Growing up, there were only a few television stations to choose from. However, we had more than most in the New York metro region, with WCBS, WNBC, WABC, WNEW, WOR, WPIX, and PBS. In addition, there were shows to pick from in the evening. Today, there are hundreds of channels available, over a hundred HD stations, and a plethora of movie channels, sports networks, and other premium channels. Yet, how frequently do we conclude that there is nothing on television? The Interesting Info about Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Spoilers.
There is a lot to choose from on certain evenings, but on others, the options are much narrower. Because of the abundance of possibilities and stations available, a new medical disease known as “Clicker Thumb” or “Remote Thumb” has been named. One flick through the stations, desperately hoping for anything fascinating to “magically” emerge on the screen, capturing your attention long enough to stop clicking. Specific remote systems make this process much easier by offering a station that lists what’s on (but what fun is that?) or a quick informational summary when you first move to the station.
Another barrier to enjoying television viewing arises if you are not a fan of reality television shows such as American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, Undercover Boss, Cops, and so on. Eliminating those shows, as well as talk shows and infomercials, significantly lowers viewing options. The alternatives are severely reduced if one is not especially interested in sports (or, at least, not all sports). If you like seeing first-run movies in theaters or buying DVDs, many films on premium cinema channels will lose their attraction.
Television networks appear to have followed in the footsteps of cable networks, and, unlike in “the old days,” when first-run episodes were aired for a particular period, and reruns were shown during the off-season (typically the summer), the way shows are presented today is entirely different. Reruns are interspersed with new episodes on networks, and if you’re not paying attention, you can be upset to see a favorite show airing a rerun when you were hoping to watch a new episode. Only the Fox show 24 was played consecutively without reruns, but that was due to the series’ unique premise, and even that show is no longer on the network.
Broadcast networks have evolved to seek compensation from cable providers, etc., for their networks, which are accessible via a particular antenna or computer, despite showing less and less exciting information. One would have assumed that NBC’s unsuccessful experiment of putting Jay Leno on every evening at 10 p.m. would have helped increase material, but it has yet to.
Fortunately, some cable networks have produced interesting series to fill the void, such as Monk, Burn Notice, Nip Tuck, The Closer, White Collar, In Plain Sight, Psych, and others. Unfortunately, those shows are frequently presented as filler at odd hours or during the off-season. However, they provide exciting television viewing and a cause to stop clicking briefly. Television viewing is not a critical need in the grand scheme of things. It can, however, and should be a peaceful, delightful, and much-needed “escape.”
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