Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Last-ing Impression...
As my blogging entries come to a close, I would like to thank everyone for taking time to browse and read through my posts. For those of you who left comments, thank you for your feedback and suggestions. They were greatly appreciated.
I enjoyed my time spent researching this subject. I am an avid TV Land fan, but as they say, "You learn something new every day." I had the opportunity to read about actors and their lives, different shows, and comparisons between classic television and TV today.
I also had the chance to summarize and provide my own opinion concerning Mr. Gary Hoppenstand's article entitled "Me TV". In his piece, Hoppenstand expressed his disgruntlement with television today, feeling as though it is based solely upon participant humiliation and embarrassment. Hoppenstand finds it important that viewers today have the power to construct their own television schedules, if not content with reality TV today.
Classic television brought about several ideas to both past generations, as well as, people in today's society. Shows from the past set the stage for the evolution of television and the transformation of audiences of all ages. Television has evolved into today's society, constantly changing for the pleasure of its viewers.
For example, I Love Lucy began as a thirty minute comedy between husband and wife. A battle of fame between Ricky and Lucy often led to hilarious conflict. Shows such as I Love Lucy paved the way for hilarious comedies, such as, Everybody Loves Raymond. Ray and his wife, Debra, jokingly fight through struggles of everyday life. Raymond and his wife enjoy their life with their children, with occasional interruptions from Raymond's parents. This hilarious comedy has evolved from the days of I Love Lucy and shows like it will continue to change in accordance to their viewers.
In the world of animation, cartoons have progressed from The Jetsons to today's Simpson family. Cartoons, which were based mainly on the entertainment of children, are now viewed by all ages. Providing humor understood by children, teenagers and adults, cartoons today have advanced in both idea and appearance. With brighter colors and more definite lines, cartoons today appeal to the senses.
Ultimately, television producers and writers have adjusted television to accommodate its viewers. There are pieces of classic television that will never be forgotten and have left a lasting impression on television features to come. As television today continues to change, always remember the source of the change.
I enjoyed my time spent researching this subject. I am an avid TV Land fan, but as they say, "You learn something new every day." I had the opportunity to read about actors and their lives, different shows, and comparisons between classic television and TV today.
I also had the chance to summarize and provide my own opinion concerning Mr. Gary Hoppenstand's article entitled "Me TV". In his piece, Hoppenstand expressed his disgruntlement with television today, feeling as though it is based solely upon participant humiliation and embarrassment. Hoppenstand finds it important that viewers today have the power to construct their own television schedules, if not content with reality TV today.
Classic television brought about several ideas to both past generations, as well as, people in today's society. Shows from the past set the stage for the evolution of television and the transformation of audiences of all ages. Television has evolved into today's society, constantly changing for the pleasure of its viewers.
For example, I Love Lucy began as a thirty minute comedy between husband and wife. A battle of fame between Ricky and Lucy often led to hilarious conflict. Shows such as I Love Lucy paved the way for hilarious comedies, such as, Everybody Loves Raymond. Ray and his wife, Debra, jokingly fight through struggles of everyday life. Raymond and his wife enjoy their life with their children, with occasional interruptions from Raymond's parents. This hilarious comedy has evolved from the days of I Love Lucy and shows like it will continue to change in accordance to their viewers.
In the world of animation, cartoons have progressed from The Jetsons to today's Simpson family. Cartoons, which were based mainly on the entertainment of children, are now viewed by all ages. Providing humor understood by children, teenagers and adults, cartoons today have advanced in both idea and appearance. With brighter colors and more definite lines, cartoons today appeal to the senses.
Ultimately, television producers and writers have adjusted television to accommodate its viewers. There are pieces of classic television that will never be forgotten and have left a lasting impression on television features to come. As television today continues to change, always remember the source of the change.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
In and Out of the Spotlight
It often gets hard to imagine actors and actresses outside of our little TV screen. Thinking that they often go through the same struggles as us is sometimes unfathomable. Catching the real lives of celebrities outside of the tabloids realizing truth is comforting to most. In this video, this comfort is distributed to parents, but mostly mothers.
