Uncomfortable TV

[davemarc]

At 08:37 PM 7/4/96 +0200, hag wrote:
>Scott Gardner writes:
>
>> It's funny that 15 years later Dan Quayle was "forced off the air" for
>> chastening Murphy Brown's uncomfortable political themes (and so was his
>> boss, eventually, for other reasons--or perhaps for the same reasons).  The
>> Tube has come into its own, apparently.
>
>Its own what? Not the old Democrat (fascists) vs Republican (fascists) 
>again? Ok ok - serious question for any USians who can tear themselves 
>away from their 4th o' July tax revolt turkeys. I have always advocated 
>teaching (or just reading) US literature (well, some) as an antidote to US TV. 
>IS there a marked improvement in US TV since cable, as davemarc recently 
>(may have) suggested? Or is Murphy Brown (and shows like The Simpsons) 
>as 'uncomfortable' as it gets? 
>
For the record, here's what I wrote:

"American television's a complicated issue in itself, but recent trends
(especially the growth of cable) have led to a burst of formula-breaking,
particularly in the comedy genre."

As for whether there's been "a marked improvement in US TV since cable" (a
different issue from the once concerning formulae), I would, in fact, offer
a cautious "yes."  I'd be much more willing to identify a number of
excellent and innovative television productions (say, *The Simpsons*, *Twin
Peaks*, *Seinfeld*, *The Civil War*, and even *The Tick*) broadcast in
recent years as evidence that, against all odds, the US Tube is not 100%
devoid of creativity.

davemarc