What in your opinion is specifically wrong with modern American Television?

[JustaServant]

In fifty words or less.

 

[JMartyr73340]

They hyper-promotion of modernist ideologies: Feminism. Socialism, Atheism, Libertinism (promiscuity, fornication, nudity, homosexuality, prostitution), mockery of Christianity etc.

 

[tomarin]

Just way too dark - too many police procedurals and shows about serial killers and cannibals and the like - there needs to be a balance of lighter programming with heart that shows life isn’t all a bleak struggle.

 

[meltzerboy]

There are too many mindless programs, such as staged reality shows and talk shows which do not have interesting guests. There is a superabundance of channels but hardly anything entertaining or informative to watch.

 

[JustaServant]

I would start at the heart of fiction itself, the writing.
I try not to be an old ‘fuddy-duddy’ and watch modern TV on Netflix. The show I chose was Arrow. Only because I remember the comic when I was a kid. The premise (based on the original premise I suspect) wasn’t a bad idea. A spoiled rich playboy lost on an island for five years comes back a changed man with a new mission in life. Got off to a good start. Then it plummeted into stupid. Violent action scenes and sexual references in what used to be a kid’s comic. Dialogue that looks like it was written by a 16 year old. A story so thin you get a paper cut.
That cuts to the heart of the matter. The writing. Without good writing, what you’re left with is a story you just don’t care about. Maybe it’s because I’m a reader.
Yeah, I know, over fifty words.

 

[Padres1969]

In fifty words or less.

Depends on what you’re watching.

And I don’t mean that as a glib response. With how much TV there is out there today I don’t honestly find anything wrong with TV as a whole. I honestly believe there is something for everyone on TV these days regardless of what you’re interested, or not interested, in watching.

 

[JustaServant]

Depends on what you’re watching.

And I don’t mean that as a glib response. With how much TV there is out there today I don’t honestly find anything wrong with TV as a whole. I honestly believe there is something for everyone on TV these days regardless of what you’re interested, or not interested, in watching.

I’m speaking of Network, Cable, and now Streaming TV. The newer stuff.

 

[Padres1969]

I’m speaking of Network, Cable, and now Streaming TV. The newer stuff.

Understood. Still doesn’t change my answer. There’s such a variety on those 3 different media, nevermind the web only TV, that there’s plenty for everyone and no overall trend that I’d consider annoying or not easily avoided.

To come up with an answer to your question I think you have to be much more specific speaking of specific networks or channels at the very least.

 

[jaimeleglise]

They are even promoting abortion now.

 

[pianistclare]

The making fun of people as a blood sport.
The cursing out of people as “wit”.
The violence depicted to “entertain” us.
The portrayal of evil characters as somehow “the hero” of the story.
The depiction of perversion as “options”.
The placement of damaged people and hurting folks on display for strangers to pick apart.

Yeah.

 

[pianistclare]

Understood. Still doesn’t change my answer. There’s such a variety on those 3 different media, nevermind the web only TV, that there’s plenty for everyone and no overall trend that I’d consider annoying or not easily avoided.

To come up with an answer to your question I think you have to be much more specific speaking of specific networks or channels at the very least.

I disagree. it’s pretty well across the board.
I can’t think of an completely innocent channel.

 

[stanncie]

There is no subtlety. Everything is in your face and crass. Nothing is left to the imagination. There are very few shows that contain stories that move you in a way to be better. That promote just general goodness and stir your emotions towards the beautiful and sublime.

Just I know reality is not always great but I want to see the beautiful side of life as well. Like someone else said this is due to the absence of good writers or maybe just writers that want to write these type of stories

 

[Irishmom2]

Just way too dark - too many police procedurals and shows about serial killers and cannibals and the like - there needs to be a balance of lighter programming with heart that shows life isn’t all a bleak struggle.

I agree. I find the show Criminal Minds to be disturbingly unwatchable.

I will take mindless “reality” shows over that any day.

 

[JackVk]

In general, it’s a Weapon of Mass Distraction. We’re more distressed over the deaths of fictional characters or the loss of a sports team than we are deaths of real people in droves, or loss of faith, freedom, human life or dignity, etc.

 

[JustaServant]

There is no subtlety. Everything is in your face and crass. Nothing is left to the imagination. There are very few shows that contain stories that move you in a way to be better. That promote just general goodness and stir your emotions towards the beautiful and sublime.

Just I know reality is not always great but I want to see the beautiful side of life as well. Like someone else said this is due to the absence of good writers or maybe just writers that want to write these type of stories

Good writing seems to be the problem. On Hulu I’m watching for the first time shows like Naked City, a police procedural with some of the best writing on TV at the time. Route 66 with genuine character studies far more absorbing than much of what I see today. Lou Grant from the 70s was still able to capture moments of great drama. And that comes from the writing. The world view is completely opposite.

 

[JackVk]

There is no subtlety. Everything is in your face and crass. Nothing is left to the imagination. There are very few shows that contain stories that move you in a way to be better. That promote just general goodness and stir your emotions towards the beautiful and sublime.

Just I know reality is not always great but I want to see the beautiful side of life as well. Like someone else said this is due to the absence of good writers or maybe just writers that want to write these type of stories

It’s suddenly become trendy to muddy the waters of good and ill, in the name of “realism”. For example, Game of Thrones takes it so far as to make it unrealistic; anyone remotely just or likeable in that show ends up dead, while despicable characters have preternaturally good luck.

Believe me, I just escaped from this illusory spell of “realpolitik”; it’s just cynicism dressed up as sophistication. And it’s a worldview that gives you a sour hangover.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Don’t know. Got rid of it years ago.

From what I recall it was so filled with worldly attitudes that it was impossible, or nearly so, to find programming which was not actively promoting worldly values.

 

[revert_jen]

Short answer:

Too . . . . . much . . . . . sex.

Longer answer: (I realize that this is an over-generalization, but any answer would have to be.) Even when sex isn’t actually displayed, it’s all about sex. It’s not about love, or relationships as much, just about sex. And the percentage of homosexuals seems high related to that in the regular population, but I haven’t done any statistical analysis on it. This would possibly have the purpose (and certainly have the effect) that people will think the incidence of homosexuality is higher than it is.

–Jen

 

[JustaServant]

Short answer:

Too . . . . . much . . . . . sex.

Longer answer: (I realize that this is an over-generalization, but any answer would have to be.) Even when sex isn’t actually displayed, it’s all about sex. It’s not about love, or relationships as much, just about sex. And the percentage of homosexuals seems high related to that in the regular population, but I haven’t done any statistical analysis on it. This would possibly have the purpose (and certainly have the effect) that people will think the incidence of homosexuality is higher than it is.

–Jen

The focus modern script writers put on sex shows an immature thought pattern. It distracts from their apparent inability to form a cohesive or compelling story with characters and situations one cares about. That’s been the essence of storytelling since the days of the campfire tale-teller. Even the most primitive societies sung songs of great deeds by their ancestors.
When a society has no more songs to sing, it dies.

 

[NM505StKate]

I have to disagree with a majority of you. American television is too coy with sex. As for violence it just depends on the show. I love some of the police procedure shows, like NCIS and CSI, but I am not much for a lot of the reality TV. Yeah Netflix gives us much more thought out plots as well as stuff off of HBO and the like.

American TV needs better writers in some cases. Gotham is wonderful and I hear great things about Arrow. Everything changes. I am glad American Idol is done with. I wish some talk shows were gone as they are far too fake. Cartoon are okay, depending on your tastes. Steven Universe is really good as is My Little Pony.