TV decline?

[Karma]

For the first time in decades, TV ownership in households has declined. There are also many more options to TV such as the internet, netflix etc. I personally dont watch TV at all like I used to and I think the overall quality of TV programming and options has declined due to the ongoing virus known as "reality TV".

Every other day some Z list celebrity or someone who was once prominent but now isnt is geting a 'reality show.' the most recent entries being "Mob Wives", "The Braxtons" and soon one for Bristol Palin.

People may knock soaps...but soaps require TALENT. Reality TV feeds into this mentality (especially among the millennials) that "being famous for being famous" is some kind of accomplishment.

What's your view on all this? are you a reality tv fan or not? who would you rather see on TV? Susan Lucci or 'Snooki'?

 

[Persephone]

I've never been a fan of reality tv. There are only a few shows that I actually like that are reality based, but they're the contest shows like Project Runway and So You Think You Can Dance.

However I don't think TV drama's have declined at all. In fact, I think there's a fantastic list of dramas ranging from teen based to adult on television right now. There are even some good comedy's [though I'm personally not into comedy's like I used to be]. So while I understand that it's off putting to see shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Real Housewives of whatever County, there ARE good shows on TV.

 

[Rampage]

There is good TV, but there is also a TV slum area---cheaply-made shows that bring in eyes due to the outrageousness of it.

The biggest issue with TV now is that the show must be REALLY special in order for money to be spent on it. If it is good but expensive and numbers are flat (soaps, etc) then execs go for the money...the art be damned.

 

[Clara Oswald]

Soaps aren't really expensive to make. They're actually cheaper than other scripted tv. The budgets are inflated by actor wages. Which is why shows do a Days of Our Lives and kill off all their old characters lol

I have recently found a couple reality shows I like, Project Runway, Ruby and the UK ones where Andrew Lloyd Webber chooses the lead for his next musical. But as I've said before, I have no interest in watching people be rewarded for bad behavior, so I don't watch that Jersey Shore et al garbage.

I feel like there is SO MUCH out there, but so little a percentage of it is actually good television. So many shows you just shake your head at that they're still on the air, and wonder why people waste their time watching that crap. But people watch it, and that's why it sticks around.

On a side note, I was just watching the Retro channel during lunch and it hit me how dark scripted shows are now. Maybe people just get tired of all the depressing stuff lol.

If it is good but expensive and numbers are flat (soaps, etc) then execs go for the money...the art be damned.

That's not always true. Fox kept Dollhouse even though it never pulled the numbers they would have liked. They gave it more of a chance than it normally would have gotten. The big networks can't afford to lose the revenue anymore and let shows develop unfortunately, but cable has been improving and filling that void with more stuff that's allowed to grow a niche fanbase.

 

[Karma]

Soaps aren't really expensive to make. They're actually cheaper than other scripted tv. The budgets are inflated by actor wages. Which is why shows do a Days of Our Lives and kill off all their old characters lol

CBS has the two strongest soaps of all daytime soaps. Y&R and B&B hold the top 2 spots respectively, each pulling in millions of viewers in the double digits (B&B currently pulls in 24 million viewers a day according to neilson) and yet, the heavy hitters on each of those shows dont command the pay that the entire cast of Friends was getting in their prime....1 million EACH per episode. and now the cast of Jersey Shore (TRULY 'a show about NOTHING') each get $100,000 per ep while some of daytimes most celebrated actors/actresses still dont get that. that's crazy to me and its things like that which seem to implicity place more 'value' on crap rather than quality programming.

I feel like there is SO MUCH out there, but so little a percentage of it is actually good television. So many shows you just shake your head at that they're still on the air, and wonder why people waste their time watching that crap. But people watch it, and that's why it sticks around.

thats what it comes down to for me too.

That's not always true. Fox kept Dollhouse even though it never pulled the numbers they would have liked. They gave it more of a chance than it normally would have gotten. The big networks can't afford to lose the revenue anymore and let shows develop unfortunately, but cable has been improving and filling that void with more stuff that's allowed to grow a niche fanbase.

the same is true with shows like Bewitched and Dynasty! When they debuted, they werent at the top. Dynasty barely cracked the top 25 in its debut but back then shows were given a chance to develope and be reworked. That doesnt happen now by any means.

