Written by Very Aware’s TV expert Daniel, The State of Television is a weekly column that highlights and sums up the biggest and most important news regarding the small screen. From ratings news to cancellations to cast shake-ups, The State of Television brings you everything you need to know about that powerful little box in your living room.
In American television, we sometimes let a show run on for far past its expiration date. Its not uncommon for a popular program to run for ten seasons, if not more. This is after all the original stars have left. This is after original show runners have left. The quality of the characters and the situations they have gotten themselves into have become more monotonous and ridiculous. Most popular American shows have done it, most recently with ER and 24 ending their too long runs. By the end of those shows Jack Bauer was fighting the same damn terrorists, with his action laden storylines seeming repetitive and boring and ER had traded George Clooney for John Stamos. We should follow the popular European style of network TV. Popular shows run for two or three great seasons and that’s it. The point is made and the characters never wear out their welcome.
Now I know a lot of people bag on the last season of LOST. Me, I’m an unapologetic fan of where the show went, but I’ll put that opinion to the side. I feel as if the creators of the show were genius for setting an end date. When the show was in its second and third seasons, there was no end to the series negotiated at that point. The show meandered and focused on second string character stories, driving away from the main action of the show. When they saw no end, they could not make any action finite. Now imagine that LOST had gone on for another four seasons after that. What silliness would they have had to push? When a TV show runs for that long, the sense of purpose and direction becomes unclear. TWO AND A HALF MEN is one of those shows, but they have an out.
I believe that Charlie Sheen’s action as of late should be a sign for the creators of TWO AND A HALF MEN to permanently end this “comedy”. It was announced last week that the network has canceled the series for the rest of the current season. Charlie Sheen is surely not interested continuing the show, considering he’s banging hookers and giving odd interviews. The creators should not replace his character. Write him out and end the show. Take the talent you have and begin anew. I know it sounds as if I have a lot of TWO AND A HALF MEN hate, but to be honest…well, yeah, you’ve got me, I can not stand that show. Charlie Sheen is vastly overpaid and the show sucks and I really hope this is an end to it. I will always sound like a stubborn child when it comes to the cancellation of this show. I hope the crews and creative types behind the show find more jobs, but this show has got to go.
Continuing on non-quality programming, the Oscars broadcast’s ratings have gone down since 2010. It was by far one of the most horrible Oscar telecasts in many a year. Anne Hathaway and James Franco as hosts seemed like a young and hip idea, but the show fell flat with odd direction, timing and Franco’s barely there performance. I mean, why in the hell was there a moment of TOY STORY’s Woody longingly staring at a photo of the TWILIGHT kids? I can’t even recall a single surprise win. Overall a glitzy, but boring affair.
GLEE is moving into original territory for the singing high school show. They will finally be producing their own songs. Until now, GLEE’s performances were that of covers of already popular songs. However, now very successful pop song writer Max Martin will be contributing to the show. I have never been the biggest fan of GLEE, but I can appreciate it and the fact the are doing their own songs now makes me respect it all that much more.
I wish there was more exciting news for me to report. The pilots have begun production and I am sure that very exciting news regarding TV is on the horizon, but right now it seems to be boutique stories that are interesting me. And this relates to a problem I’ve been having.
I have been on a run of watching old shows that I have seen many times. Many times that I am watching TV is usually when I have been exhausted and not in the mood to pay attention. I have gotten lazy about my viewing habits. I need new shows to watch. If I could see at least five new shows these next coming weeks, I would be very happy. So please suggest your favorites. I am already starting BREAKING BAD now. So mark that one off your lists. As for me, its back off to work. And although I am never home, I know deep in my heart that I will be watching new and exciting content in this coming week. Take care of each other.
