I agree with you that most TV is trash, but two of the shows you claim to despise, "The O.C." and "Desperate Housewives" (and "Nip/Tuck," but that's already been addressed in a previous comment) are essentially satire that spoof the very trash you speak of. They are not meant to be taken seriously but are rather sometimes sharp and caustic revealers of how fixated our culture has become in terms of instant gratification and cheap thrills. You say, with a specific reference to "The O.C.": "The more people watch shows like that, the more numbing their own lives will feel by comparison." I'm not entirely convinced of this; obviously most reality shows are shite and provide an ugly look at the most debasing aspects of human nature, but dramatic shows are meant as a form of "escape" and "entertainment." Most people do not aspire for their own lives to follow the trajectory of fictional characters because goodness knows most fictional characters have far more shitty, fucked-up lives than us normal people. In fact, sometimes seeing them they actually make you think, "Well, it could be worse."
Sure, it would be nice to have more quality programming, but who really wants to sit around and wallow in "reality" 24/7/365? There's definitely a way to balance somewhat realistic storylines with intelligence, wit, humor and good acting ("Gilmore Girls" is a prime example), but I think that formula is difficult for most people to replicate so I suppose we should be greatful that there are at least a few shows that succeed. Maybe asking for more is simply asking for too much.
And besides, when I want something tasteful, educational, non-insulting or whatever I simply turn off the TV and turn to a good book. No one is forcing us to watch TV.
Sure, it would be nice to have more quality programming, but who really wants to sit around and wallow in "reality" 24/7/365? There's definitely a way to balance somewhat realistic storylines with intelligence, wit, humor and good acting ("Gilmore Girls" is a prime example), but I think that formula is difficult for most people to replicate so I suppose we should be greatful that there are at least a few shows that succeed. Maybe asking for more is simply asking for too much.
And besides, when I want something tasteful, educational, non-insulting or whatever I simply turn off the TV and turn to a good book. No one is forcing us to watch TV.
Sorry for the long post! :)
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