In this entry, I'm gonna change pace a little bit.  My blogs are usually me trying to be funny while whining about my life.  Well, I'm taking a break from that and writing something a little more intelligent.  Please continue to read this.  Because, let's face it, you're bored right now (how do I know you aren't doing anything interesting... because you're reading the stupid ramblings of perfect strangers online).  So please read on and maybe this blog won't be such a huge waste of time.  

              I just watched the movie, "Goodnight and Good Luck".  Wow.  Tremendous work from filmmakers.  For those who don't know, it's a docudrama about journalist Edward R. Murrow and documents his historic stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy and his Communist Witch Hunt in the 1950s.  It is the greatest moment of television history.  If you haven't seen it already, you need to.  It has great acting, especially David Strathairn, who plays Murrow.  And George Clooney won the Oscar for best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Murrow's broadcasting partner, Fred Friendly.  He also directed and co-wrote the film.  But more importantly, it brings to light the integrity and grit of broadcast journalists in the early days of television and makes us think about how far tv today has fallen.  
      
               Now, I'm not talking about reality tv and horrible shows like The Hills and Farmer Wants A Wife.  That kind of programming isn't such a huge sin.  While mind-numbingly stupid, they are made for the purposes of entertainment.  Sure, they don't contribute anything to society but they aren't supposed to.  Nobody working on those shows really thought that they were an important addition to the airwaves.  They are a guilty pleasure that people watch for a half hour just to laugh and/or avoid homework.  
              No, the downfall of television that I'm talking about is the downfall of the network news.  Let me give you a history lesson.  In the begininng, the airwaves (the actual signals that television is sent out on) were considered to belong to the public.  The FCC let the networks use these waves to put out entertainment with one condition...that every six hours they have one half hour of news.  That way, they're giving back to the public.        
              
                It was a glorious time.  The I Love Lucys and Leave It To Beavers made us laugh.  The Howdie Doodies kept our children entertained afterschool.  And in those mandatory half-hour nuggets,  See It Now, the World News, and others like them kept us informed.  The advertising on those shows only paid to produce them.  They didn't make the networks any money but they made us think.  
               
                But then (cue the forboding music), some schmuck realized the networks could make money on the news.  They just needed to add a little sizzle, a little pop to the news shows.  And the poisoning of television began.  They turned their informative journalists into celebrities.  They worked in puff pieces and other dribble.  And then came the death rattle of Western Society.......cable news.  Not really news at all, just incredibly biased reporters yelling at you from their studios about sex scandels and *gasp*  whether or not Barrack wears a flag pin (oh the horror!!!).  And really why do they all talk so loudly.  Don't they know that they're miked?  Don't they know what that little piece of equipment clipped to their tie or blouse is for?  It's not the reporters version of the flag pin,  it actually is important.  And Fox News just needs to go away because they clearly suck at life.  
               
                  I feel that the networks have let us down.  They have breached their contractual obligation to provide us with real informative news programs.  It's the public's airwaves that they are using to pump out their unfiltered crap.  Sure they aren't allowed to say swears, but that doesn't mean their programming in any less toxic to society.
               
                We need programs that aren't just reality shows masquarading as news.  The networks need to stop with the razzle dazzle and just put out real, candid news programs that inform and teach.  Shows that aren't just propaganda and bullshit.  Americans are a hell of a lot smarter than the crap on television.  We need to raise the bar because we are what we watch,  and we are not a bunch of shitheads.