“But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland.”
“You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons.”
“And endlessly, commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending.”
“And most of all, boredom. True, you’ll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it.”
—Newton N. Minow
Television and the Public Interest
delivered 9 May 1961, National Association of Broadcasters, Washington, DC
I guess Jr. is eating in his room, or over at his other “family”. They don’t seem to have him at home to often. They leave him with someone else when they travel abroad , or else where. No wonder he is a loner.
We stopped subscribing to television service in 2011, and we haven’t missed it in the least. We do have internet, of course, and that comes with enough of its own content to keep us entertained when we want to veg out in front of the tube. :D
if they are sport fans the MLB season is now in session. WOO-HOO!!!!! they would have just had a problem with what game to watch. also there is the WNBA and Nascar.
When I grew up, we ate dinner at 6pm. Dad turned on the Evening News and sat at the head of the table watching the news. The rest of us sat eating in silence until a commercial came on, then silence when it came back to the news.
Yakety Sax over 4 years ago
“But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland.”
“You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons.”
“And endlessly, commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending.”
“And most of all, boredom. True, you’ll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it.”
—Newton N. Minow
Television and the Public Interest
delivered 9 May 1961, National Association of Broadcasters, Washington, DC
hans Premium Member over 4 years ago
Bruce Springsteen was right…
Nachikethass over 4 years ago
So much choice – nothing to watch! Yep, modern “entertainment”!
chickenbutt over 4 years ago
It’s been over 20 years since I turned on our TV. I have turned it off, though.
dlkrueger33 over 4 years ago
I make sure we find a movie on Netflix or another streaming service before I serve the food. LOL
well-i-never over 4 years ago
If Wheel of Fortune was on just a little earlier…
mamawcat over 4 years ago
I guess Jr. is eating in his room, or over at his other “family”. They don’t seem to have him at home to often. They leave him with someone else when they travel abroad , or else where. No wonder he is a loner.
M2MM over 4 years ago
We stopped subscribing to television service in 2011, and we haven’t missed it in the least. We do have internet, of course, and that comes with enough of its own content to keep us entertained when we want to veg out in front of the tube. :D
j.l.farmer over 4 years ago
if they are sport fans the MLB season is now in session. WOO-HOO!!!!! they would have just had a problem with what game to watch. also there is the WNBA and Nascar.
Ukko wilko over 4 years ago
Way too many POOR choices.
TLH1310 Premium Member over 4 years ago
When I grew up, we ate dinner at 6pm. Dad turned on the Evening News and sat at the head of the table watching the news. The rest of us sat eating in silence until a commercial came on, then silence when it came back to the news.