The Born Loser by Art and Chip Sansom for April 13, 2023

Some decades ago Italian TV programs (we had only one B & W channel) stopped at midnight and during the night was broadcasted a geometric picture called “Monoscopio”. It was said it had an high share, Maybe for all the people fell asleep in front of the TV.

I knew tv was in sad shape, but had no idea!

Been without TV for about a year, not missing it much. The only time I miss it is during the Super Bowl, but can always go find a sports bar if I really want to see the game, (and commercials.)

I want 4 channels, 2 for me and 2 for the wife, but pay for 190 channels.

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” – Groucho Marx ;D

And isn’t it interesting that they seem to “avoid” the test when a commercial is running.

Last time I watched TV was my introduction to the new innovation, not new to the world, but new to us; 1963. Have not been addicted, and people wonder how I relate to people in my cohort who remember the old shows, I don’t.

it was the only ‘program’ that didn’t need subtitles

They’re annoying but I’m always relieved to know it is a test. Now where are my potassium iodide pills?

Just something to ponder. Does anybody remember when they were watching TV that the Emergency Broadcast Network had a REAL Emergency to announce? “This is NOT a test! Repeat, this is NOT a test. The sky is falling! We recommend everybody to DUCK and COVER!”

(That movie, “Don’t Look Up!” doesn’t count. It was only fiction.)

I’ve noticed lately that these alerts have been happening at least several times in the past several weeks. I wonder if they’re getting us ready for something that’s about to happen soon. It wouldn’t surprise me in these days.

Those tests always seem to happen at critical juncture of shows.

Wow, Brutus, you watched a Civil Defense Warning all night long. And I thought my life was dull.

I usually hate these crawling warnings that block out the sound for their alarm. They wouldn’t be so bad except they usually come right during the most important part of the program. It’s almost like they planned it that way. That really riles me.

Super bowl. 8 hours of tv for less than 1 hour of on screen action and people who cannot stop yakking their mouths off. No thanks.

that scary noise sure does bring in attention as intended… try with the stereo surround system with a deaf or just hard of hearing family in a dead quiet room. :]

We have this joy coming up on all our mobiles this Sunday in the UK. I’ll keep sounding the alarm until you stop it. Going to be a lot of racket at 3pm that day.

My least favorite sport is channel surfing. I will not participate. If I want to watch something, I do. If I don’t, I will read. I have never looked for something to watch. I really do hate TV, but my tinnitus is so loud I am kind of stuck trying to drown it out with a loud TV at night if there is something I want to see. Otherwise, it’s a book for me.

Bruce Springsteen did a song-57 channels(and nothing on)-about that, which I still enjoy.

We pulled the plug in 2001. Still don’t miss it.

I hear you Brutus.

Only 100 channels ? With my apps I’ve got thousands of choices but by the time I find something to watch I don’t have enough time to see it

Where we live, an antenna is useless due to the mountains and satellite feeds aren’t reliable. If it wasn’t for cable, I don’t know what I would do with my brother. It keeps him entertained throughout the day since he’s not able to do anything else.

In this day and age, l would also be watching if the emergency channel was activated. If for no other reason other than to direct my prayers and for how long l have left to pray …

Of course it did, it could have been an emergency.

I thought the last panel would be Brutus saying something about going deaf when that beeping comes on. Does it really have to be that loud?

Brutus goes on to say, “I think I’ll ‘cut the cable’ and buy a 42” fish tank", with a good variety of Tropical fish and aquarium furnishings for the comfort of the fish, and a real gourmet fish food for their dining pleasure, ZZZZzzzzz…

Brutus is thinking,“this is the first time I’ve seen this on TV, it’s usually while I am listening to the radio, makes me jump, so maybe something is happening that the public isn’t being told about”…

Long live books!!!

Funny and a great comment on the vast wasteland of tv programming! And to lend credence to what Brutus said, in the first frame he seems to have been jolted out of a nap by the sound!

I don’t think I’ve heard that since before I got my first VCR in 1987.

do they still play the star spangled banner at the end of the “broadcast day”…?

Often true. Old movies and old TV shows are much better. Imagination, the point of reading books, seeing plays and watching movies and television. Propaganda and showing off whatever is pointless. Some good projects are created nowadays, but must be searched for.

Long live television!!! I can’t live without it.