TV's Rating Game

By Michele Winslow

How many times have you found a TV program you liked only to have the time slot changed so often, you gave up even trying to find it?

Last year I found "Jericho," a program which made you think, "What would I do if this really happened?"
At the end of the season it was cancelled, as many of the programs I like are. The excuse was low ratings.
There were many who did like the program, and we sent emails and peanuts...yes folks, real peanuts, to CBS.

In the middle of February the program came back for exactly seven...count them seven episodes. After five episodes, it has been announced that the program is cancelled again. Reason low ratings, but two different endings have been filmed in case they change their mind. But, good news, it got high ratings on line and as an ITunes performer. Think they listened?

They are saying perhaps cable will pick it up. Production for regular TV is too expensive. Low ratings and too expensive, wonder what the next excuse will be. There are no big star high paid actors on the program, except for Skeet Ulrich and Lenny James, who is a British import; most of the actors are stock players we have seen in many other programs.

Yet there are other network shows which travel around the world, to do their programs, doesn't housing, transporting equipment and crews cost more money than a stationary set?

Granted this year we had the writers' strike, which I suppose, may have killed a few of the new programs.
But, I think it gave networks an excuse to cancel some programs without really giving them a chance. I for one watched much more of the BBC, PBS, History, Discovery and Science Channels. I also got some excellent books to read.

It has just been reported the pro wrestling was the most watched during the strike. So much for the political debates

Not everyone is entertained by situation comedies, reality "spill your guts," or shows about nothing which people tune into every week I have enough problems of my own, and watching people buying what I can't afford is to me depressing.

What I do like are programs which make me think, but that seems to be passé now. OK, so there are a few good programs still out there, but few and far in-between. Doctors, Lawyers, and supernatural and reality game shows seem to be what programmers think viewers want to see.

When did TV become ratings only game? When did the viewer cease to count, except for dance, vocal or modeling programs?

What happened to the time when a show was given time to find it's niche? How can you enjoy a program if every week you need a planner to find what time and/or date it will be shown?

I wonder if the ratings experts will ever take a look at Star Trek's success. The original series is still being aired somewhere in the world, there have been four spin-offs, movies, books, audio books, etc.

Perhaps if we, the viewers, were to go on strike, the executives at stations and production companies might take a second look. Unfortunately, with reality the way it is, that will not happen.

Mindless entertainment, games, computers and texting have taken over. I wonder what that says about us.

(c) 2008
Michele Winslow
http://www.ladyoftheherbs.biz
When word gets around about your command of Ethical facts, others who need to know about Ethics will start to actively seek you out.

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