57 channels

While waiting eagerly^[1] for the Eurovision^[2] to begin earlier today I was flicking between Remarkable Vets^[3] and The Culture Show^[4] Neither were all that good or gripping, but I’d already watched American Idol^[5] so my expectations weren’t too high^[6] The Culture Show had some entertaining segments, like how Tom & Jerry inspired a classical pianist when he was only 2, that sort of rubbish, but then it also had a segment giving out about the various crap shows^[7] that go to make up much of the television schedule. You know, that who will star in this musical, the Beeb are trying to find Joseph while ITV are looking for a Sandra and a Danny for Grease. Neither of these reality shows is much good. I’ve seen a grand total of part of Grease is the Word and I wasn’t impressed, but you know what my solution to this was? Yup, I didn’t watch it again^[8]

Now I can appreciate that this TV critic dude^[9] has to watch television as part of his job, but can’t he simply say that this or that is shite and explain why without being reduced to insulting people? I’ve no problem with making bitchy comments about people on the telly^[10] But making those comments while on telly yourself is just mean and nasty^[11] Especially considering that these people^[12] are never going to be famous, and that the shows are exploiting them. Plus there is nothing really offensive about any of them. So taking cheap shots at them just doesn’t seem fair to me. It isn’t as if they have any way to reply to the accusation that they are “real people” and so aren’t glamorous.

And yes, the whole notion of having the Josephs parade around in their loincloths in front of their mothers was odd^[13] but, if you^[14] actually engaged your brain you might have figured out that they’ll have to wear those on stage if they make it, and what better way to see how they react^[15] than by surprising them like that?

I wouldn’t have minded if yer man had been funny with it, because that can be laughed off, but he wasn’t. Trying, yes, he was trying to be humorous. Didn’t succeed though.

I do appreciate Mr. Critic’s view that reality TV is shite, but shouldn’t you give out about the people who are entertained by these mindless drivel rather than by the performers themselves? Can’t you just not watch it, make no mention of it, stop feeding the publicity machine, and maybe they’ll fade away. And if they don’t, stop moaning, television is about providing entertainment, and if people are entertained by shite then that is what they’ll get. When will people cop on to the fact that if you don’t like watching something you do have the option of turning off the telly? No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to sit on your coach staring at that magic box in the corner. If you don’t like the show turn over; if you don’t like any of the shows turn it off and fucking do something else^[16]