TV IS DEAD TOO
Even worse than the Eastern Conference
By Khalid Salaam
TV Is Dead Too.
A couple of months I was talking with Ryan (before he left) and Konate (Slam intern) about a blog topic revolving around the question of which is worse, the state of Hip-Hop or the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Initially I was amped about the subject but we were swamped at the time so I put I off, then the holidays came and there so much going on at work with the new regime that I kind of got bored with the topic. I decided I would take a break from giving the haters ammo. Too many people use the NBA as double-speak for their own brand of what is and isn’t acceptable. All that “thug” talk is very suspicious and really is just coded language for something else. I advise everyone to do what I do, which is to ignore people who are obvious outsiders to both cultures.
The other reason the topic bored me was that Nas’ joint got a serious amount of burn in the Slam Dome and I, for a second anyway, felt a little more optimistic about things. But checking out the list if new album releases for the next couple of quarters and hearing the latest new sh*t down the hall at XXL brought me back to the truth. Susan Price (Slam Man. Editor) asked me the other day if I was going to revisit the topic and I was for a minute then I changed my mind. Here’s why.
TV is just as bad. It’s a wasteland really. Not to mention expensive because if you don’t have cable you are SOL. For instance did you know that if you live in the NYC area you can’t watch the Knicks or Nets unless you have cable? What kind of haves vs. the have-nots BS is that? Shouldn’t there be a way for one of the local affiliates to carry the hometown team? This whole thing got started the other night when I was watching the news and they touched upon the Grey’s Anatomy controversy in which one of the actors called another guy a fag. The incident happened in October and the accused actor (Isaiah Washington) said it again at the Golden Globes on Sunday. Interesting enough, the guy who was called out later came out, saying that he was an homosexual. Weird right? This is big news because Grey’s Anatomy is the number 1 show in the country but that’s my point. It’s not so great. Its decent escapism that’s all and it’s being lauded as some great monumental show. The writing isn’t sharp or gritty enough. It’s definitely not as reality based as E.R and that’s mainly because the cast is just too good looking to be even remotely believable. Sure there was some sexual innuendo on ER but it mainly focused on the seriousness of hospital life. Greys Anatomy is like soft porn. (And I hate soft porn. Hardcore or not at all, ya know?) It’s too soap operaish. The writing just isn’t there. But my girl likes the show and I get tired of arguing all the time so I just watch it with her. I guess it’s like bonding time to her or something.
The only things on TV that you actually look forward to watching are the HBO dramas (Sopranos, the Wire and Entourage), Law and Order SVU and 60 Minutes. That’s it. And HBO is weird as hell with their programming so the seasons are spaced out years at a time. We love the Wire here at the office but by the time we find out if Michael is gonna get into the street life 100 percent some of us probably be working somewhere else. I watched Everybody Hates Chris last season but ever since that idiot network the CW changed the day and time I can’t find it. I recall a time when Must see TV actually meant something. When shows like X-Files and Seinfeld (btw I still haven’t returned to regular watching of the show. Not sure if the Kramer situation messed it up for me that much or if it’s because I’ve seen all the episodes enough times to recite them that I’m finally tired of watching it) we’re actually something that competed with all my sports watching. Nowadays when I turn on the telly I have no motivation to even click through the dial because I know its gonna be a dead end. It’s especially hard when you’re team is about a light-year out of competing for a title. So now I watch with a little less devotion so my non-sports watching becomes that much more essential. There is more idiocy, more sex, more violence and less intelligence on TV than ever before but nobody seems to complain about that. Now maybe they will. Or they won’t. Regardless no more people who don’t know anything about the NBA or Hip-Hop should be criticizing about anything. I’m tired of all these talking head fake experts trying to comment.
28 Responses to “TV IS DEAD TOO”
Jan.19 at 3:41 pm
Chris Clarke says:
Audiences are just more niche now than ever, and reality tv is what networks are putting out. There’s still a lot of good TV out there. The American version of The Office is just crazy, and I’ve been a loyal Scrubs watcher since Day 1. My favorite show is probably Rescue Me, though, and I’m turning back the clock and enjoying Sports Night. A lot of stuff just falls under the radar, man.