 

[Rampage]

I agree...but the issue with soaps is having to make 300 shows versus 13 per year. That is expensive.

 

[Clara Oswald]

But that's not a one to one comparison. They have to produce something to air in that time slot.

 

[Black King]

I'm not big on reality TV at all and I'm trying to keep up my lifetime ban on watching but when it comes to TV I'm never watching it actually on TV lol. I'm always watching reruns on my computer or hulu's website. If i actually have money i be spending it all on DVDs lol (or books probably books more)

 

[Persephone]

24 million? Try 2.4 million lol. There hasn't been numbers over 5 million on any soap since the 90's. That's the problem and why so many of them are being cancelled.

You know what reality shows really piss me off? All these teen pregnancy shows. Now I fully admit that when 16 and Pregnant FIRST premiered I really enjoyed it and watched it because I thought it was sending out a positive message to teenagers about the troubles and ramifications of becoming a teen mom. However now teen motherhood has been glorified by MTV. My sister even showed me this post on tumblr of this girl who was asking if she should either try to get on My Super Sweet 16 or 16 and Pregnant because she wants to be a reality star. It's disturbing.

 

[Karma]

24 million? Try 2.4 million lol. There hasn't been numbers over 5 million on any soap since the 90's. That's the problem and why so many of them are being cancelled.

well this is from the website, as of 2010 (couldnt find the exact day)

35 million daily viewers in over 100 countries[/B], THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL remains the most watched series in the world, in its genre.

so i was mistaken about those numbers being in the US alone. i know they won the guiness world record for most watched soap in the genre in 2009 or 2010 but i cant remember which year.

You know what reality shows really piss me off? All these teen pregnancy shows. Now I fully admit that when 16 and Pregnant FIRST premiered I really enjoyed it and watched it because I thought it was sending out a positive message to teenagers about the troubles and ramifications of becoming a teen mom. However now teen motherhood has been glorified by MTV. My sister even showed me this post on tumblr of this girl who was asking if she should either try to get on My Super Sweet 16 or 16 and Pregnant because she wants to be a reality star. It's disturbing.

OMG thank you! that shit is RIDICULOUS to me. I think about all the stories i heard about how much of a stigma it was for women in my my, my mother's, my grandmother's generation to be a teen and pregnant and now there's a show gloryfying that? not to mention these girls that are featured turned out to be some of the most ridiculous, wreckless individuals. I saw maybe one or two episodes from the first season and couldnt take it anymore. i didnt realize it was still on until i recently read an article about one of the "stars" getting arrested for assault.

 

[Persephone]

Oh okay! World wide makes much more sense. I thought you were talking in the US alone. I'm like...uh...that's WAY off LOL.

 

[Clara Oswald]

I haven't seen anything - Jill, have you? - about actors in general being up in arms about the soap cancellations? I mean, no more soaps means a LOT of lost jobs in my industry.

About shows like the 16 and pregnant - I've said this to Jill but the same thing with like Growing Up Gotti and that other mobster reality show. John Gotti murdered my friend's grandfather. This is not something to emulate.

 

[Persephone]

Damn I didn't know that!! They're in the process of making a movie about the Gotti's. Lindsay Lohan hasbeen cast as the wife I think...I forget the ladies name.

 

[Clara Oswald]

Let's stop giving criminals money lol

 

[Karma]

I haven't seen anything - Jill, have you? - about actors in general being up in arms about the soap cancellations? I mean, no more soaps means a LOT of lost jobs in my industry.

oh they are very upset. Different actres/actresses from soaps (not just ABC) have been speaking out about it but the ABC stars have to be careful what they say right now. Susan Lucci, Bobbie Eakes (formerly Macy from B&B now Kyrstal on AMC) and the actress who plays Dorian on OLTL have all made statements about it.

About shows like the 16 and pregnant - I've said this to Jill but the same thing with like Growing Up Gotti and that other mobster reality show. John Gotti murdered my friend's grandfather. This is not something to emulate.

Mob Wives is the other one, unless theres an even newer one I dont know about. And I agree with you. these shows really are a brain drain and they reward people for seriously bad behavior, low standards. there's no talent involved here.