Why television sucks, part XCVIII

[elfs]

I awoke this morning before everyone else and, having little else to do, snuck down to the TV room and did something I haven't done in months: I channelsurfed. And while engaging in this mindless activity I came across an ancient relic of a happier time as Turner Broadcasting was showing Smokey and the Bear. I had forgotten than once upon a time Burt Reynolds was hot and Sally Field were cute, that Jackie Gleason was talented beyond his years, and that "cool" car stunts with stock engines and no digital enhancements usually consisted of jumps of maybe four or five car lengths. It's not a brainy movie, just one long car chase but well-done and it's obvious that Reynolds, Fields, and Jerry Reed are having a whole lot of fun moving from one scene to the next.

I had to turn it off. The advertisements that interspersed the action were for diabetes medicines, heart medicines, liver medicines, "I've fallen and I can't get up" services and, most disturbing of all, erectile dysfunction treatments. And I'm sitting there thinking, is this my demographic? Is this the population I will have joined when I turn 40 next year? This movie is clearly aimed at me: I was thirteen when it came out and it's all about cars with a little mushy love story somewhere in the middle. I don't want to be one of those people to whom they're selling those drugs, though.

Comments

[sierra-nevada.livejournal.com]

You haven't watched any of the "big three" network evening news programs lately, have you?

This is one of many reasons why I have a TiVo, and hate watching TV without one now.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[kengr]

Whereas the results of one such med on me have been less than spectacular (details via email if you are curious :-)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[solarbird]

The baby boomers are just heading into that age group, and those who aren't have parents who are. And they're still the nr. 1 market target for most advertisers trying to target "the general market."

Similarly, it's kind of weird watching all these people-warehouses being built for extended assisted elderly living. It took me a little while to realise what they were, but I did, and asked around a bit, and I was right. Strange!

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

You're hardly average, nor do you strike me as a hypochondriac with penile insufficiency phobias. They're not targetting *you*. ;)

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

Turner Broadcasting was showing Smokey and the Bear.

Quite a freudian something. You meant, of course (and linked to) "Smokey and the Bandit"

"East bound and down, loaded up an rolling. we gone do what they say can't be done..."

Only YOU can prevent Coors Bootlegging...

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[patsyterrell.livejournal.com]

I remember the first time I was thinking, "man this station is playing all the good songs" only to have them come on and announce "oldies station." It was a rude awakening. I think I was 28 at the time.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

Heck, I started going through bouts of "Oh noooo! I'm getting old," at 26.

Well, memory does begin diverging from reality sooner than one realizes...