Where did the creativity go.
As a cable consumer I am extremely dissatisfied at the state of televised programming. Often my friends and I reminisce on the "greats" of the nineties. Cartoons and all. These days one has to become an aggressive TV watcher, seeking out the gems of years past. Where are the Seinfelds? The Fresh Princes, where are my Friends? I, like many others, am experiencing sitcom withdrawal. Where are the iconic characters to be celebrated and commended for the joy their complicated roles brought to our hearts? Here, I'd like to reference Steve Urkel of Family Matters, and Michelle from Full House. Though I'm leaving tons of people out, I'd like to honorably mention The Cosby Show, Saved By the Bell, I Love Lucy, and Martin. These shows were once and still are a part of our social fabric. These were characters you could relate to, connect with others about in conversation, and watch them grow while establishing a committed, weekly relationship, while marveling at how this episode is somehow better than the last, thanks to essentially, brilliant writers.
Where did the great writers go?
The characters of today's television are real people. Don't get me wrong. I can't look away from reality TV either. I ashamed to say it, but it's true. I also understand that reality sells, and gets viewers like wildfire. Viewers new and old are like moths to a flame, with the subjects of the shows being reliable, weekly car wrecks. I'm used to a different kind of reliability for my 7:00-8:00p.m. slot. The inflated, popularized documentary-style happenings in one person's world that we're subject to are nothing compared to the constancy that nineties series provided for people across the nation.
Who's to blame here, for the great void? Need our writers be more creative? Or is the market too saturated for a promising sitcom to reap sustenance? Weigh in.