The interview takes place with mothers such as June Cleaver from Leave It To Beaver, Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch, and Marion Cunningham from Happy Days. The women are asked questions about motherhood in real-life and it's relation to their role as mothers on television. They express the ups and downs of life in show business.
Marion Ross, who portrayed Marion Cunningham on Happy Days, talks about how different her television life was from her home life. She worked on set and would come home to her children, raising them herself because she was divorced. She mentions her children asking why she was so sweet to her "children" on TV! She replied, "I used all my sweet at work."
Florence Henderson, Carol from The Brady Bunch, recalls her children asking why she never screamed at the children on television. "Because they won't let me! Otherwise I would," laughs Henderson.
From Everybody Loves Raymond Patricia Heaton found it eerie how closely related story lines were to her own personal lives. Whether it be her own children at school or struggles with her husband, she was amazed at how similar her real life was to the script.
These are just a few examples of the explanations in this interview. Posted on (www.tvland.com), the interview makes it easy for viewers to relate to these celebrities. Motherhood, whether on television or in our homes, can have its ups and downs. Always remember that celebrities lead normal lives, too!
The interview takes place with mothers such as June Cleaver from Leave It To Beaver, Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch, and Marion Cunningham from Happy Days. The women are asked questions about motherhood in real-life and it's relation to their role as mothers on television. They express the ups and downs of life in show business.
Marion Ross, who portrayed Marion Cunningham on Happy Days, talks about how different her television life was from her home life. She worked on set and would come home to her children, raising them herself because she was divorced. She mentions her children asking why she was so sweet to her "children" on TV! She replied, "I used all my sweet at work."
Florence Henderson, Carol from The Brady Bunch, recalls her children asking why she never screamed at the children on television. "Because they won't let me! Otherwise I would," laughs Henderson.
From Everybody Loves Raymond Patricia Heaton found it eerie how closely related story lines were to her own personal lives. Whether it be her own children at school or struggles with her husband, she was amazed at how similar her real life was to the script.
These are just a few examples of the explanations in this interview. Posted on (www.tvland.com), the interview makes it easy for viewers to relate to these celebrities. Motherhood, whether on television or in our homes, can have its ups and downs. Always remember that celebrities lead normal lives, too!
Ditto
I could not agree more with the article written by Gary Hoppenstand. In his article, Hoppenstand discusses what television has become today, producers and audiences that thrive apon participant's humiliation and embarrassment. Hoppenstand finds great comfort in knowing that he has options outside of the excuse we call entertainment today.
I have always loved to watch movies and feel they have been an alternative to terrible television. Whether it is a movie I have seen eight times, or one I am watching for my first time, it is always satisfying to know I have control. I chose my movie. I can pause at any time and continue at my convenience. I have the ability to rewind or fast-forward through any scene. If I'm not happy with the first movie I chose, I can choose another. When I watch a movie, I am in complete control.
Another great technological contribution of our time, box set DVDs. Today, there are several shows that have put previous seasons on DVD collections. These range from shows that were popular in the 50's and 60's to hit series today. For example, for Christmas, I was so excited to open a season of Grey's Anatomy on DVD. When my birthday came around, I was blessed with, my all time favorite, Full House! Thanks to my parents, I now have to capability of watching my favorite shows anytime, anywhere.
In his article, Hoppenstand mentioned how television today isn't based around family, but instead, humiliation embarrassment of those who choose to participate. Although there are usually hefty amounts of cash availabe to those who succeed, I often find myself asking, "What WON'T people do for money these days?" For example, a show recently aired on FOX called The Moment of Truth has participants answer a series of questions to see how truthfully they will reply. These questions range from things at work, in their marriage, previous love affairs, and anything else that has the potential to jeprodize a person's reputation. The catch? The questions often pertain to other people in the contestant's life, and those important people just so happen to be sitting on stage, waiting for the brutal truth. People have been known to lose their jobs, spouses, and even family members. All of this for the sake of money.
