Why is the TV landscape so boring?

[CaptJohnSheridan]

The dominant shows on American TV are sitcoms, reality shows, and cop shows. Compare that to a novel that has space battles, daring military actions, parachute jumps through a planet?s atmosphere, and high-stakes politics. Why can't TV be that exciting? Do TV shows do not get the budget of CGI heavy adventure movies? Is there something in American life that zaps people of their creativity and imagination?

 

[Hawki]

I'll clarify some things:

-Science fiction is a fringe genre, so there'll always be a pre-dominance of non-genre fiction in any given medium. In a visual medium, this is especially true due to questions of budget.

-This is true of any Western nation.

-There's hardly a lack of sci-fi material on television, though you'll usually need to pay money to get it.

-With a name like "John Sheridan," I can hardly accuse you of non-subjective preference. ;p

 

[JoJo]

Beside what Hawki said, budget is key. Reality shows and sitcoms are cheap to produce, at-least until they becomes popular and the actors start demanding huge salaries. A cool science fiction scene that costs nothing to write down in text can cost millions in CGI budget to depict in film, so investors are going to be wary unless they're sure they can make a profit despite that cost.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I wouldn't say there's a lack of Sci-Fi, as its a successful genre, but they've just become generic shows. Sci-Fi themed cop dramas. Sci-Fi themed sitcoms. I mean what is the Real Housewives of Atlanta if not a sci-fi reality show about malfunctioning replicants?

 

[Saelune]

Its called Cartoon Network. Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty are all there, and not lacking in creativity.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Its called Cartoon Network. Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty are all there, and not lacking in creativity.

As in old school cartoon network 90s kid that grew up with Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Ed, Edd, n Eddy.

I hiss at those shows:

 

[Saelune]

Its called Cartoon Network. Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty are all there, and not lacking in creativity.

As in old school cartoon network 90s kid that grew up with Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Ed, Edd, n Eddy.

I hiss at those shows:

I loved them too, but I appreciate the consistent plot and lack of status quo. I mean, Finn even seems to be aging, which is pretty neat. Excluding Samurai Jack, (and the Anubis statue episodes of PPG) they were self-contained episodes focused more purely on being a silly cartoon. I like the drama, without it being all serious face all the time.

 

[DanielDI]

For me, the most frustrating thing about The Nightly Show, which is otherwise a can't-miss program, is that it's half-hour time slot simply isn't long enough to contain all that Wilmore & co. want to accomplish. Too often, whether because of editing or merely the lack of time, the show's segments?particularly the roundtable?feel truncated, incomplete. The show really needs the full hour.

 

[RaikuFA]

Because everyone thinks they're gonna get the next Kardashians/Big Bang Theroy by focusing on that shit instead.

I hope TV dies out in a few years.

 

[Fox12]

Because everyone thinks they're gonna get the next Kardashians/Big Bang Theroy by focusing on that shit instead.

I hope TV dies out in a few years.

Well, if streaming continues then it probably will. I am fine with this.

I really miss the 90s : (

 

[twistedmic]

Its called Cartoon Network. Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty are all there, and not lacking in creativity.

Small nitpick, 'Rick and Morty' are on Adult Swim, not Cartoon Network. They both occupy the same listing/channel, but they are separate networks/entities with different management teams.

 

[Saelune]

Its called Cartoon Network. Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty are all there, and not lacking in creativity.

Small nitpick, 'Rick and Morty' are on Adult Swim, not Cartoon Network. They both occupy the same listing/channel, but they are separate networks/entities with different management teams.

That's only because of ratings sake, so they (Cartoon Network) made it its own thing. But they are blood relatives.

 

[RaikuFA]

Because everyone thinks they're gonna get the next Kardashians/Big Bang Theroy by focusing on that shit instead.

I hope TV dies out in a few years.

Well, if streaming continues then it probably will. I am fine with this.

I really miss the 90s : (

I miss it too. On the flip side Swat Kats is coming back.

If they'd stop cancelling all the good shows and keeping only the bottom of the barrel it can survive.

 

[Fox12]

Because everyone thinks they're gonna get the next Kardashians/Big Bang Theroy by focusing on that shit instead.

I hope TV dies out in a few years.

Well, if streaming continues then it probably will. I am fine with this.

I really miss the 90s : (

I miss it too. On the flip side Swat Kats is coming back.

If they'd stop cancelling all the good shows and keeping only the bottom of the barrel it can survive.

Hot damn, really? That just made my day.

Maybe they were just waiting for Ted Turner to disappear before rebooting it.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

Its called Cartoon Network. Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and Rick and Morty are all there, and not lacking in creativity.

As in old school cartoon network 90s kid that grew up with Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Ed, Edd, n Eddy.

I hiss at those shows:

Why? They're very similar in quality and style(and the new wave, with some exceptions of course, is even better in some regards). It's basicly a renaissance of good ol' CN shows after dung ages of the 00's.

 

[RaikuFA]

Because everyone thinks they're gonna get the next Kardashians/Big Bang Theroy by focusing on that shit instead.

I hope TV dies out in a few years.

Well, if streaming continues then it probably will. I am fine with this.

I really miss the 90s : (

I miss it too. On the flip side Swat Kats is coming back.

If they'd stop cancelling all the good shows and keeping only the bottom of the barrel it can survive.

Hot damn, really? That just made my day.

Maybe they were just waiting for Ted Turner to disappear before rebooting it.

Well they kickstarted it.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1820796125/swat-kats-revolution/

 

[madwarper]

For me, the most frustrating thing about The Nightly Show, which is otherwise a can't-miss program, is that it's half-hour time slot simply isn't long enough to contain all that Wilmore & co. want to accomplish. Too often, whether because of editing or merely the lack of time, the show's segments?particularly the roundtable?feel truncated, incomplete. The show really needs the full hour.

Meh. They wasted far too much time on simply asinine skits of some stupid face floating on green screen.
Also, the roundtable segments don't quite work so well when you're relying on comedians that don't know what they are talking about, but only care that what they say gets them a positive reaction from the audience. You know, which makes them intellectually equivalent to Donald Trump.

The Nightly Show has some good moments, but they were far and few in between.

OT: Gotham, Super Girl, Flash, AoS, Arrow, Suits, Mr. Robot, Killjoys, Dark Matter, etc.

 

[Chanticoblues]

TV has always been pretty garbage.

 

[Dizchu]

It has always been, only now it's exacerbated because people (generally young people) prefer watching Netflix or Youtube. As a result some of the best TV shows from the last few years have either been given immense popularity due to Netflix (Breaking Bad) or have been Netflix Originals (Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things). Netflix has also allowed cult TV from other countries to get worldwide distribution, as can be seen with the revival of Trailer Park Boys.

Between the truly stunning serial dramas airing on Netflix and the resurgence of great cartoons (Steven Universe honestly could not have been done ten years ago), I think we're in a good place. We can avoid the shitty TV shows we may have begrudgingly sat through in the past and binge on some truly excellent stuff. My cup runneth over.