Golden Age of Television?

[Homerboy]

With shows like Lost, BSG, Heroes, The Office, Earl, <insert many others EXCEPT the throw-away reality>, etc. is TV quality at an all time high?

In my 32+ years I don't recall ever being entertain so much by TV than right now.


Meanwhile, Hollywood is sucking.

 

[FoBoT]

no, that was 45 years ago

The Golden Age of Television is a reference to the period from approximately 1949 to 1960 when American prime time television drama was predominated by original and classic productions from such writers as Paddy Chayefsky, Reginald Rose and Rod Serling. The age really defines the time in which television and radio were both in their golden ages. Most of these programs were produced as installments of live dramatic anthologies such as The Philco Television Playhouse, Kraft Television Theatre and Playhouse 90, though in the mid-to-late fifties the genre spread to include filmed series such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age_of_Television

 

[Homerboy]

I should have tossed in an *again

 

[CanOWorms]

I think that it's a good era for television. Lots of good movie actors going to television shows, decline of stupid reality shows, and cable stations (like FX, HBO, Showtime, etc.) all coming out with different and original programming.

 

[acemcmac]

No. It's dogsh!t. Comedy Central and HBO are doing less and less standup. The history channel's target audiance is 5 IQ points dumber every year. The only improvement to happen with TV in the last 20 years has been digital, ariel simulcast of the major networks in HD, allowing me to watch the NFL in HD for free.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Obvioulsy production values of shows is much better, but I think entertainment wise it's not as good. I can name one show in the last 3 years that I actually made time to watch, and it is The Shield. I can honetly say there isn't another show on TV that I watch. I'll watch Dallas Stars hockey and whatever is on the History Channel. Nothing else interests me.
I remember in the good old days of watching shows like M*A*S*H* Night Court, Cheers, A Team, Knight Rider, Air Wolf, Fall Guy, Star Trek:TNG/DS9/TOS reruns.

TV sucks now. How many f'ing CSI shows do we need? or Law and Order?

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Obvioulsy production values of shows is much better, but I think entertainment wise it's not as good. I can name one show in the last 3 years that I actually made time to watch, and it is The Shield. I can honetly say there isn't another show on TV that I watch. I'll watch Dallas Stars hockey and whatever is on the History Channel. Nothing else interests me.
I remember in the good old days of watching shows like M*A*S*H* Night Court, Cheers, A Team, Knight Rider, Air Wolf, Fall Guy, Star Trek:TNG/DS9/TOS reruns.

TV sucks now. How many f'ing CSI shows do we need? or Law and Order?

Just because you remember those shows as awesome doesn't mean they are as good as today's dramas and action shows. I love to watch Magnum PI and Rockford files, but they can't hold a candle to good modern shows.

 

[Fasil]

I think TV is getting better and better. the more HDTV broadcasts and the better quality of actors and writers makes it a great time to be watching the boob tube.

 

[Aftermath]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
No. It's dogsh!t. Comedy Central and HBO are doing less and less standup. The history channel's target audiance is 5 IQ points dumber every year. The only improvement to happen with TV in the last 20 years has been digital, ariel simulcast of the major networks in HD, allowing me to watch the NFL in HD for free.

Agreed. I grew up on regular broadcast TV and I always had at least a few shows that I would have to tune in to watch. If I missed an episode, it was a big deal.

Years later, I'm sitting here with a digital cable box and access to hundreds of channels and I can't find anything that's either interesting, or interesting enough to make me want to watch another episode and follow the show.

Edit: I overexaggerated some. I do like some shows. Lost had me going for season 1, and half of season 2. I also regularly try to follow South Park, Law & Order: SVU, and Mythbusters.

 

[Homerboy]

Just because you remember those shows as awesome doesn't mean they are as good as today's dramas and action shows. I love to watch Magnum PI and Rockford files, but they can't hold a candle to good modern shows.

I just shook my head at his list.
I love "nostalgia 80's TV" as much (or scaringlymore) than the next guy, but to say they are GOOD shows is near laughable.