I feel we have become fortunate enought to have the power to skip moments like these on television. Shows such as the one previously mentioned are a prime example of what Hoppenstand mentions to be purely humiliation. Luckily, we have the power to control what we watch and when we watch it. Technology, can't live with it, can't live without it.
I have always loved to watch movies and feel they have been an alternative to terrible television. Whether it is a movie I have seen eight times, or one I am watching for my first time, it is always satisfying to know I have control. I chose my movie. I can pause at any time and continue at my convenience. I have the ability to rewind or fast-forward through any scene. If I'm not happy with the first movie I chose, I can choose another. When I watch a movie, I am in complete control.
Another great technological contribution of our time, box set DVDs. Today, there are several shows that have put previous seasons on DVD collections. These range from shows that were popular in the 50's and 60's to hit series today. For example, for Christmas, I was so excited to open a season of Grey's Anatomy on DVD. When my birthday came around, I was blessed with, my all time favorite, Full House! Thanks to my parents, I now have to capability of watching my favorite shows anytime, anywhere.
In his article, Hoppenstand mentioned how television today isn't based around family, but instead, humiliation embarrassment of those who choose to participate. Although there are usually hefty amounts of cash availabe to those who succeed, I often find myself asking, "What WON'T people do for money these days?" For example, a show recently aired on FOX called The Moment of Truth has participants answer a series of questions to see how truthfully they will reply. These questions range from things at work, in their marriage, previous love affairs, and anything else that has the potential to jeprodize a person's reputation. The catch? The questions often pertain to other people in the contestant's life, and those important people just so happen to be sitting on stage, waiting for the brutal truth. People have been known to lose their jobs, spouses, and even family members. All of this for the sake of money.
I feel we have become fortunate enought to have the power to skip moments like these on television. Shows such as the one previously mentioned are a prime example of what Hoppenstand mentions to be purely humiliation. Luckily, we have the power to control what we watch and when we watch it. Technology, can't live with it, can't live without it.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
What's in a Song?
Theme songs, although fairly short introductions, say a lot about what is to follow. The Brady Bunch briefly tells the story of how the family came to know each other. "Here's the story, of a lovely lady..." The intro to Cheers says, "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name." This is evident in the show when a group of friends are constantly congregated at the same bar, discussing jobs, family, and life. The Addams Family theme song describes the family to a tee. "They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky. They're all together ooky. They Addams family."
If you could have a theme song to descbribe yourself, what would it say? Who would write the lyrics? Would it be fast paced or slow? What kinds of instruments would be playing?
M.Y.O. TV Schedule!
In regards to my previous post...
If you are interested in purchasing classic television series on DVD, here are a few sites to browse:
(http://www.fiftiesweb.com/shop/index.html)
(www.amazon.com)
(www.eBay)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Summary
A Summary of "'Me' TV"
"'Me' TV", written by Gary Hoppenstand, is an explanation of the replacement of reality TV today by classic television on DVD. Published in the Journal of Popular Culture, the article depicts Hoppenstand's disgust for television today. He presents the idea of television being based solely on reality, with participant embarrassment and humiliation serving as "sadistic vehicles".
Second, he believes that producers today have settled for airing programs that cost very little, disregarding such things as character and story line. According to Hoppenstand, media has been in the power of users since as early as the nineteenth century. Authors in the past realized that placing pictures on the front of published documents developed more demand, especially when the picture was printed in color. This all changed when technology increased, and consumers preferred to hear and watch these stories, instead of reading them themselves. "The invention of sound and color in the motion picture industry literally destroyed, in a heartbeat, silent and black-and-white filmmaking," says Hoppenstand. Since the technological advancement, sounds systems and the quality of clarity have improved drastically and continue to today.
