Maybe I should have said regular TV programming, not TV itself. Still a valid question. If you want to see something good on the telly, you have to set a piece of fine art on top of it.

Dandy, you have that right!! A lava lamp has more going for it than 90% of what or who currently seems to become primetime. "Cousins!" -Mildred Montag, 1953

We will be tv-free one year this May! What started out as a challenge by our boys' elementary school librarian ("One week-no tv, order a book of your choice") became a follow-up by M&D. 2nd week, we go to the movies (and then pizza!) together. 3rd week, we would go to a weekend ball game at our local university.

So, we cut cable. We have always read together each night. Now, there is more time to read as a family, and then they retreat to their rooms to draw, keep reading, or do whatever before lights out. Audio stories and history tapes are also plentiful. (Great narration on Federick Douglass this weekend!)

The tv is used only occasionally for "selected" movies/dvd's: old time comedies (L&H, Ab&Cos, MxBros., LvtoBv, etc), westerns, musicals, good contemps., animations, RBTh, sports, adventure, family stuff...
Lots out there - http://www.tvaddicts.tv/
Activities in school, church, and community are our "reality shows!" Bored!? Out the back door for an hour. 'Nuff said!

Very similar selections on the old tub-a-roonie here, Butch! We've been without TV per se for over a quarter of a century up here in the mountains (*ptui !* - pause ta spit some bakky juice...)
The youngins turned out pretty good so far...

25 years! Now that's "free." Admirable. We will not go back. No one really misses the nonsense. The White Clown must strike elsewhere.

TV is a lifesaver for my bedridden dad, and even then half the time we have to bring him a newspaper, or pop in a VHS tape.

Yup. It's a tool that can be used or misused. When we had access to channels, we would watch discriminately; things educational or edifying like "Masterpiece Theatre", "NBC Playhouse", and "F Troop".

All TV is not crap. I watched a Nova program last night entitled:

Forgotten Genius

Groundbreaking black chemist Percy Julian (1899-1975).

I could not turn it off, even though I had other work to do. I learned so much about this fantastic person and his trials and triumphs. Thanks to people like him we all live better. He broke the color barrier in industry way before Jackie Robinson did it in sports.

For sows like this I am willing to put up with the normal crap that pays for it all.

Many good things on TV
Many bad things on TV
Many mediocre things on TV
Many absolutely ghastly things on TV
Many absolutely obnoxious things on TV
Many Hideous things on TV
Many inspiring things on TV
Many addictive things on TV
Many time wasting things on TV
Many wonderful things on TV
Many educational things on TV
Many heart wrenching stories on TV
Many defiling things on TV
Many lifestyles presented on TV
Many encouraging things presented on TV
&
etc etc etc

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In the 1950's, you had ONE (1) top notch program that got everyone's attention and was called the peak of TV programming:
Just one that made the top of everyone's list:
A drama called:
MARTY
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245266/

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...and a few years later:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401749/

Interesting Ed Wynn anecdote within the production!!

I agree somewhat, patrask. But the time and unwanted exposures in finding and enjoying the gems outweigh the value. Nowadays, having dvd's online, delivered via mail, is less costly, one's choice, and quality controlled. The histories and personalities are at your fingertips, waiting to be called upon.

The muck and mire became too much! (Poetic)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fjp451,

Yes, F Troop. One of my favorites with Storch and Tucker was “Ghostbusters” aka “Spencer, Tracy and Kong”:
http://www.protoncharging.com/ghostbusters/fgb.shtml
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.70sli...6safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX

Amazing. Missed that one, though.
FYI, Larry Storch was known amongst fellow comedians to be the master of dialects.

quote:

Originally posted by Chapter 31:
“Spencer, Tracy and Kong”

I remember "S,T & K"! Used to love that show back in the '75 season.

Bob Burns, by the way, is one of the contacts Forry referred to me for the documentary. Hope to be contacting him soon!

Didn't they have a short-lived saturday morning children's show with a puppet or an Alf-type thingy? Like one of those Sid And Marty Croft dealios.

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Anyone remember The Friendly Giant?

http://www.tvacres.com/child_friendlygiant.htm