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Monday, June 15, 2009 at 10:22 am
My Friday post about the digital transition seems to have flushed a bunch of anti-TV folks out of their weedy, book-lined dens. This has stimulated my urge to defend perhaps the oldest friend I have in the world. This isn’t the first time. I live in a community where people at parties talk about how much they like that new program that’s on the air now: Friends. “Did you see Friends the other night?” they will inquire. To which I reply, “No, I’ve been awake for the last couple of years.” Equally daunting is the type who admits shamefacedly, “I do catch an episode of Antique Road Show now and then. Can’t help it. Guilty pleasure.” Worst of all, in my opinion, are the people who strip their children of social awareness and all chance of popularity by denying them the American right to watch the programming of their choice. “We do allow little Tiffany the occasional Sesame Street. But only when I’m hyperstressed,” one mother told me not long ago. Did you know that in spite of the Internet, in spite of Hulu, in spite of YouTube and ITunes and all that jazz, the average time spent watching television in this nation is slightly on the rise? Horrors?! No way. Television is our common language, our history, our heritage. Of course most of it stinks. It always has. You think that when the common groundling went to the theater in Shakespeare’s day all that was on the stage was Shakespeare? Do most books remind you of Hemmingway or Sedaris? How about music? Lots of Mozarts and Mathers around? A medium can’t be defined by its worst examples. You have to look to the best. And during my lifetime, the great unifying cultural events have always taken place inand around the television set. Let’s look at them briefly. I’m afraid it has to be brief, because the TV has destroyed my attention span. What were we talking about again? Oh, yes. Shows that have rocked my world. You may remember some or none:
That’s just a very short list. These days I catch most of the shows I’ve liked whenever I can. I also love House, which is one of the best television programs not only of our day but of any other, and do admit to catching the reality make-over program, What Not To Wear, whenever I fly on JetBlue. I don’t watch Gossip Girl, of course, which is only an indication of how out of it I’m starting to get. And I will always decline to give a flying photon about Jon & Kate, even if he did cheat on her on her birthday. I also read books, by the way, and do a number of non-digital activities. Personally, I think blogs rot your brain a whole lot worse than anything else, except perhaps for aggregators. Bing, you hit a few shows that I’ve watched along the way. I guess I’m not totally in the dark about TV. Just a decade or two behind the curve. Here’s my philosophy — shows that are worthwhile will be around when I have the time and inclination to watch them. They’ll stand the test of time and syndication. I don’t need to sit there every night. I can pick and choose, and work it in around my real life. Your point about common language and cultural icons is true. Nothing like sitting in a meeting when somebody starts humming the tune to “Gilligan’s Island”. Posted By Bill, Laurel, MD : June 15, 2009 11:54 am
Nice… who are Jon and Kate and why are their lives making headlines? Posted By YEEAH, Lawrence MA : June 15, 2009 12:19 pm
I only watch it for the articles. Posted By Paul, Miami, Fl. : June 15, 2009 1:06 pm
Over the weekend I encountered an infomercial that no one I knew had ever seen – and all I showed it to responded with incredulity: Posted By sawyerspeaks : June 15, 2009 1:24 pm
Bing, There are many TV shows that shaped/molded our minds and gave us insight into other dimensions outside our young 10 mile radius of life. There is a need for this type of education. Something your parents can’t teach you. Television is the one area in life that allows us to think within our minds and draw conclusions without judegment or ridicule. Television is our proving ground and to deny one the opportunity to test ones self in a safe, controled manner is dangerous. The parents who try and take away Television from their children are in for a rude awakening…moderation is key. On a side note, I’m a fruit punch flavor kind of guy and enjoy my kool-aid with lots of ice and vodka. Posted By David, Los Angeles CA : June 15, 2009 2:10 pm
David, Posted By Tim, McKinleyville, CA : June 15, 2009 2:23 pm
The most important lesson television has ever taught me? In a world where loud-mouthed pitchman Billy Mays can have his own TV program and become an international sensation, all things are possible… Posted By Tim, McKinleyville, CA : June 15, 2009 2:30 pm
