By Gary Roen
Television has been called a vast wasteland but now more than ever it is proven over and over again why it’s true.
A while ago I used to watch network TV. Today I view a small amount of shows that are from the networks. Also I tune into cable stations for little amounts of programming. I do watch news channels like CNN, Fox, or MSNBC but even there, I am tuning in less than I used to. There are many reasons.
Deregulation of the industry is one of the reasons but it is not the major one. Still it is high on the list because what was controlled was changed in the 1980’s. A certain number of commercials were regulated in any one segment of a show. When the restrictions were taken off, the advertisers could run lots more ads in any portion of a show. I’ve noticed that so many of the commercials are hard to follow, sing too much, are too loud and are just plain offensive. There are too many useless ones and they take away from the enjoyment of a show. Even with DVR it is not enough because there are too many ads to rip through and sometimes you go too far into an episode and have to backtrack.
I used to follow a show every week and make time to watch. A new mindset came in with corporate executives who are constantly changing the day and time one is on, they take it off for a while then bring it back later in the year or they have one proceeding nicely that is gaining ratings until they put a couple of re-runs on and they replay the same one two to three times in one week. I, the viewer, tune in and find episodes I’ve seen before and decide to observe something else, then stop watching the original show all together. So the head honchos in their wisdom conclude no one is viewing their shows. This was the case with “Detroit 187,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “Blue Bloods,” and the new “Hawaii Five O.” The last two are coming back next season but one thing is clear I will not tune in for any of them. I’m done trying to find them.
Another aspect is that programming is beamed to people who are 14 to 29 years old. Just like the movies in the theatres. One of the best shows to make a statement throughout its run was “Boston Legal.” In so many episodes it made fun of the logic of the major networks’ programming. A show like “Harry’s Law,” is questionable whether it will be back next year. It has a growing audience but not the age NBC wants. I have to laugh with the show “Jag” that premiered on NBC but was canceled after one season. CBS picked it up to run for another 9 seasons. Sometimes shows do make it but most of the time they don’t.
That is only part of the equation. The other thing that drives me up the wall is that you have a show and are really into it until there are logos or crawlers for other shows that fade in and out throughout the episode. Also they do not ever let you see the credits of one because they are too busy promoting something else. On segments of news, anchors tease audiences about a story throughout the broadcast and very often they reveal it at the tail end of the newscast or they never get to it at all. This is done too frequently just to keep viewers tuned. You can see what you want but you really have to put up with a lot to enjoy it, if you stay with cable and the networks.
Television in the 1950’s, 1960’s, and 1970’ was so much better because you had certain standards that were to be followed. Some of them were kind of rigid but viewers did get lots of wholesome shows that were fun to watch and not too many commercials and no graphics on the screen that do not belong.
Now if I want to see something I wait until the DVD or Blue Ray edition is out and watch in total freedom to enjoy whenever and whatever I want. I have seen many boxed sets this way. Among them are “Brothers and Sisters,” “Cheers,” and “Star Trek.”
It’d be great if more things were released directly to DVD and Blue Ray instead of going to cable and network stations.
Take care and I hope you find a way to enjoy what you watch.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Not Much to Do?
By Gary Roen
A few weeks ago I talked to several people. I was surprised when all of them said “There is nothing to do around here.” I gathered they meant that there was nothing to do around the Central Florida area. I find that statement to be so untrue. I know that there are art shows in the next few months that are great fun to go to. To begin with there is the Winter Park Art Festival in March. You also have ones in Mt Dora, Cocoa, and New Smyrna Beach that are great to see all kinds of artwork and strange things...
We have in March Bike Week while The Daytona Speedway has several races in the next few months as well. If you like basketball there are the games of the Orlando Magic and this month the NBA All Star Weekend is here in Orlando. In a month or so there will be baseball spring training all through the state and there are other sport events at Rollins College, UCF, Valencia and Stetson .
The Bob Carr Center has many stage plays and the Orlando Ballet performances. At the Amway Center when the Magic are not playing there are major shows like Elton John or Lady Gaga to name a few. And there is the UCF arena that has brought to the area many exciting shows as well.
For nightlife there are clubs all through downtown Orlando, or there is the night life of Disney or Universal Studios.
For book readers there are many events across the area starting with Fresh Book Festival in Daytona Beach in January. Later the Villages has its own author festival. In April UCF has the UCF Book Festival, and in May there is Oasis, the science fiction convention.
