Real Telly Hell

[Darren Broadbent]

Have we become too judgmental? Too fixed with the 'celebrity' culture that exists today?

Nowadays, young folk enjoy watching a differed genre of television to that of Ernest from the Morningstarr* forum.

Instead of Ernie's beloved 'Vincent' (starring Ray Winstone), us young adults are watching endless panel shows: 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks', 'Mock the Week', 'Have I Got News For You', 'A Question of Sport' (or maybe not). And it seems that talk shows have turned into comedy - from Michael Parkinson to Jonathan Ross.

Some think this is the way forward, but are we ever going to see another 'Brideshead Revisited' or a 'Heartbeat' or a 'Sherlock Holmes' as the general public gaze at their unattractive box in the corner of their room. I might be young, but I have always enjoyed reading books; this makes adaptations so much better. Take the millions of versions of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', which I'm sure you all have seen this Christmas. All that hard grasp, tension, personification, all embedded into one.

Then you see Kinga sticking a bottle of wine up her rat, Amy Winehouse spitting at the audience and Preston go off in a huff. If we think about it, is it good telly? Stats prove that viewers are more interested in the latest Showbiz scandals than real life - or maybe that is real life.

The life of a celebrity makes being 'politically correct' such a hard job to do. I mean, we're all with the system: "If they can do it, so can we"; they're role models. In my father's day, people would look up to Sir David Frost, now they see him as a boring old goat.

So, while you're watching your decent Friday night entertainment, just remember TV didn't all have to be endless '100 Greatest...', mocking our decent society, I say decent, now it has gone into jeopardy.

[karnautrahl]

Whilst there is some decent telly about, the larger majority is totally bullshit crap bollox and arsejuice. Useless tripe that's so bad in some cases I'd rather spend the time shoving razor wire down me todger.

Personal hates include shytetastic Big Brother bollox that seems so frikkin' popular (proves 50 million wankers can be WRONG!).

Another hate is the same as yours Darren, these stupid arsepricking hairbearheads who get called "celebs". Boring uninteresting totally dumbass attention seekers who probably just need a good gang banging to raise their interest factor...by horses.

As you can see I have a great respect for the folks that like to get plastered over the front page of our beloved tabloids :-).

As a thread on crap telly could go on forever...mebbes it's worth making one on good telly? I mean given it's in the minority, should be better for guiding people on what to look out for?

The new Doctor Who series over the last couple of years has been decent, along with the spinoff Torchwood. It is what it is, and quite watchable.

Top Gear as ever is fun, interesting and oh ok, they still have that car pervert cameraman working for them. I'm going to send him a bottle of something nice...he gets such fantastic angles.

Oh what else? House has turned out to be a decent drama (when I get to watch it).

I'll think of more, but I usually avoid too much TV....I can't afford to get any dumber!!

[Ck]

We've moved on.

Brideshead Revisited is now Ugly Betty

Heartbeat is Heroes

Sherlock Holmes is Wire in the Blood

There's nothing wrong with moving with the times, some people even balked at the thought of colour TV once upon a time. Those shows you mentioned will still be available for viewing thanks to Sky TV gold channel and no doubt period dramas will always have a place seeing as the BBC can't seem to help themselves from making them.

I personally have no great interest in watching celebrity TV but you can bet your young life that many people who do follow such shows do so to make themselves feel better, that and the small core who have an unhealthy interest in strangers lives.

[Alpha]

The classic programmes mentioned by the OP can be found on ITV3, BBC Four and various UKTV channels.

[Mr Morningstarr*]

I think there are still quality shows being made, mainly by the BBC. Commercial stations need crappy ratings winners, I'm more appalled by the shite phone in quiz shows that seem to take over after 11pm.

[timey]

The problem is people love to see celebs and the quality of the celebs, by and large, has gone way down. I don't give a munch about most of them, to be honest, and don't tend to watch the celebrity stuff (apart from Strictly Come Dancing but at least that is about learning a skill). I've always been a BBC2/BBC4/Documentary sort of person anyway, so I largely miss all this new stuff that is on nowadays. If I ever start showing any interest in Big Brother whatever you have my permission to shoot me.

[karnautrahl]

Permission noted then timey .

[lalajean]

I think that some have and others well no. I guess the majority would fall into the judgmental category all because they forget that we should not be judging anyone else. After all they took God out of everything remember.

[SFB]

So everyone missed The Old Curiosity Shop?

Shame about the sad ending............

[karnautrahl]

laljean, wtf you on dude?

Who makes up these munching rules anyway LMAO! Gah..everyone judges who they like when they like really, just often-they don't admit it :-). Human nature.

As for God...well save "him" for another thread-I'll say hi when he comes and says hello and not till :-).