Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for October 21, 2023

“Vast wasteland” is from a famous speech to the National Association of Broadcasters delivered in 1961. At that time there were only three networks, CBS, NBC, and third ranked ABC which only reached about half the country.

… a wasteland, it will always be. I miss the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Let the Guide, guide you.

Vast wasteland

There actually was some good writing back then compared to the rotting tripe on the public airways today. It’s all streaming services for us when we’re looking for comedy and drama…plus some PBS.

I think I will boycott both Hallmark channels. I’m tired of the Christmas movies. It was bad enough when they added them to July. Now it’s starting in September. They may as well change their name to the Christmas Movie Channel. But don’t think the stories will ever change. Boy meets girl, or girl meets single dad. All us a happy ending. Different actors, same story. Life isn’t like that, but that’s Hollywood!

Even my 84-year-old mother with dementia can manage to find the shows she likes using the internet.

Program listings (or a TV Guide) isn’t the problem, I use an online one, very customizable.

The problem, at least to me, is the lack of quality shows. So called “reality” shows and warmed over games shows from the 60’s and 70’s with “celebrity” tacked on the front of it (and most of the “celebrities” I’ve never heard of).

Newton Minnow, rest in peace. (Look it up.)

Still a vast wasteland. There are some good shows. I don’t have cable anymore and select what I want to watch by streaming. No commercials!

Watch very little regular TV. Stream mostly now. Curiosity Stream is one of the best out there.

I didn’t realize that “TV Guide” was still around until I recently started seeing TV commercials trying to get new subscribers. I haven’t seen it at a checkout stand in years.

I really, REALLY miss the TV Guide.

It’s just you, Janis, and the remote Arlo. Good luck.

With Netflix, Prime and Disney+ along with endless Hallmark movies, we didn’t much notice the strike.

TV Guide magazine is coming back. You can subscribe for $15/year.

Years ago, I subscribed to TV Guide, but then they changed the format from that little mag to a bigger one (but with less content), and making it more like “People” Magazine. I still would have stuck, but when I saw the Daytime Schedule was mostly “Various Programming”, with virtually no show details, I dropped it.

Can you type in tvguide dot com? I knew you could.

Winter used to be the time when the reruns ended and new shows began. Now this winter the most network-like scripted program is Frasier, which isn’t even on a network. Scripted shows are so expensive, even on a can’t-miss reboot, that they only committed to 13 episodes. That would evaporate if it were on network, but it works for streaming.

Where exactly did the program listings go? I still use them.

This winter, tv wise anyway, will be dismal because of the writer’s strike.

Now it is only half vast

Don’t worry, Arlo. You don’t need a listing. It’s all infomercials and Maury reruns anyway.

Props to Newton Minnow

We got 6! US ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS AND Canadian ABC, NBC, and CBS. But that wasn’t until we got our first TV in 1964. It was color TV. Mom and dad painted the cabinet pink and yellow. Grampa built it for us as his hobby was TV repair. All made from spare parts. Otherwise we wouldn’t have a TV until 1968.

Yep, Television did create a Vast Waistland !!!!!

At least there’s more and more waste to step on!!

It has been a good night. I am now on my third movie on Turner which I like – this one is “Fitzwilly” – yes, a bit early for Christmas, but it is a favorite.

All that has changed is the vastness.