With the invention and wide spread popularity of television, radio readings and talk shows made a drastic decline, so much that radio programs, such as, "Gunsmoke" were made into popular television series.
Hoppenstand concludes the amount of control consumers have today, whether it be over their home theatre sets or personal programming, technology has made great strides. Instead of being forced to view reality TV, we now have the option of watching endless reruns of "Laverne & Shirley", "Full House", or what have you. Hoppenstand leaves us with the following statement, "With 'Me' TV, I get to make the programming decisions about what I want to watch and when I want to watch it. Control is a wonderful thing."
WORKS CITED
Hoppenstand, Gray. "'Me' TV." Journal of Popular Culture 39 (2006): 707-8.
"'Me' TV", written by Gary Hoppenstand, is an explanation of the replacement of reality TV today by classic television on DVD. Published in the Journal of Popular Culture, the article depicts Hoppenstand's disgust for television today. He presents the idea of television being based solely on reality, with participant embarrassment and humiliation serving as "sadistic vehicles".
Second, he believes that producers today have settled for airing programs that cost very little, disregarding such things as character and story line. According to Hoppenstand, media has been in the power of users since as early as the nineteenth century. Authors in the past realized that placing pictures on the front of published documents developed more demand, especially when the picture was printed in color. This all changed when technology increased, and consumers preferred to hear and watch these stories, instead of reading them themselves. "The invention of sound and color in the motion picture industry literally destroyed, in a heartbeat, silent and black-and-white filmmaking," says Hoppenstand. Since the technological advancement, sounds systems and the quality of clarity have improved drastically and continue to today.
With the invention and wide spread popularity of television, radio readings and talk shows made a drastic decline, so much that radio programs, such as, "Gunsmoke" were made into popular television series.
Hoppenstand concludes the amount of control consumers have today, whether it be over their home theatre sets or personal programming, technology has made great strides. Instead of being forced to view reality TV, we now have the option of watching endless reruns of "Laverne & Shirley", "Full House", or what have you. Hoppenstand leaves us with the following statement, "With 'Me' TV, I get to make the programming decisions about what I want to watch and when I want to watch it. Control is a wonderful thing."
WORKS CITED
Hoppenstand, Gray. "'Me' TV." Journal of Popular Culture 39 (2006): 707-8.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Oops!
While browsing the web looking for items related to my topic, I found a website full of bloopers and outtakes from classic television. There are clips from "M*A*S*H", "Mork and Mindy", "Laverne and Shirley", and so much more! If you are in need of a good laugh you should definitely visit this site posted in my link list!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Marsha's Nose
This video is SO hilarious! Marcia no more than steps out the door and she gets nailed in the nose with a football! Her nose swells up so huge. You can find Brady Bunch clips and other shows at:
www.youtube.com
www.tvland.com
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Women in Television
How has the status of women in television changed over time? It used to be that women were portrayed in the home, taking care of the children, cleaning and preparing meals. We often saw women wearing dresses and aprons, rarely wearing pants.
Today, women are portrayed with a similar status to men. No longer are women shown working in the home, but instead, they are detectives, holding executive positions or being doctors. Taking care of the children and providing for the family is no longer portrayed as a man's job, but a joint effort between husband and wife.
In the "real world", women are seen in television, in and out of sitcoms and national televsioin. In the past, women were not main characters, but today, have their own shows! Women today are news
anchors, talk show hosts and carrying lead roles in movies. Take Oprah, for instance. Oprah is one of, if not the most, successful women in television today. Millions of viewers tune into her talk show each day, to hear stories, recieve advice about health and parenting, and, of course, take home her favorites!
(http://www.oprah.com/)
The representation of women has changed drastically in television. Women have gained rights and respect over they years, as well as air time!
Today, women are portrayed with a similar status to men. No longer are women shown working in the home, but instead, they are detectives, holding executive positions or being doctors. Taking care of the children and providing for the family is no longer portrayed as a man's job, but a joint effort between husband and wife.
