Writers for Drama Television or Comedy

Sunday, September 18, 2011

What happened to the writers for television?

Are there no more writers for television?

This is a question that I find myself asking more and more these days. The reasons are simple enough. I have noticed that there are more and more reality television shows than there are the drama’s or comedy shows that we are used to watching. It seems that, as a society, we have all been caught in the reality television more than anything else. Like the “Housewives of New York”. It is as if we just can’t get enough of watching the reality shows from one week to the next.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am just as guilty as the next guy when it comes to reality television. In fact, I was actually getting some enjoyment out of certain television shows like, “Operation Repo”. Unfortunately, I got so fed up with listening to the filthy language on that particular show that I just quick watching. And, of course, who can forget the ever-present Matt on the show. You know, the guy that seems to think that the answer to any part of negotiation is to just beat everyone up and then brag about it later on during the show, or during the short little interviews between the clips of each repossession. Personally, I just plain got fed up with listening to Matt and all of his great ‘sexual conquests’ and how he is the best repo guy there is. Really? Because I found yet another reality repo program that I actually enjoyed watching a few times. The reality television show called, “South Beach Tow”.

The reasons that I actually enjoyed South Beach Tow even better than Operation Repo is simply because of the fact that it was actually entertaining and because there was not a lot of the filthy language. Now, don’t get me wrong, I know that there is filthy language in just about everything that we all do from day to day. However, there are limits to how much dirty, filthy language that I will listen to before I just finally change the channel. In fact the most important thing that I noticed about Operation Repo is that about the only one that prefers to cuss and get violent, for the most part, is Matt. And, given the fact that he suddenly seems to think that he is a ‘partner’ in the company just because his mommy put up the money for the new truck, is utterly ridiculous to me. In fact, given that Matt is well over the age of 45, then I don’t think that mommy should have had to put up the money for the show. But, as we all know, that is just ‘my opinion’.

From a personal standpoint, I would have to say that the increase in reality television is a direct reflection on us, as a society. This is a sad statement to me as I write this. It is as if we have lost our direction or that we have no thought process anymore. Now, I am not saying that this applies to ALL of us. I am simply saying that this seems to apply to a lot more people than we seem to think.

With the Neilson Ratings always sending me things in the mail and asking that I ‘tell them how you feel’ so to speak. It saddens me to realize that those ratings are obviously not meant for us regular television viewers.

I will say that on the subject of reality television, one of my more favorite television shows is “Project Runway”. I just can’t help myself. I started watching this program regularly when they had Christian Seriano on there. That guy was simply amazing and quite entertaining, whether he intended to be or not. The fact that he was on the show was enough for me. I knew from one week to the next that I would be watching just to see Christian and to listen to all of his funny quips; that, and the fact that he is a phenomenal designer, in this writer’s opinion.

The topping to that is that Christian now has his own clothing line, although I am quite sure that I could never afford any of his clothing, they are nevertheless, quite beautiful to see. Add to that, the fact that he is now advertising for Payless Shoe Source and I did notice that his ‘signature’ heels are right there in the front. Now, to me, that is quality, reality television.