This rant was prompted by today’s Daily Post “All It’s Cracked Up to Be”. I am not officially posting this on the prompt because I am NOT going to follow the spirit of the rules. This is about what ISN’T “All It’s Cracked Up To Be”, namely TFV “T Fucking V”. Throughout the 80’s and most of the 90’s I either did not have a TV or didn’t have time for TV. I did not even sign up for cable until 2000, thank you, Sex and the City. Now however, I probably watch more than I should. I also will admit that I am guilty of watching some of the shows on the channels listed below so please understand this rant is meant as a “light-hearted observation” and not an attack on anyone’s personal TV preferences or the channels/shows themselves. Since rating are the driving force to TV programming, I get that someone must be watching these shows or they would not happen. So this is more of a diss of society’s proclivities than anything else. Most of the channels listed below started out with programming in keeping with the title but since the inception of “reality TFV” have transmogrified into something different from the original intent. Reality TV is cheap to produce and seems to feed the voyeuristic appetite of humans. We like nothing better than to watch someone else’s train wreck in slow motion. So with that said, here is my two cents worth: the FDA regulates food with “truth in labelling” and there are pretty strict laws regarding disclosure. I think the TV channels should have to live up to the same standard. They can show whatever programs they want, but the channel title should disclose the true programming venue.
Here are some examples of channels I think should have to change their title:
TLC – The Learning Channel
Expectation: Educational, programs about reading, writing , arithmetic, science, geography or general “learning how to’s”.
Reality: TCC – The Carney Channel
BRAV – BRAVO
Expectation: Cultured arts; opera’s, ballets, theatre, art education and history, etc.
Reality: TCFC – The Cat Fight Channel
E! – The Entertainment Channel
Expectation: Highlighting the best singers, dancers, comedians, actors.
Reality: TSTW – The Staged Train Wreck Channel or TKOW – The Kardashian’s Take Over The World Channel or WAYW? -Who Are You Wearing? Channel
MTV – The Music TV Channel
Expectation: Music Videos, duh?
Reality: TSRNC – The Staged Reality Nonsense Channel
DSC – The Discovery Channel
Expectation: Discovering new places, cultures, foods, scientific discoveries, etc.
Reality: TWTF – The WTF? Channel
NGC – The National Geographic Channel
Expectation: Documentaries about great places, cultures and discoveries.
Reality: TAP – The Alien and Paranormal Channel
You know what show I miss most?
Sunrise Earth
And now you know why I decided my time is better served reading wonderful blogs.
Can you come up with any channel “reality check”acronyms you would like to share?
Peace out.
Picture courtesy of Pixabay
April 11, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Don’t own a TV. Stopped watching it in the early 1970’s… 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
April 11, 2015 at 5:20 pm
I gave up on TV long ago simply because I watched it too much–the best of whatever was on–and this was in an age where there wasn’t even as much on. I agree, blogging seems less vicarious. https://grieflessons.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/napowrimo-2015-day-11-sapphic-power-outageall-its-cracked-up-to-be/
LikeLiked by 1 person
April 11, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Good move.
LikeLike
April 11, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Thanks for the response. I like your blog and I can’t wait to read more.
LikeLike
April 11, 2015 at 6:33 pm
I just watch things on the internet these days…. I remember when MTV used to show actual music… boy those were the days…
LikeLiked by 1 person
April 11, 2015 at 7:23 pm
It’s no wonder Netflix is doing so well. A la carte TV is the way of the future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
April 11, 2015 at 9:28 pm
How about the “History” channel?
Expectation: HISTORY.
Reality: Conspiracies, Rednecks, Aliens, & People Peddling Trash. (CRAP.)
Great post 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
April 11, 2015 at 9:33 pm
I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: A Must-See For Lovers of Linguistics | Ramisa the Authoress
April 14, 2015 at 5:21 am
Once I discovered Netflix I stopped watching broadcast/cable completely.
One more to add to the list:
A & E – Arts & Entertainment
Expectation: Culture, book discussions, art, ballet, classic drama, opera
Reality: BLC – Bad Life Choices – I’m looking at YOU ‘Intervention’
LikeLiked by 1 person
April 14, 2015 at 8:16 am
Good one! I make enough of those myself, I don’t need to watch other people’s BLC.
LikeLike