In the "real world", women are seen in television, in and out of sitcoms and national televsioin. In the past, women were not main characters, but today, have their own shows! Women today are news
anchors, talk show hosts and carrying lead roles in movies. Take Oprah, for instance. Oprah is one of, if not the most, successful women in television today. Millions of viewers tune into her talk show each day, to hear stories, recieve advice about health and parenting, and, of course, take home her favorites!(http://www.oprah.com/)
The representation of women has changed drastically in television. Women have gained rights and respect over they years, as well as air time!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Today vs. Yesterday
Have you ever considered the differences between TV today and TV in the past? If viewers from the years of classic televisions watched TV today, things might get ugly. Television today differs from the past in ways that today's generation doesn't even realize.
Let's take my favorite show, I Love Lucy, for example. In the "Lucy" days, not only was the color and definition different, but morals and values, as well. I Love Lucy was filmed when people were a bit more conservative and life was considerably more simple. Lucy and Ricky were rarely filmed in their bedroom. On the occassion that they were, Lucy slept in her own bed and Ricky slept in another. NEVER together. In television today, people are not only filmed in the same bed, activites are often televised that are private and not appropriate for all ages. In movies today, people are filmed "doing the deeds", and little to nothing is left to the imagination. We have all been watching a movie with our parents and felt the awkwardness of a sex scene. Imagine what people of the past would say!
Controversy arose on the Lucy show when Lucy became pregnant. Producers and directers debated as to whether to continue filming or to postpone. In today's world, mother-to-be's lives are documented, followed by the birth of their child! What a difference?
Language is another huge difference. Television today is often edited, but slang and swearing of today would not be accepted in the past. Language today often defines the rating of today's movies and television, but wasn't even a factor of the past.
Today, viewers often find interest in the suffering of others. For example, FOX recently came out with a show called The Moment of Truth. During the course of the show, contestants are hooked up to a lie dector and asked serious questions about their life. For each question they answer truthfully, they advance to the next level, coming closer and closer to the cash prize. The worst part of the show, is that important members of the contestant's life are seated close by, listening to all of the terrible truths.
What is reality television coming to? It is crazy to see what people will do for money! Moments on the show I just mentioned have the potential to ruin the participant's lives, jobs, families, and futures. What even happened to the days TV was real, but pure and simple. There were situations viewers could relate to, but not without revealing those terrible truths that aren't appropriate for everyone.
Is TV today responsible to the behavior of our youth? Does what we see on TV cause envy and jealousy within our lives? Just how much of an influence does TV have on YOUR life?
Let's take my favorite show, I Love Lucy, for example. In the "Lucy" days, not only was the color and definition different, but morals and values, as well. I Love Lucy was filmed when people were a bit more conservative and life was considerably more simple. Lucy and Ricky were rarely filmed in their bedroom. On the occassion that they were, Lucy slept in her own bed and Ricky slept in another. NEVER together. In television today, people are not only filmed in the same bed, activites are often televised that are private and not appropriate for all ages. In movies today, people are filmed "doing the deeds", and little to nothing is left to the imagination. We have all been watching a movie with our parents and felt the awkwardness of a sex scene. Imagine what people of the past would say!
Controversy arose on the Lucy show when Lucy became pregnant. Producers and directers debated as to whether to continue filming or to postpone. In today's world, mother-to-be's lives are documented, followed by the birth of their child! What a difference?
Language is another huge difference. Television today is often edited, but slang and swearing of today would not be accepted in the past. Language today often defines the rating of today's movies and television, but wasn't even a factor of the past.
Today, viewers often find interest in the suffering of others. For example, FOX recently came out with a show called The Moment of Truth. During the course of the show, contestants are hooked up to a lie dector and asked serious questions about their life. For each question they answer truthfully, they advance to the next level, coming closer and closer to the cash prize. The worst part of the show, is that important members of the contestant's life are seated close by, listening to all of the terrible truths.