TV is one of those “All things in moderation” deals. Of course if you sit endlessly in front of the set, it will rot your brain. But there are also plenty of shows that are amazing, weird, instructive or just plain fun. My list: Posted By Dave, Detroit : June 15, 2009 3:47 pm
Some very great TV comedy comes out of Canada, like Trailer Park Boys and Strangers With Candy. I also watched a lot of Project Runway with my daughter, who was into fashion design in high school. It was actually an entertaining show with some very talented people. Additionally, they had all those beautiful models, and Heidi Klum always wore short dresses and had very, very beautiful legs. Posted By Tim, McKinleyville, CA : June 15, 2009 4:19 pm
Paul, tooo funny…you only watch it for the articles! HA! MASH, All in the Family, Star Trek, Kung Fu, Sonny and Cher, The Midnight Special…some shows I grew up with, and watched with family and friends over those years, and indeed we bonded as a result…we did other stuff too, like jump from swings, climb trees, build forts with real saws and hammers and sharp nails, race down steep slopes on either wagons or sleds, depending on the season… I don’t know…all dangerous activities…I’m suprised I’m alive today, and have the ability to think and communicate, having been subject to evil TV my whole life…go figure… Posted By Robbie P, Endicott NY : June 15, 2009 4:49 pm
TV is great in moderation, although it’s all too easy to get sucked into the void of mindlessly allowing the phosporescent blues to flow over you. I started watching Star Trek in 1964. I have been in love with all of it …even the movies. I remember watching the new every evening with dinner. I remember more than anything else about the news of my early teen years how they would broadcast the body counts, like the score of some sick game. I remember watching the live broadcast of the Jamaican bobsled team as they came down the track on their heads. I remember watching the second tower fall as all of my co-workers were huddled around a little 9″ set in the office. I watch the Super Bowl although I missed the now infamous wardrobe malfunction. I like Survivor. You have not lived until you’ve seen some horse’s ass who richly deserves it gets blindsided. Yeah, some of it’s fluff. But what’s life without some fluff? Posted By Ivan, Washington, DC : June 15, 2009 4:53 pm
Things are even worse in Detroit than we have been led to believe. Posted By Leeroy : June 15, 2009 5:23 pm
bring back Arrested Development!! Posted By p. falcone, greenwich, ct : June 15, 2009 6:10 pm
I guess I am the naysayer on this blog today. But before I rant, let me say that it is because the cartoon network took away dragon ballz and looney tunes that i stopped watching tv…that was very cruel of them, i thought of contacting daffy (duck) and bugs (bunny) to file a lawsuit, but the two could just not get off each other’s throats… Posted By Mahagwa, Los Angeles, CA : June 15, 2009 8:00 pm
The blog rot comment raises a good point. The demotivator on despair.com sums it up nicely; “Blogging: Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.” Bing, yours is the only blog I follow and I love ya bud, but I must admit some recent posts are starting to wear your brand a bit thin. Like the old TV shows, I find myself nostalgic for Bing Classic, the old stuff! Say, how about a sequel to ‘Lloyd?’ Posted By John, Vancouver BC : June 15, 2009 8:14 pm
Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth. Sam Neil as Riley Ace of Spies. The McLaghlin Group where I’m waiting for the day when Clift and the Blonde who fancies her own legs go at it. Almost any episode of Nova because you feel more informed than before you watched. Love Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, and Antiques Road Show. I’d also like to see the Hansen brothers critique furniture and the Keough brothers drop a string of pots. Maybe next season. Thanks, Robbie and thanks Bing for introducing me to your engaging blog and its memorable cast of characters. Posted By Paul, Miami, Fl. : June 15, 2009 8:20 pm
Hey, y’all fergot ’bout Gomer Pyle! And what about the Jonathan Winters Show?! Posted By Vincent Locke, Jakarta, Indonesia : June 15, 2009 10:35 pm
So, John, I’m at a disadvantage, because I consider every one to be a Bing Classic. What would you like to see? Lloyd’s still around. Waiting. Posted By Bing : June 15, 2009 10:52 pm
Bing you are right – There are some gems on TV. History Detectives and Jim Lehrer keep the cobwebs away in our TV realm. Perhaps History Detectives could do a Corporate Super Sleuth episode where a descendent from a former CFO finds an old leather bound ledger with a one-sided accounting entry that one of the Big 8 (the firm count at that time) failed to detect!… Posted By AC Portland, OR : June 16, 2009 2:53 am
