NationStates Jolt Archive

My housemates watch this damn channel all the time. I'm slowly losing the will to live. So I thought I'd mark my return to NSG after a month of totally unnoticed absence (I'm technically not a noob, but my name changes quite a lot) by asking the question that nobody probably wanted raised because it reminds them that this channel exists on British TV: Should ABC1 be cast into the pit of eternal damnation? Is anybody willing to defend it?
(Scrubs is not a valid defence, as it is on at least two other networks)

If anybody is interested, my views on the matter will be explained to you very explicitly over about 1500 words if you follow the link below. Contains some swearing. If you are of a sensitive disposition, or you just have a life, you may wish to give it a miss.

demented rant (http://mysignificantviews.blogspot.com/)

Although it does have Scrubs on it, that's about it. The rest is typical American sitcoms. Which piss me off to no end. 8 Simple Rules? What the fuck is that? So, I don't watch it all that much. Which you can choose to do as well, rather than writing long rants about it, I suppose.

No fair handicapping it because Scrubs is shown elsewhere

Assuming it's an ABC show in America, I will remove the handicap. Still, one show does not a channel make. Somebody has to explain to me why at least one of the other shows shown on this channel is good.

Which you can choose to do as well, rather than writing long rants about it, I suppose.

Hey, buddy, this is the Internet. What the hell else am I supposed to do, other than look at porn?

Edit: and if I want to watch TV in my house, this is what I get, by popular demand. That or "How's it Hanging: Dress Direction of the Stars You Never Heard Of" on MTV. Hence the rant.

Assuming it's an ABC show in America, I will remove the handicap. Still, one show does not a channel make. Somebody has to explain to me why at least one of the other shows shown on this channel is good.

After 8 straight hours of studying I dont want intelligent humour. All I want is cliche and feel good moments :D

After 8 straight hours of studying I dont want intelligent humour. All I want is cliche and feel good moments :D

Where are the feel good moments? I think I missed those.

I try to ignore the channel myself, though I must confess I have watched home improvement at least twice :(

also “You think your TV’s bad, limey? Hah! Our TV’s so bad, the domestic violence rate goes up by 50% during prime time! And we can force it on you, ‘cos we’re the fucking imperial power now, bitches!”

:D

Scrubs, Home Improvement, 8 Simple Rules...what's not to like?

I try to ignore the channel myself, though I must confess I have watched home improvement at least twice :(

also “You think your TV’s bad, limey? Hah! Our TV’s so bad, the domestic violence rate goes up by 50% during prime time! And we can force it on you, ‘cos we’re the fucking imperial power now, bitches!”

:D

No Television Without Representation!

Scrubs, Home Improvement, 8 Simple Rules...what's not to like?

Er... Home Improvement and 8 Simple Rules?

Scrubs, Home Improvement, 8 Simple Rules...what's not to like?
Scrubs, Home Improvement, and 8 Simple Rules

Scrubs, Home Improvement, and 8 Simple Rules

Hilarious.

Hilarious.
You set 'em up, I knock 'em down.

Be thankful that you don't have Xuxa or Faustão!

(A very limited few here will understand this comment)

Er... Home Improvement and 8 Simple Rules?

Oh, original.

I would like to note that the sort of shows being mentioned are not so much representative of "American TV" as "crappy American sitcoms which most Americans also find boring and which will usually go off the air after about two seasons." The sitcom as a genre seems to be slowly but surely dying in the U.S. - very, very rarely we still get an original one worth watching ("Arrested Development," for example), but nowadays, most TV writers and actors with any comedic talent seem to be switching over to hour-long "dramedies" instead.

Oh, original.

The truth tends to be fairly dull. Which is my problem with both those shows.

My housemates watch this damn channel all the time.
My sympathies.

I was in a somewhat similar pickle, until I hooked my flatmates on much more suitable viewing such as The Wire, Trailer Park Boys and, currently, The Sopranos..

No more nonsense from the Shit Box.

I would like to note that the sort of shows being mentioned are not so much representative of "American TV" as "crappy American sitcoms which most Americans also find boring and which will usually go off the air after about two seasons." The sitcom as a genre seems to be slowly but surely dying in the U.S. - very, very rarely we still get an original one worth watching ("Arrested Development," for example), but nowadays, most TV writers and actors with any comedic talent seem to be switching over to hour-long "dramedies" instead.

It's still not as bad as reality TV. With sitcoms at least they're acting out their characters, but in reality TV they actually are just a bunch of dumbfucks.

I would like to note that the sort of shows being mentioned are not so much representative of "American TV" as "crappy American sitcoms which most Americans also find boring and which will usually go off the air after about two seasons." The sitcom as a genre seems to be slowly but surely dying in the U.S. - very, very rarely we still get an original one worth watching ("Arrested Development," for example), but nowadays, most TV writers and actors with any comedic talent seem to be switching over to hour-long "dramedies" instead.

I understand that point, but I'm specifically talking about ABC1 in the UK, which seems to be a showcase for the worst of network comedy, save for Scrubs.
That's less clear in my rant, but that's because the rant is in the character of an idiotic unreconstructed British lefty with no friends - it's a comedy project I'm working on. Like Borat, but less original and funny.

It's still not as bad as reality TV.

Well, yeah. Almost nothing is as bad as reality TV.

The truth tends to be fairly dull. Which is my problem with both those shows.

Nah, they're both good brain-in-neutral just something to watch shows.

Well, yeah. Almost nothing is as bad as reality TV.

Rape. :p

Nah, they're both good brain-in-neutral just something to watch shows.

Agreed

Rape. :p

Well, yeah. Hence "almost."

Nah, they're both good brain-in-neutral just something to watch shows.
But why watch ABC1 when you've got that sort of TV on Paramount, but better? (Frasier, Scrubs, Seinfeld, etc)
Especially considering that the commercials are spaced US-style, which I HATE.

But why watch ABC1 when you've got that sort of TV on Paramount, but better? (Frasier, Scrubs, Seinfeld, etc)
Especially considering that the commercials are spaced US-style, which I HATE.

Because I only have freeview :(

Well, yeah. Hence "almost."

Well...yes. Sorry, it's a comment at school, and I use it way too much.

Because I only have freeview :(

My sympathies. On the other hand, most of the good, original BRITISH television is on Freeview. Not that there's a lot of it. It's cheaper to buy US imports.

My sympathies. On the other hand, most of the good, original BRITISH television is on Freeview. Not that there's a lot of it. It's cheaper to buy US imports.

But I tend to watch TV at odd times (joys of being a student) so it can sometimes be a choice between cookery programmes, antiques shows or 8 Simple Rules

But I tend to watch TV at odd times (joys of being a student) so it can sometimes be a choice between cookery programmes, antiques shows or 8 Simple Rules

Cookery for me in those circumstances... but I get your point. OK, I grudgingly concede that some people's lives would be marginally impoverished by the removal of this channel. But that doesn't mean ABC's good, it just means daytime TV is really, really bad.

But I tend to watch TV at odd times (joys of being a student) so it can sometimes be a choice between cookery programmes, antiques shows or 8 Simple Rules
None can beat the ever tired and emotional Keith Floyd

None can beat the ever tired and emotional Keith Floyd

I say this without hyperbole: Keith Floyd is the greatest hero in the history of television.