One of the best events that combines media, comics, and writer guests is the convention Megacon in either February or March that is a giant fun fest for three days. This year’s con at the Orange County Convention Center starting on Friday February 17th and running until Sunday the 19th promises to be a wonderful experience for all. Some of the guests slated to appear are Stan Lee, the creator of Marvel comics, Tony Bedard, who has worked on Green Lantern, and lots of other comic artists. For others the draw are the media guests like Tim Russ Star Trek Voyager (Tuvok), Brent Spiner Star Trek The Next Generation, (Data), Bruce Boxleitner, Babylon 5 (Capt. John Sheridan) (Tron) Alan, David Anders Vampire Diaries (John Gilbert), Alias (Julian)..
Throughout the weekend there are talks by many of the guests about some of the shows they have been a part of, the making of shows or movies, where the industry is and where it’s going: For writers the subjects are the craft of writing or can science fiction contain religion?, and there are row after row of artists who have many pieces of art to display. Authors can autograph their works while the actors will sign and talk to their many fans. Also there are so many tables with dealers who sell copies of old tv shows, movies, old magazines and comics, or lots of other related things.
I still say there is so much to do here that all you have to do is look around. Megacon is a great fun family event that has gotten bigger and better through the years. If you’re a Science Fiction or comic buff, this is the place to be. For or an aspiring professional this is the place to network, network, and network. Come have fun and be like a kid in a candy store with all these magical things all around you. For more information on prices, TV stars, artists and authors check out the cons website at www.megaconvention.com.
A few weeks ago I talked to several people. I was surprised when all of them said “There is nothing to do around here.” I gathered they meant that there was nothing to do around the Central Florida area. I find that statement to be so untrue. I know that there are art shows in the next few months that are great fun to go to. To begin with there is the Winter Park Art Festival in March. You also have ones in Mt Dora, Cocoa, and New Smyrna Beach that are great to see all kinds of artwork and strange things...
We have in March Bike Week while The Daytona Speedway has several races in the next few months as well. If you like basketball there are the games of the Orlando Magic and this month the NBA All Star Weekend is here in Orlando. In a month or so there will be baseball spring training all through the state and there are other sport events at Rollins College, UCF, Valencia and Stetson .
The Bob Carr Center has many stage plays and the Orlando Ballet performances. At the Amway Center when the Magic are not playing there are major shows like Elton John or Lady Gaga to name a few. And there is the UCF arena that has brought to the area many exciting shows as well.
For nightlife there are clubs all through downtown Orlando, or there is the night life of Disney or Universal Studios.
For book readers there are many events across the area starting with Fresh Book Festival in Daytona Beach in January. Later the Villages has its own author festival. In April UCF has the UCF Book Festival, and in May there is Oasis, the science fiction convention.
One of the best events that combines media, comics, and writer guests is the convention Megacon in either February or March that is a giant fun fest for three days. This year’s con at the Orange County Convention Center starting on Friday February 17th and running until Sunday the 19th promises to be a wonderful experience for all. Some of the guests slated to appear are Stan Lee, the creator of Marvel comics, Tony Bedard, who has worked on Green Lantern, and lots of other comic artists. For others the draw are the media guests like Tim Russ Star Trek Voyager (Tuvok), Brent Spiner Star Trek The Next Generation, (Data), Bruce Boxleitner, Babylon 5 (Capt. John Sheridan) (Tron) Alan, David Anders Vampire Diaries (John Gilbert), Alias (Julian)..
Throughout the weekend there are talks by many of the guests about some of the shows they have been a part of, the making of shows or movies, where the industry is and where it’s going: For writers the subjects are the craft of writing or can science fiction contain religion?, and there are row after row of artists who have many pieces of art to display. Authors can autograph their works while the actors will sign and talk to their many fans. Also there are so many tables with dealers who sell copies of old tv shows, movies, old magazines and comics, or lots of other related things.
I still say there is so much to do here that all you have to do is look around. Megacon is a great fun family event that has gotten bigger and better through the years. If you’re a Science Fiction or comic buff, this is the place to be. For or an aspiring professional this is the place to network, network, and network. Come have fun and be like a kid in a candy store with all these magical things all around you. For more information on prices, TV stars, artists and authors check out the cons website at www.megaconvention.com.
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