The state of American television? Yep. Still sucks!

It's been over two years since I posted my article (read rant) entitled Writer's Guild Strike a Good Reason to Switch off the TV and Pick Up a Book, where I discussed the tragedy that is television programming and advocated for other pass times. But in the intervening two years has anything really changed?
Well, despite paying an inordinate amount for a really shitty cable television subscription (no thanks to Time Warner Cable), it's no secret that I rarely watch the boob tube. Oh, I've watched things semi-regularly in the past, American Idol, V, The Office are a few, but by and large I log a very measly amount of time in front of the set. I suppose you're wondering what I'm bitching about then, aren't you? Well, I'm getting to that. Keep your pants on.

You see, we've recently taken the plunge and laid down the cash for a much larger television. Our first ever HD television. I guess it's no surprise that having such a technological marvel in one's own living room might change a few habits, or at the very least encourage one to sit more often in its glow. So, yeah, I've been watching trying to watch more television. Honestly, though, I see very little to keep me interested. It seems that television is the same stinking turd-mound that it was two years ago when I wrote the first post. Reality based programming still seems to dominate the tube in 2010 with new shows being introduced by the truck load, and old shows returning for seasons that number into the teens!

*Sigh*

When will America end its love affair with this cancer?

MTV's Jersey Shore, Bravo's The Real Housewives of Orange County (or any of the ignorant spin offs of it), and Millionaire Matchmaker?

Trashy, trashy, dumbed down, bullshit programming is about all I can say for these. These shows expect little from its viewers and give back even less. And these are only the tip of the iceberg.

And what's sad is that one of my favorite channels has succumbed to this hemorrhoid-like programming style, and eschewed even its own namesake for shows that are racier and more dramatic. Yes, I'm talking about The History Channel, the channel that made me write this post, in fact. In the past I could always rely on THC to have some sort of engaging programming, quickly going from a last resort to my first pick. Lately, though, it has gone straight down the tubes.

For instance, this past Sunday THC ran Ice Road Truckers (may I interject just what a stupid and moronic idea for a television show this is?) from 8am until 6pm, Axe Men (yet another idiotic program!) from 7pm until 9pm, then Pawn Stars (I hate this less because the creators at least tried to give it a history angle) from 10pm to 11pm, and finished out the night into the wee hours of the morning alternating between Pawn Stars and Axe Men. Monday was more of the same with THC alternating between Pawn Stars and a new reality show about rummage sales called American Pickers all day. Today's schedule is filled with How the Earth Was Made and Life After People, which are just a few of the shows in THC's stable that are simply mouthpieces for its liberal, global warming agenda.

Now I'm not going to say that all of these programs are shite, or that no one likes them. But I think that there is an obvious question that is just begging to be asked here. Anyone wanna take a stab at it, or am I the only nerd who cares?

Did I just hear crickets chirping?

Okay then, I'll spell it out for you: How are any of these shows considered history programs? Is it too much to ask from a station that calls itself The History Channel to have a bit of history programming? Or are we Americans so intellectually challenged that THC can no longer sustain decent ratings without giving us more of what's on every other channel?

Seriously, my jaw fell open last night when I turned to THC for the second day in a row to find that the programming was essentially the same show over and over again, and this has been more the rule than the exception lately. I'm wondering if the programmer was fired over there and the whole damn thing is on auto pilot.

Does anyone care about anything except whether Biff on Jersey Shore bangs some slutty, Italian hippo tomorrow night, or if Tish on Real Housewives gets her feelings hurt because her friends didn't invite her to play tennis with them because her tits aren't big enough? Is that it? Boobs, sex, partying, cat fights, binge drinking, tough guys, crying, drama, drama, drama, and manufactured drama is all anyone cares about anymore? Is this all television has to offer us, or this all we need to be entertained?

I'll continue to watch The Office and I eagerly await the continuation of V this spring, but I do not have high hopes for television's future.

Either my tastes and standards have changed such that I'll never tolerate television programming as long as it continues on its present course, or television's programming standards have been lowered to fit a new demographic that I am unable to identify with. Either way, it seems that the song popularized by B.B. King is, and will remain, relevant here.

Like Mr. King said, "The thrill is gone!"

Kirk out.