There's nothing good on TV anymore
By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
I realize that over the past several years many things have changed, but one of the biggest disappointments is the direction television is headed.
I don't watch a lot of television, most likely because I don't like anything that comes on anymore.
What disturbs me most is the ever-growing number of reality television shows.
For example, CBS's new show "Armed and Famous" follows several celebrities as they work their way through police training and find themselves on patrol in Muncie, Indiana – a city of nearly 70,000 residents located 60 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
The stars of the show include a former professional wrestler, a professional skateboarder and people of similar B and C-list celebrity status.
I'm not a huge fan of reality television, furthermore, I dispute the fact that what is commonly called reality television is a reality at all.
Is marooning 12 ordinary Americans on a deserted island and voting them off one by one really a version of someone's reality?
Among the billions of shows that are classified as reality television, I like three: Deadliest Catch, Dog the Bounty Hunter and Dallas SWAT.
Deadliest Catch follows a crab fishing fleet as they catch hundreds of thousands of pounds of crabs in the Bering Sea. Year after year, crab fisherman is listed as the most dangerous job in the world.
On average 10 men are killed during each season, which can last as little as four weeks.
How can you not like Dog the Bounty Hunter – the bad guy turned good, hunting down fugitives and giving them some words of wisdom before throwing them in the clink?
And Dallas SWAT is like Cops with extra adrenaline. It's tear gas and riot gear for one solid hour.
Television has taken a sharp turn away from the sitcoms I remember from when I was a child.
Honestly, I don't think there's been a good sitcom on television since "Home Improvement" went off the air.
With spring right around the corner, I guess we should prepare ourselves for another season of reality shows, highlighted by American Idol, at least two more Survivors, a Big Brother here and there and a few new ones along the way.
I'm just glad I've got enough to keep me busy until the next great, funny sitcom comes along.
