Television Mash-Ups
I was wondering about the lack of originality and inspiration in television programing. The idea of reality shows that have nothing to do with reality and cloning popular series into oblivion are just some of the problems behind this lack of originality and inspiration. I considered the popular trend of “mash-up” creation and decided to mash-up some classic t.v. with more contemporary television programming. Here are a few I came up with:
Ozzie and Harriet meet the Ozzie Osborne family
X-files meet Rockford files
Andy Griffith Show meets Gene Simmons family jewels
Katherine Hepburn meets Paris Hilton
The Patty Duke Show meets Hannah Montana
Gilligan’s Island meets Lost
Ok, you get the idea. Then I thought, wouldn’t these “mash-ups” make for more interesting programing than what is being produced today? You could argue the inventive potential and it’s easy to see the contrasting relationships, but what would the interaction between these diverse personas and lifestyles reveal? Could these mash-ups, if produced well, shed some “popular” insight on the differences between people?
A strange sort of truth started to creep in. People, different as night and day, interacting. What a novel idea. Think perhaps of Palestinians and Israelis living side by side, working out their everyday differences inspired by such programming. Maybe that example is a bit of a stretch. Could mash-up shows like this, be the social and cultural detente we’ve all been waiting for?
In the early days of television, they put on plays, talk shows actually talked about intelligent and relevant subjects, leading intellects of our time shared their enlightened views and talent really was talent. Back in the day, most shows were developed for their concepts and not the advertising angle. In those days, the recognition for personal and professional accomplishment hadn’t yet been diluted to a mere 15 seconds of fame.
Today, television programing is hell and gone from those lofty ideals of yesteryear, but fifty years later, we still talk about their impact. Why? Has television become our unspoken, oral history and social tradition? Does contrasting these shows as I have humorously suggested in another light shed illumination on our ever quickening evolution (or devolution)?
I’d LOVE to see an Edward R. Murrow meets Bill O’Reilly….. I’ll lay $100 on Eddy.
But in today’s reality, Fred Astair loses on Dancing with the Stars and Sammy Davis Jr. loses on American Idol and the whole Twittering audience are legends in their own minds.
Sadly, it could be argued, comparing our society with our television programming, that we are a species of “Monkey See, Monkey Do.” Our virtual leaders and their scripted, tele-prompted semantics are mere mixed message,fax machine copies of the “reality” programming we hypnotically ingest.
Some say the inovation, originality and leadership once enjoyed on television, has moved on to the medium of the internet. But contemporary internet is looking like a hipster-ized version of television. Oh well, been there, done that.
I guess that’s why they call it “programming.”
roarke10
My Dear Roarke – your thesis that TV is a cultural wasteland (even worse) is nothing to mourn about. It has become a time honored tradition, particularly at the 4 Major Broadcast Networks. Even the programming at their surrogate Cable outlets, while marginally better at times, is miserably pedestrian. Sorry to be blunt, but this is not going to change.
Your use of the term (I am going to vomit) “Mash up” is interesting and may not entirely do justice to your Thesis. But in an odd way its fundamental meaning (if it truly has one) may be one of the many root causes for this “lack of originality and inspiration” you seek.
In your concept of “Mash up” I see you compare and contrast similar (cloned) programming from different eras. Ask any 10 people on the street what a “Mash up” is and you’ll get 10 different (and likely wrong) answers. Though I am certainly no expert, if you were to follow the “mash up” protocol you may have suggested combining the X-Files with the Osborns. (there was an X Files episode that came close – “Home” Season 4 in 1996 – check it out)
“Mash up” – it is on the one hand New Speak for what us old farts used to call Medley’s – in the musical parlance. But it is even more annoying and insidious and pervasive than that. The terminology is being used everywhere. In my limited view, it’s a subtle way of usurping “originality and inspiration.” You and I may more commonly understand it as plagiarism. But on TV – plagiarism (cloning, franchising, repeating, re-booting, remaking, etc.) is a way of life – in Drama – in News – and certainly on Reality programs. If you steal a little from column A, B, C, & D and swirl it around no one will realize it was already done 25 years ago, or 5 years ago or even last week. This is New Age originality and inspiration. There is your “mash up” defined. It’s already here and we’re late to the party!
