Our Favorite "TV Shows”
This year’s Fall line-up hopes it has its competition beat
Believe it or not, there was a time America had only three major TV stations, now the shows that began home entertainment strive to hold on.
In 1963 the Beatles were on American television. But, they aired on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and that was only accessible on channel 2, Sundays at 8 p.m. Channel 7 was too early in the game, and it wasn’t until later they adopted a mascot. But the CBS eye and the NBC peacock are difficult, even today, to forget. It is their early days we may have forgotten.
RCA perfected an electronic method of transmitting color in 1953. With the RCA method, people could receive the color broadcasts on their old TV’s, but the images would appear in black and white. The Federal Communications Commission selected the RCA method as the national standard for color television, putting an end to the CBS system. Dr. Peter Goldmark of CBS developed a color TV for network broadcast in 1940. NBC, using the RCA method, broadcast the Tournament of Roses parade as its first color program in 1953.
As it turns out, the 1950’s and ‘60’s experienced it’s own golden age. “I Love Lucy,” “Looney Toons” and commercials have had a tremendous impact on American culture, it’s values and it’s language. But, that was then and this is now.
The Z Channel was one of the first pay cable stations in the United States. Launched in 1974 from Los Angeles, California, this station was known for its devotion to the art of cinema due to the eclectic choice of films by the programming chief, Jerry Harvey.
With the advent of home theaters, cable and now satellite, “old” TV has some tough competition these days.
The 2008 Fall line-up is offering a remake of “The Bionic Woman,” with Michelle Ryan as Jamie Sommers, ABC’s “Dirty Sexy Money,” and “The Lipstick Jungle.” With the addition of Fox Network and other channels, TV is busy producing a lot of shows on more networks.
The 2007 Emmy Awards, nominees are: Best Series, Drama: “Boston Legal,' “Grey's Anatomy,' “Heroes,” “House,” “The Sopranos.” Best Series, Comedy: “Entourage,' “The Office,” ”30,” “Rock,” 'Two And A Half Men' and “Ugly Betty.”
In the categories of Best Actor/Actress: Best Actor, Drama: James Spader, “Boston Legal, Hugh Laurie, “House” (a well-deserved nomination), Denis Leary, “Rescue Me, James Gandolfini, “The Sopranos” and Kiefer Sutherland in “24.”
Best Actress, Drama: Sally Field, “Brothers & Sisters,” Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer,” Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” Patricia Arquette, “Medium,” Minnie Driver, “The Riches,” Edie Falco, 'The Sopranos.” And so on.
Two distinct differences are clear: More of these shows are available only through cable or satellite and secondly, actors are making a “backward” jump from major films to this type of television programming. What is also clear is that television has made its best effort to keep edgy and progressive. Like it or not, “regular” TV is far from ordinary anymore. In such a competitive entertainment market, this genre must evolve, or fade to black.