Jan.19 at 3:49 pm
abelp says:
FIRST!!! SEINFELD RULES!!!!
Jan.19 at 4:11 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Other than the much-discussed “24″…
1. The Office as Chirs mentioned
2. 30 Rock is amusing
3. Heroes comes back Monday. It’s a little corny but I love it. I guess I only watch NBC.
Soft core porn is the best thing in the world when you’re 12 years old.
Jan.19 at 4:15 pm
SteveSmith8fan says:
TV is dead and those stupid contrived Reality Shows killed it!!!
Jan.19 at 4:16 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
Too many words for me to read. I love TV, though. Truth: “Beauty and the Geek” is amazing.
Jan.19 at 4:17 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
And I really like 30 Rock, too.
Jan.19 at 4:30 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
I’m not a big fan of reality tv. i like fantasy or documentary but when you try to mix it,it rarely turns out to be anything good. of the reality shows i would say the first couple of season of the apprentice were my favorite but other than that i just can’t get into it. i watched 30 rock once and liked it so maybe i’ll give it another try. i’ve watched the office before and just don’t like it,. scrubs is ok but again its not like i have to watch it.
Jan.19 at 5:19 pm
Chris Clarke says:
The Office is just great now. The first season sort of felt like it was going to tank, but things picked up in the second season big time, and now they’re seriously all amazing. I still haven’t got to a lot of big shows, like The Wire, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and 24. I watched a few minutes of 30 Rock but it wasn’t enough to keep my attention…but I guess I’ll have to give it another shot. If you haven’t heard of it, check out Chris Anderson of Wired Magazine’s book, The Long Tail. We’re living in an blockbuster/”instant-hit-or-cancel-it” culture, so a lot of good stuff gets cancelled before it gets a chance to find an audience or find it’s rhythm as a show.
Jan.19 at 5:53 pm
Drolfe says:
Arrested Development on Fox was a great show, i thought. The fact that it was cancelled is a good indicator of what the audience want to see though. Like everyone I think the UK Office is one of the best series ever made, but never got into the American version.
Curb Your Enthusiasm?? I sort of skimmed through the comments so i’m not sure if anyone mentioned it, but that’s the best show on TV IMO. That said, i’m not American so I don’t know if it’s still on TV there (although last I heard Larry David said the latest was his last season, but apparantly he always says that), but it’s certainly still showing at my house via DVD on the regular.
Jan.19 at 6:38 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Arrested Development was indeed the sh*t, but all of you are comatose on Deadwood. That show was AMAZING.
Jan.19 at 6:44 pm
Omar says:
Man, not only do TV shows suck (L&O: SVU, 30 Rock and 24 are thee only watchable TV shows) but what about today’s cartoons? What happened to the 2:30-5:00pm Cartoons. And since when does Sponge Bob, Dora the Explora and Blues Clues replace Thundercats, Transformers and GI Joe as the “It” cartoons? I’m raising my kids on Thundercats, Voltron and Tom & Jerry DVD’s. All these soft ass cartoons nowadays are makin our kids soft too.
Jan.19 at 7:32 pm
Drolfe says:
I was thinking that exact thing the other day. I have this image of my son one day sitting on front of the TV watching Dora the Explorer laughing his ass off, and me sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room staring at him worryingly, biting my nails. Looney Toons DVDs discarded on the floor.
Jan.19 at 7:47 pm
Omar says:
Hold up. My bad, Sunday night its all about The Simpsons and Family Guy. Those shows are way more gangsta than anything on ABC, CBS, WB and UPN. WOW. Thank God for cable.
Jan.19 at 10:52 pm
jr says:
i couldnt possibly say tv is dead after watching and rewatching the wire seasons 1-4, entourage (new episodes coming really soon), and sleeper cell. these shows are keeping televison from going completely stale. the reality tv fase is in its final hour and we can finally go back to watching shows with actual storylines. hbo on demand is sick, cw is embarrasing, and abc, nbc, not cbs (they got march madness!)are the godfathers of homosexualness
Jan.20 at 7:27 am
Boing Dynasty says:
Ryan, Deadwood? Are you serious? Fucking Cocksucker.