What is reality television coming to? It is crazy to see what people will do for money! Moments on the show I just mentioned have the potential to ruin the participant's lives, jobs, families, and futures. What even happened to the days TV was real, but pure and simple. There were situations viewers could relate to, but not without revealing those terrible truths that aren't appropriate for everyone.
Is TV today responsible to the behavior of our youth? Does what we see on TV cause envy and jealousy within our lives? Just how much of an influence does TV have on YOUR life?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Where are they now? Continued...
Christopher Knight, formerly known as Peter Brady, has come back into the public eye and stars on a reality show today. Since the Brady Bunch days, Knight has starred in documentaries, computer games, and reality TV shows.
Born November 7, 1959, Knight has been in and out of the public eye ever since his debut on The Brady Bunch. Since the end of his "Brady" days, Knight has stayed famous through guest
appearances on popular shows, such as, The Weakest Link and VH1's Surreal Life, where Knight met his current wife. Christopher Knight is married to Adrianna Curry, who is a model. Curry is approximately 25 years younger than Knight, the root to problems airred on My Fair Brady: Maybe Baby?.
appearances on popular shows, such as, The Weakest Link and VH1's Surreal Life, where Knight met his current wife. Christopher Knight is married to Adrianna Curry, who is a model. Curry is approximately 25 years younger than Knight, the root to problems airred on My Fair Brady: Maybe Baby?.This show is cast on VH1, and is a sequel to My Fair Brady, in which the two were simply dating and preparing for marriage. Finally wed, Knight and Curry face differences due to age, jobs, and values. For example, Knight is older than his wife and fears that his time for raising children might be coming to an end, but Curry doesn't feel ready for such responsiblity. Catch this reality show on VH1 on Sundays at 10:30.
Where are they now?
In this entry, I'd like to spotlight a few of my favorite actors from my favorite classes TV shows and their life before and after the fame. Before briefing on their life after television, I plan to introduce them, talking about the roles they played. In a previous post, I created a list of my top ten favorite shows, and these actors will be from that list.
Lucille Ball starred as Lucy Ricardo on the classics TV show I Love Lucy. Born in 1911, Lucy 
was famous for her red hair. She met her husband, Desi Arnaz, in 1940, and the two were wed in 1951. Ball and Arnaz starred together in Ball's first TV show, I Love Lucy, where they played the role of husband and wife. 179 episodes were produced from 1951-1957, as the show later became known as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
was famous for her red hair. She met her husband, Desi Arnaz, in 1940, and the two were wed in 1951. Ball and Arnaz starred together in Ball's first TV show, I Love Lucy, where they played the role of husband and wife. 179 episodes were produced from 1951-1957, as the show later became known as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Ball and Arnaz divorced in 1960, putting an end to the usual I Love Lucy. Ball returned to television in 1962, but without her ex-husband. A replacement was brought in to represent Arnaz, but the show would only last until 1968.
After the ending of I Love Lucy, the show took a few different names, finally excusing Ball from the spotlight in 1974. Lucille Ball died at the age of 77, on April 26, 1989.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
My Personal Favorites
Here are a list of my top ten favorite classic TV shows...
1. I Love Lucy
2. The Brady Bunch
3. The Facts of Life
4. The Jeffersons
5. All in the Family
6. Cheers
7. The Munsters
8. Three's Company
9. M*A*S*H
10. Sanford and Son
For a list ofmore popular TV from the past, take the link to http://www.tvland.com/. Here, you will find games, photo galleries, and the status of classic TV in today's world.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen...
The purpose of "Back to Black and White" is to give viewers a chance to revisit television before it became what it is today. Back to the days when women vacuumed while wearing dresses and high heels. Remembering when it was inappropriate to broadcast a married couple sleeping in the same bed at night. The purpose of this blog is to remember when life, and TV, was a lot simpler.
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