And there are reasons it is allowed to continue – it’s called the Free Market, and a willing audience. On the flip side – like you – we all have the ability to turn it OFF. We can now affordably Rent or Purchase what we want without being subjected to the Over the Airwaves “programming.” Or – we can and should find other things to do!
The decline of TV programming (as well as other art and media forms and their various delivery systems) has been ongoing for decades, with no end in sight. We can lament this tragedy forever, or try to understand it in its most rudimentary forms – Demographics, Business, and History. As I mentioned above – it is plain and simply the Marketplace. You may see a conspiracy in the Programming – but I say that only happens if you are watching!
Let’s quickly look at the Market Place through an historical perspective. In 1928, the birth of television took place, but it was another 20 years due to the Depression and WWII before broadcast TV really took off. The first mass produced Television sets in the late 40′s were not cheap. Only those individuals with good incomes and higher education could afford them. There’s your audience / market between 1948 – 1963. You were not going to get this crowd to watch TV with the crap you see today, or even of the last 35 years. It was original and inspirational. The Demographic required that programming – “intelligent and relevant subjects, leading intellects of our time shared their enlightened views and talent really was talent.” That’s why you have the Golden Age of TV in the 50′s and early 60′s – and why you’ll never see it again.
As the commercial possibilities for TV expanded, so did its affordability to the masses, so much so that in 2009 the average US TV viewing home has 3 Television sets. Statistics show there are more TV sets in most homes than there are people.
And then there are the people – the Market Place – the Demographics. As of 2005, only 28% of the US population has a Bachelors degree or higher. How do you appeal (Program) to the other 72% – of which 15% do not even have a high school diploma? Answer: Miller Lite commercials.
TV became and is a business built on mass and commercial appeal – even so-called targeted (paid) cable programming has mass appeal built in. Cops, Lawyers, or Doctors (now Vampires) – if you’re in any other profession you’re relegated to be an ass clown on a sitcom. That is the formula. (And if you’re a cop (military), Lawyer (politician), or Doctor you’ll have a spot in the bunker in 2012) Sure there are a few gems that pop up now and then, but the promise of TV being used as an educational tool or to enlighten us artistically or culturally is surely unfulfilled. That ship has sailed. But it certainly is a filthy mirrored reflection of our life and times – and maybe that is its definitive purpose – for now.
YES!
I agree with your thinking on this one.
I have also noticed that actor and actresses often look alike through the screen ages.
For example, you have an older actress and they replace her with a younger version of herself with similar facial and even body features! The same for male actors however, I have noticed the “replacement” process much more for females. Ageism is still alive!
I always find this amusing…like a cookie cutout!
Thank you again for this thought-provoking story.
Always interesting to read.
I’d like to see, “The Trailer Park Boys” move to “Deadwood”
I agree……….personally I cannot stand reality shows, we have Big Brother, and now a new one called Essex Girls……….I ask you, really, do I give a flying f**k what they do,who they sleep with or how they dress?
What makes me so irate is the investment spent on these useless programmes, when there are far more worthy things I rather watch………I tend to stick to documentaries now………at least they interest and I learn something!
TV is all about money……..and being brain washed that the society we live in today is all NORMAL………so therefore, I must be abnormal.
I like your writing!Keep sticking it out there for irate people like me!
To me anymore, “profits” is a dirty word. I’m glad others see television as I do, we’re in a small minority. Abnormal never looked so good Bubo. lol.
Good comments, good points. Thanks.
Good and interesting article.
Talking of originality nothing has bettered the late 60′s British TV series of “The Prisoner” starring Patrick McGoohan.
20 years ahead of it’s time. Often copied but never equalled.