Jan.20 at 11:31 am
mutoni says:
deadwood is awesome
Jan.20 at 1:51 pm
Andrew says:
best shows on TV right now: 1. The Office
2. Scrubs
3. Family Guy
4. 30 Rock
5. Seinfeld
6. Simpsons
Jan.20 at 7:12 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Must seem a little harsh to anyone who hasnt seen Deadwood.
Jan.21 at 12:47 am
B Town says:
TV is far more dead than Hip-Hop. You just need to know where to look for good music. Look who’s dropping albums soon: Saigon, Andre 3000 solo, Papoose, Kweli, UGK, KRS1, plus who came out this year (Lupe, Nas, Clipse…). Hip-Hop is doin fine.
Jan.21 at 11:27 am
B Town says:
I meant who dropped last year and early this year.
Jan.21 at 2:57 pm
Harlem World says:
Lost is coming back soon.
Jan.21 at 7:27 pm
khalid says:
I on the fence with lost. I watched it last year and enjoyed but this season has focused too much on the “others”. there are like 30 people on this damn island. seems to me that they should worry about getting off the island than fighting each other. it could still turn the corner though so i won’t give up entirely. also omar i feel you about the cartoons. transformer, gi joe, voltron (the lions not the other one), the hulk, etc. those were the days.
Jan.22 at 1:13 pm
H to the izzo says:
Lost is infuriating the writers obviously don’t know where they are going with it looks like it can go on for years.The thing about cartoons these days are trying to educate kids too much like Dora
the Explorer unlike the old ones where they crammed all the education to the end of the show.Arrested Development is the shit.
Is Family Guy just a cheap knock-off of the Simpsons-I don’t think so but a lot of people do
Jan.22 at 1:31 pm
jbn74sb says:
My top shows. A great way to watch them is to buy the DVDs used on eBay and then sell them once you have watched them. If you have half a brain, you can break even.
1. The Shield - Season 6 is upcoming in April. Incredible show with great characters based on the scandals of the Rampart Divison of the LAPD.
2. 24 - Got corny last year, but this year has started off great. DVR the new ones, and start from the beginning.
3. Intervention - Great reality show on A&E on Sunday nights about addicts who think they are making a documentary about addiction. In reality, their families have planned an intervention, which takes place near the end of the show. Great show to watch when you think your life sucks.
4. The First 48 - Another reality A&E show, this one about the first 48 hours after a homicide. Starts with the reporting of the crime, and shows the investigation from the start through the first 48 hours. Takes place in various cites, and tells a bit of the stories of the homicide detectives involved.
Jan.23 at 6:06 am
Froggiestyle says:
I hear you Khalid.
Most of these shows (non cable that is) I’ll watch for a bit and then give up on (ie. Lost, 24) they just kinda get too dopey to hold my interest. I really enjoyed the book on Dexter so was interested to see it on TV. It’s good, not great (they have some casting issues) but watchable.
And I’m dying for a spin off of Entourage with Ari - he’s the only really good thing about that show. Kinda like Alec on 30 rock. I don’t know what you guys do stateside, but I’ve waited to hear back from folks I like and trust and then go find a season worth to watch. Long live books brethren. What are you all reading, going to read, have read and liked? Books last way longer that boob toobz….
Jan.24 at 4:19 pm
Omar says:
Voltron just dropped on DVD. I swear if i wasn’t “BAAAAALLIIIN’” with my new credit card debt i’d be all over that collection!
Jan.26 at 3:50 am
NAS says:
Man I havent been able to watch seinfeld to since that racist MF kramer went on his rant n it was my favorite show of all time byw KHALID have you mixed a CD before - CHECK THIS LINK OUT: its a CD mixed by K-Salaam http://www.pandora.com/music/album/9b96675fc02f8bc8
Feb.19 at 2:23 pm
the brown guy says:
top notch article, i feel for u man, and x files was the shit!