Television - A historical retrospective

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Recent cancellations of programs showing any modicum of thought have prompted me to start this review of the medium.

Television (TV) has its roots in experiments in the U.K. in the 1930s.  However, the War to End All Wars, Part 2, put this on hold until sometime in the 1950s.

By 1955 when my father got his first TV set (13" black and white), there were three stations in our area, two of them in the United States, the other in Toronto.  (We lived in Niagara Falls, Ontario between the two centers, Buffalo and Toronto).  The programming on the three channels was mostly live tiny talent shows until the prime time evening shows which were also live, but ran to serious stuff.  TV also aired a lot of 1940s era westerns (Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry).  However, one of the most impressive shows was Studio One which aired live for and hour and a half on, I think it was Saturday, but maybe Sunday.  This show was devoted to serious drama, and did their very best to get good, stimulating theatre on to the air waves.

Studio One did an eclectic mix of theatre from plays to grand opera.  I especially remember one performance of Salome by Richard Strauss starting Peter Ustinov as Herod and Eartha Kitt as Salome.  Those were daring days.  I don't know if this had been rehearsed this way, but when Eartha did the dance of the seven veils, every man watching must have been turned on.  When she took off the last veil, she held it in front of the camera, but from the way Usinov reacted, I assume that was all that was between her and the camera.  Peter nearly fell off his throne, so I expect that even the radio wasn't on.  This was a live performance, and I don't know if it was kinescoped because I have never seen it since.

And I do remember seeing the Ed Sullivan Show when he introduced the Fab Four.

Over the years, TV became more and more dilute, and the sponsors and governments got more into the censorship act until now we have what we have.  One wonders where all the artistry and daring went.

If you have experiences of really good or really bad TV, please add them.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Recent cancellations of programs showing any modicum of thought have prompted me to start this review of the medium.

Television (TV) has its roots in experiments in the U.K. in the 1930s.  However, the War to End All Wars, Part 2, put this on hold until sometime in the 1950s.

By 1955 when my father got his first TV set (13" black and white), there were three stations in our area, two of them in the United States, the other in Toronto.  (We lived in Niagara Falls, Ontario between the two centers, Buffalo and Toronto).  The programming on the three channels was mostly live tiny talent shows until the prime time evening shows which were also live, but ran to serious stuff.  TV also aired a lot of 1940s era westerns (Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry).  However, one of the most impressive shows was Studio One which aired live for and hour and a half on, I think it was Saturday, but maybe Sunday.  This show was devoted to serious drama, and did their very best to get good, stimulating theatre on to the air waves.

Studio One did an eclectic mix of theatre from plays to grand opera.  I especially remember one performance of Salome by Richard Strauss starting Peter Ustinov as Herod and Eartha Kitt as Salome.  Those were daring days.  I don't know if this had been rehearsed this way, but when Eartha did the dance of the seven veils, every man watching must have been turned on.  When she took off the last veil, she held it in front of the camera, but from the way Usinov reacted, I assume that was all that was between her and the camera.  Peter nearly fell off his throne, so I expect that even the radio wasn't on.  This was a live performance, and I don't know if it was kinescoped because I have never seen it since.

And I do remember seeing the Ed Sullivan Show when he introduced the Fab Four.

Over the years, TV became more and more dilute, and the sponsors and governments got more into the censorship act until now we have what we have.  One wonders where all the artistry and daring went.

If you have experiences of really good or really bad TV, please add them.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[nathanthemayor 1,261]

My mom used to like the ED sullivan show years ago.

[nathanthemayor 1,261]

My mom used to like the ED sullivan show years ago.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: nathanthemayor

My mom used to like the ED sullivan show years ago.quote>

But in the beginning it really was "A really big shew".  Sullivan introduced more upcoming young stars who made it than even good old Uncle Milty (Milton Berle, remember him?).  And before Arthur Godfrey committed whatever sin that got him canned, he did a pretty good job too.

There was a time when it was worth watching television.  I think I saw my first performance of Julius Caesar on TV, probably Studio One.  I also saw A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum starring Wayne and Shuster ("I kept telling him 'Julie, Julie, don't go!'").  This was on CBC.

CBC had other shows I enjoyed.  For example: Don Messer's Jubilee.  Down East music as it should be done.  Now you get that vapid overweight female, Rita McNeil.  I'd rather watch the Grand Ol' Opry.