Bing,,,,What a kinky title,,I love to watch…had me going for a minute there…. TV….Geeeeez you Americans have everything….heard about TV….big glass fish bowel set in a wooden crate with pictures that move…..beats the hell out of the traveling gypyies that show up at my camp from time to time with hand puppets and and squeaky voices… Question…If you spend all your time watching that TV thing…when do you find the time to go out on the ice and bash seal pups or trap wolves ……who does that for Americans these days …Mexicans.. Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : June 16, 2009 4:13 am
Paul,I believe the blennie is named after the salt water fish, whose looks belie its intelligence (unlike the human counterpart). Posted By Mike, Spokane, WA : June 16, 2009 9:46 am
Dear Some People: That’s great that you don’t watch TV. It’s also great that you jump and leap and pray and lift heavy objects. That does NOT mean that everybody else wants to jump and leap and pary and lift heavy objects. To each their own, so swallow that judgement. Never been entertained by a Twilight Zone episode? All in The Family? Family Ties – That’s Michael J. Fox, whom, without his TV career, probably wouldn’t be so effective at raising funds for Parkinson’s Disease. MASH? MASH is the most awesome show ever. WKRP in Cincinnati? – “As God as my witness I thought turkeys could fly….” Sometimes TV just allows you to laugh when you thought you couldn’t. Posted By Nancy, New York, NY : June 16, 2009 10:21 am
That grainy image of Neil Armstrong taking one small step for mankind, the horrors of Viet Nam, Monday Night Football, Austin City Limits, CNN, weather radar, on and on… The boobtube more than makes up for the mindless junk it transmits, with some pretty useful if not down right essential broadcasting. God Bless Television. Posted By Mike Jackson – Austin, Texas : June 16, 2009 10:58 am
Well, given your added wisdom over the years, Lloyd’s journey through chairmanhood would be a natural progression. But a Star Trek-esque pre-quel would also be interesting. My point being is that I’m getting the sense your blog is straying a bit into pop-culture commentary and away from your roots as a business-life insider that have had a substantial influence on me. Even the recent books have a ‘pump it out for the contract’ sense to them. I know you’ve got another great business novel in you, and I’ll wait for it! Posted By John, Vancouver BC : June 16, 2009 11:36 pm
I only watch it for the articles. Posted By Paul, Miami, Fl. : Sure Paul…like I only drink crown royal to collect the empties….. Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : June 17, 2009 2:34 pm
Jack, Speaking of fine Canadian products, you are aware that a Canadian chardonnay was recently voted best in the world. I guess some wine snobs I know aren’t laughing anymore about my trip next month to Ontario wine country. All I’ll add is “nosdrovia” as I trust your bottle collection is large and growing. Posted By Paul, Miami, Fl. : June 18, 2009 2:25 pm
Paul,,,it’s been along time since I drank wine,,,,back in those days they used to say.. what are you drinking and the answer was “just under a thousand”…emu 999, cheap around 3 dollars a gallon if I remember correctly…..left a taste in your mouth like the whole russian army washed their sweat socks in it…and a hangover that still kicks in even today…50 years later… Posted By Jack Hammond Canada : June 19, 2009 12:20 am
Jack, Bad scotch is awful. Bad wine is even worse. Posted By Paul, Miami, Fl. : June 19, 2009 1:25 pm
You’re right, Paul. But not as bad as no scotch and no wine. Posted By Bing : June 19, 2009 2:41 pm
Stanley, So true. Enjoy your holiday. Posted By Paul, Miami, Fl. : June 19, 2009 5:42 pm
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Stanley Bing
Stanley Bing is a Fortune columnist and best-selling author of business books noted for their wisdom as well as their sharp, slightly acrid sense of humor. He is also the only writer on business and the workplace who still puts on a suit and tie and goes to do battle with the dragons that breathe fire at corporate America every day. This blog captures what remains of his brain after it has exploded in all other directions.
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Bing,
You’re right about people stripping their children of social awareness and all chance of popularity by denying them TV time. It’s truly sad. I know plenty of people who still like to pretend that television doesn’t exist or that it’s for morons only. Quite honestly, folks like that are almost intolerable to be around. And boring, to boot. It’s either you talk their language (politics, world affairs, politics, work, politics) or there is no conversation. My ex-fiance was a little like that. She was 50-years-old when we met and had never owned a TV. She had probably seen only a handful of movies in her life. I had to introduce her to all the great films of the last 30 years. She also refused to venture within 20 yards of a fast-food restaurant. Or even relax once in awhile. That’s why she’s my ex-fiance.