 

[OOBradm]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Obvioulsy production values of shows is much better, but I think entertainment wise it's not as good. I can name one show in the last 3 years that I actually made time to watch, and it is The Shield. I can honetly say there isn't another show on TV that I watch. I'll watch Dallas Stars hockey and whatever is on the History Channel. Nothing else interests me.
I remember in the good old days of watching shows like M*A*S*H* Night Court, Cheers, A Team, Knight Rider, Air Wolf, Fall Guy, Star Trek:TNG/DS9/TOS reruns.

TV sucks now. How many f'ing CSI shows do we need? or Law and Order?

OK.......is your sig purposely misspelled??

 

[aswedc]

Yes, I think there are two reasons:

1) Shows with continuing storylines and good character development don't work well in syndication. That means it didn't pay to make a high quality show that is more than self contained single episodes. Now with DVD that's no longer an issue.
2) Fvcking $10 movie tickets.

 

[CptObvious]

There is a Charlie Rose interview with Conan O'Brien, where Conan says he thinks it's a golden age of TV, because the writing has gotten better, at least from his days as a writer on the Simpsons.

Still a lot of crap but there's more 'smart' TV available.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
The history channel's target audiance is 5 IQ points dumber every year.

I hear you there. Last night, the History Channel did an hour show on theoretical propulsion systems for UFO's

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
With shows like Lost, BSG, Heroes, The Office, Earl, <insert many others EXCEPT the throw-away reality>, etc. is TV quality at an all time high?

In my 32+ years I don't recall ever being entertain so much by TV than right now.


Meanwhile, Hollywood is sucking.

I thought I watched enough tv, but I watch none of those shows that you listed. From the little I've seen of them, the only one that looked interesting was Lost.

 

[NiteWulf]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
Topic Title: Golden Age of Television?
Topic Summary: are we living in it?

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

::cough:: Er, uh...


No. Watch commercials. We're in the Dark Ages

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Obvioulsy production values of shows is much better, but I think entertainment wise it's not as good. I can name one show in the last 3 years that I actually made time to watch, and it is The Shield. I can honetly say there isn't another show on TV that I watch. I'll watch Dallas Stars hockey and whatever is on the History Channel. Nothing else interests me.
I remember in the good old days of watching shows like M*A*S*H* Night Court, Cheers, A Team, Knight Rider, Air Wolf, Fall Guy, Star Trek:TNG/DS9/TOS reruns.

TV sucks now. How many f'ing CSI shows do we need? or Law and Order?

Just because you remember those shows as awesome doesn't mean they are as good as today's dramas and action shows. I love to watch Magnum PI and Rockford files, but they can't hold a candle to good modern shows.

But at the time, they were it. I agree with Lebowski 100%. I love the Shield now, but the other stuff is overrated. (Maybe not earl and office). Lost is a joke, lets see how ridiculous we can get before people finally get smart.

Anyway, the time period I love is the same as Lebowski.

 

[Black88GTA]

With the horrible onslaught in the last few years of "me too" dime-a-dozen reality trash, I don't know how anyone can say TV is in a "golden age" of programming.

There are a few shows that I like to watch when I can, but you have to dig through hours and hours of the same tired rehashed reality garbage to get to them. Honestly, how many "fix up this house" or "eliminate team members till one is left" type reality shows do we need?

 

[lyssword]

Yep the new tv shows are awesome

 

[intogamer]

I have to agree that we have too many fking CSI and Law and Order Shows

Its a developing age... people are tired of the same shows

 

[outerheaven]

No

 

[ballmode]

less reality more sitcoms

 

[spidey07]

I will say that the technology and what is going on with high-defintion say yes we are in a golden age of TV. But on the technology perspective and not the programming.

The stuff that has happened with HD just in the last 5 years (even 2) is simply mind blowing.

 

[Baked]

I like HDTV.

 

[0roo0roo]

pretty much. as for that old era golden age, i can'tstand any of that cr@p.

yea bsg, veronica mars, sopranos, the wire, lost, prison break, 24, desperate housewives, early csi shows, some of l&o, 4400, the daily show, colbert, south park, robot chicken, family guy, futurama, top gear etc writing sure has improved over cheesy sitcom cr@p

andyea sweet stuff the last couple years filmed in hd if u haven't seen em in hd u can in the future and thats badass.

is top gear hd? i kinda doubt it uk was so behind on hd