Radio is no better.  CBC Radio 1 has a few shows that are still worth listening to like As It Happens, but with the death of the original hosts, it has sort of declined and fallen, something like the Roman Empire.  It has a bad case of CBC executives and the federal government.  There is, as far as I know, only one good classical music station left, CFMX in Cobourg, Ontario with a repeater outside Toronto.  I get it on cable.  Otherwise, the local Goderich FM station (The Beach) has good country and western stuff.  Radio, like television is 'A vast wasteland' Newton Minnow former chairman of the FCC.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: nathanthemayor

My mom used to like the ED sullivan show years ago.quote>

But in the beginning it really was "A really big shew".  Sullivan introduced more upcoming young stars who made it than even good old Uncle Milty (Milton Berle, remember him?).  And before Arthur Godfrey committed whatever sin that got him canned, he did a pretty good job too.

There was a time when it was worth watching television.  I think I saw my first performance of Julius Caesar on TV, probably Studio One.  I also saw A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum starring Wayne and Shuster ("I kept telling him 'Julie, Julie, don't go!'").  This was on CBC.

CBC had other shows I enjoyed.  For example: Don Messer's Jubilee.  Down East music as it should be done.  Now you get that vapid overweight female, Rita McNeil.  I'd rather watch the Grand Ol' Opry.

Radio is no better.  CBC Radio 1 has a few shows that are still worth listening to like As It Happens, but with the death of the original hosts, it has sort of declined and fallen, something like the Roman Empire.  It has a bad case of CBC executives and the federal government.  There is, as far as I know, only one good classical music station left, CFMX in Cobourg, Ontario with a repeater outside Toronto.  I get it on cable.  Otherwise, the local Goderich FM station (The Beach) has good country and western stuff.  Radio, like television is 'A vast wasteland' Newton Minnow former chairman of the FCC.

[hamsterTK 93]

I've enjoyed a few recent shows. Big Bang Theory on CBS is great, so is Pawn Stars on History.

The problem with TV to me is that there is so much stuff without substance or actual content. It seems like most of the time in reality shows is devoted to showing the same old reactions and comments of the people on the show, over and over again-then followed by several commercials every 10 minutes along with "don't miss the shocking moment" hype. There's little actually going on. Mainstream news is the same way. There's no exciting insight, just a lot of really boring interviews where people make obvious statements and they ask the same questions and bring up the same things over and over. Don't get me started on local news. I may be ADD but I am not a goldfish-get to the freaking point!

I think well-scripted, entertaining 30 and 60 minute sitcoms, dramas, etc that have coherent plots and good acting, will always be relevant and be wide-reaching, and that this stuff about fragmentation of tastes is really overhyped. There will always be some truly good stuff out there that will be huge and everyone will watch.

However, at some point you gotta ask how much crap on either CNN or ABC or whatever is just obsolete now with the internet. I find I like to read the news much more than I want to watch it unless its something live. I also don't really care about "big" celebrities, or silly huge specials.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The thing about Pawn Stars is that you get a taste of the Antiques Roadshow (UK edition) in a home setting.  You also get some good home-living advice from the old man, and see how his sons react.  Since they are really running a business, this is one reality show I rather like.  No foolishness.

News shows are generally a bust.  I do like Peter Mansbridge One-on-One.  His interviews with various people from the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandella, down to pols like the Prime Minister usually are no-holds-barred in a much gentler setting that Mike Wallace's stuff.  Hard questoins are asked and often answered without a lot of spin.

[Dizastrow 4]

I avoid news because its depressing.  Reality television is all garbage.  If I had my way, there would be 4 channels, Turner Classic Movies, History Channel, Discovery, and ESPN.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I've never seen that.  Sounds like a take off on the Inspector Clouseau characters of Peter Sellers.

Favourite channels:  TVO, PBS (Detroit, Seattle, Buffalo), National Georgraphics, Animal Planet, History (sometimes), CBC Newsnet, CBC Bold.  For people in other countries, TVO is the public network station in Toronto.  Oh, and mustn't forget TCM which I currently don't get because it is in an expensive movie package that I don't really want.

When I moved, I got a new cable service, and it includes several FM radio feeds including my very favorite CFMX, Cobourg.  All Classics, all the time.  It also includes several muzak channels that are the desperation fall backs.  There are two classical channels

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

I've never seen that.  Sounds like a take off on the Inspector Clouseau characters of Peter Sellers.quote>

Actually, it is by the same folks who made Are You Being Served?.  What I failed to mention is that it takes place in Occupied France, in a cafe around 1944.  Anyone with a French accent is "speaking" French, anyone with a German accent is "speaking" German.  There are recurring themes of art theft (especially the "Portrait of the Madonna with the Big Boobies") and the constant hiding of two British airmen.  It really is a great show.  You can probably find it at a Best Buy or another DVD retailer.  Needless to say, it is a Britcom.

Barbarossa quote>

They are showing that here in dallas on PBS. great show think it made #3or 4 on the top britcoms of all time.