Stop it Before I Slap You

I spoke before about how I sat in on a number of meetings with television producers and how they spoke with unutterable contempt for television viewers. Is it true we get what we deserve?

It's true in the past we have had vapid and inane programming. Gilligan's Island, The Flintstones, I Dream of Genii, The Brady Bunch. But it has become much worse. At least in the wacky days of the sixties and seventies, balancing out this giggling idiocy were some well-written and thought-provoking programs. David Carridine's Kung-fu introduced many people to Asian culture and Buddhism. Jacques Cousteau's sea explorations aired during prime-time, and they were breathtakingly beautiful programs.

It is an offense to be subjected to such visual atrocities as The Biggest Loser, Brett Michaels' Next Crew Slut (or whatever that show is called) and what has to be the rock-bottom in "reality" contestant shows, Paris Hilton's New British best Friend, where Britain's most empty-headed nitwits try to prove to Ms. Hilton they are worthy to hang out with her. The funniest line is when she says "I want to get to know you better," at the end of each show. What's to know? "I like to get drunk, take Ecstasy, screw and puke my last meal before my spleen can extract a single nutrient from it. Isn't that enough--these were the entry requirements listed on the cattle-call in Variety?"

Come on, my people please--do something. Protest. Write letters. Send e-mails or tweets. Whatever it is you do. Stand on the street corner holding cardboard signs: Will have sex for better programming. Boycott. Stop watching these crappy shows and take piano lessons. Do something. Don't just set there and take it anymore. Stations that actually show intelligent programming have to run fund-raising drives. Support them. Stop buying products from sponsors that support these festering dungheaps that insult your intelligence. They put these programs on the air because they think we do not deserve any better, or what's worse--we don't know any better.