A&E in Crisis

[CountDeMoney]

I hate reality TV.  To start with, there's just so dang much of it anymore, and depending on what you consider reality TV, almost none of it is even remotely watchable.

There's only one real reality show, and that was Cops.  And by Season 3, there were only so many times you could see the same drunk white guy sans shirt banging his head against the patrol car window. 

I understand why TV executives like it--it's about the cheapest possible programming to produce--but I can't understand why viewers actually watch it.

One day, our poor katmai will be out of work when the reality TV craze subsides.  But not this day.  Haven't you seen "Alaskan Women Looking for Love" on TLC yet?  Seriously.  It's out there.

[The Brain]

Is there anything Alaska won't do?

[celedhring]

Heh, TLC stands for "The Learning Channel". Joins the long list of initialisms that no longer make any sense in American TV.

[Eddie Teach]

Like AMC once they started running Catwoman.

[Tonitrus]

Heh, TLC stands for "The Learning Channel". Joins the long list of initialisms that no longer make any sense in American TV.

When it first started out, it would have the finest, stolen-from-the-UK documentaries one could watch.

But anyway, this thread shows how important it is to craft a hijack-proof thread title. 

[Ideologue]

Like "ERs in crisis"?

Yeah, it has been ever since Clooney left.

[The Brain]

There was a Swedish print journalist in the 90s who looked just like Dr. Goose.

[Neil]

That channel threw away the A for Arts in "Arts & Entertainment" a long time ago.

They were the first.  A&E turned to shit.  Then TLC.  Then Discovery.  Then History.  Then Animal Planet.  A channel is born full of interesting content, and then turns into reality shit over time, and the change is happening faster and faster these days.

[Sheilbh]

But anyway, this thread shows how important it is to craft a hijack-proof thread title. 

It's a very long piece on a relatively niche. The only reason the thread lives is that it's hijackable

[Eddie Teach]

It's a very long piece on a relatively niche.

Mongers managed to get through the article 4 times though.

[CountDeMoney]

That channel threw away the A for Arts in "Arts & Entertainment" a long time ago.

They were the first.  A&E turned to shit.  Then TLC.  Then Discovery.  Then History.  Then Animal Planet.  A channel is born full of interesting content, and then turns into reality shit over time, and the change is happening faster and faster these days.

Smithsonian is the last hold-out, and even they are beginning to falter.

[Eddie Teach]

There's still good stuff on the Science channel. And TCM still shows classic movies.

[Tonitrus]

There's still good stuff on the Science channel. And TCM still shows classic movies.

I think TCM only survives (I cannot believe it is profitable) because of selfless financial backing (and gouging for everything else).

[Neil]

That channel threw away the A for Arts in "Arts & Entertainment" a long time ago.

They were the first.  A&E turned to shit.  Then TLC.  Then Discovery.  Then History.  Then Animal Planet.  A channel is born full of interesting content, and then turns into reality shit over time, and the change is happening faster and faster these days.

Smithsonian is the last hold-out, and even they are beginning to falter.

Yeah, I just noticed it up at the top of the dial.  There's also a channel called Oasis, which is all nature and space science shows, which is great.

[Eddie Teach]

I think TCM only survives (I cannot believe it is profitable) because of selfless financial backing (and gouging for everything else).

Considering there's no commercials, I suspect you're right.