people only watch to see what the BRITISH judges are going to say! WTF! It's annoying as crap and as an *intelligent* American teenager, my only refuge is a CANADIAN Tv show (Degrassi)!!!! :mad:

American TV <---:sniper: :sniper:

Why is American television programming such garbage these days?
Why does every generation ask the same questions that the last one did?

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?



History Channel and Military Channel are the only ones I'll watch. Mostly, I don't even bother anymore.

History Channel and Military Channel are the only ones I'll watch. Mostly, I don't even bother anymore.
But... but... what about The Ultimate Fighter on Spike?

But... but... what about The Ultimate Fighter on Spike?


lol, never seen it.

But... but... what about The Ultimate Fighter on Spike?


ah yes I forgot! I enjoy that one once in a while

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?



I agree and half to 60% of kids shows are not even good for them to watch. Disney I am looking at you!

lol, never seen it.
:eek: I don't even know you... ;)

ah yes I forgot! I enjoy that one once in a while
Ah, glad I'm not the only one.

:eek: I don't even know you... ;)




And I thought we had something special!!!!

*Runs off cryin*

lol

And I thought we had something special!!!!

*Runs off cryin*

lol
:fluffle:
[CASBLANCA REFERENCE]We'll always have Paris.[/CASBLANCA REFERENCE]

Same. I wasn't an adult at the time. But some things I never got until I got older, like I had no idea who Colonel Ghadafi was until I got older.

I remember that squirrel...

I watched world news every night and 60 minutes sporatically also. My first memory was of the 1991 Russian Coup. I was little but I remember all those BRDMs on the highway and that hotel burning (I forget what it was called but it was white and on fire). Then my first really good memory of a news topic was of the L.A. Riots with the riots and the aftermath being the major news for like three years. Then came Waco...

Waco... That happened on my birthday, so it'll always be something I'll remember. Also, for some really wierd reason, back in the day, I got Bush Sr. and Dan Rather.... confused. I basically thought they were the same person(They looked alike! Well, sorta...), and that was pretty much the only reason I had any political leanings at the time: Dan Rather/Bush=Cool, and therefore, Clinton, by going against Rather/Bush=Uncool.

That sums up about every show I ever saw when I was little...

http://www.turner.com/planet/mp3/cp_close.mp3

EARTH! FIRE! WIND! WATER! HEART! GOOOO PLANET!!! lololol :p :p :p

Do you know that Danny Glover, Meg Ryan, and LeVar Burton were on that show?

I don't need a link to remember that tune.... I watched that show so many times that I can only hope and pray that song will someday disapear. Maybe doing this :headbang: will help? As for the actors in it... I recently found out that Geordi... Er, I mean, LeVar was in that show, but I didn't know that Danny Glover&Meg Ryan were also in it. I wonder what these people think of the show now?

Pheh, what the heck, here's the evil tune of megadoom for everyone: EARTH! FIRE! WIND! WATER! HEART! GOOOOOO PLANET!!! We're the Planeteers! You can be one, too! 'Cause saving our planet is the thing to do! Looting and polluting is not the way! Here's what Captain Planet has to say: The Power is yours!
Sing in your best uber-lame preppy child voice. Be sure to have your Kirk/Shatner-spaces in the appropriate areas for best results.

Another thing I hate: "teen shows"
These follow the same formula:
A nonpopular teen with perfect skin deals with cliche teen problems:
1. "acne". It's hardly acne when it's just ONE Freak'n zit.
2. Not being rich. No way every teen wants JUST the $30000 blue jeans they know will break up traveling in the earth's lower atmostphere at a blistering 2 miles per hour.
3. Asking pretty person to dance, which they almost always succeed at.

They also have your classic stereotypes:
1. "average" person. These are your lazy good for nothings.
2. nerds. These are also the not-stupid kids.
3. bullies. These usually wear a vest or leather jacket. Never both. These also randomly punch people.
4. Popular girls. In real life, we have a word for these girls: bitches.
5. Robot kid. Like the name suggests, these are more metally than meat kids.
6. Hippies. Dispite the fact that the 1960s are long over, you still have your vegetarian peacewhores.
7. Cafeteria food. I know that American school food has the nutrient content of your everyday rock and the manufacturing cost of a gumball, but real life school food is too inexpensive to make to be alive.

Still makes me laugh after all these years! :p

How can it not?

Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Pinky: I think so, Brain, but where are we going to find rubber pants our size?

:D

It is rare that there is any decent programming at all. From the annoyingly idiotic and crude-humor "children's animation" (I'm looking at you, Nickalodean) to all types of various sitcoms that aren't funny in any way, to urban programming from places like UPN and Spike TV, to just about everything that tries to pass itself off as decent science fiction on Sci-Fi. In fact, apart from Stargate and its spin-off(Which are NOT Sci-Fi original series you lying bastards. Stargate was initially shown on Showtime for its first five seasons.) there's nothing worth watching at all on ANY channel that isn't something much older, like DS9 and TNG on Spike.(Mere examples.) The only real exception would be the Discovery channel, as it has some fun stuff, like Mythbusters.

But the Discovery Channel is just an exception to the rule. Why is American television programming such garbage these days?

That HBO shower make good stuff.