Television is one of the largest And most popular forms of mass media we have in the modern world. Ever since the television was invented, people went crazy for it. Think about it, when you’re bored what do you do? I know personally I either find a new show to watch or continue one I’ve been watching already. Even back in the day whenever you have down time you’d sit and relax and watch some TV. Television has a huge impact on us ever since we were children. Most of our childhoods were spend in from of the TV. If you were irritating you’re poor parents they just sat you in front of the TV to watch a children’s show. Watching these children’s shows made a big imprint on us because of how impressionable children are. That’s why it started being rumored that TV rots the brain, because of kids sitting there staring into a screen like as if they were zombies.
This week we were assigned to watch a film from “Pioneers of Television” called “Funny Ladies”. This show was revolutionary for the television industry and for women everywhere. For the first time ever, women were starring on hit television shows and started having payable jobs. It shifted the whole view of The typical women’s roles In general. Women were seen as stars and icons and began to be recognized as a talented human being rather than an object. These early television shows also helped shape the structure of the story in television today. Early television used to have stories going from episode to episode, now, shows are categorized by season And story’s can last over a few seasons long. Soon the television industry had to shift over time to more cinematic shows to compete with movies coming out. The show “Dallas” that aired in the late 70s used a now very common tactic to real viewers into their shows, a cliff hanger. One of these most suspenseful things a show could do is leave you, for as long as they want, not knowing what happened after a dramatic event. Who Shot J.R. Was the big question for this episode of “Dallas”. Today it still holds the record for the most Live viewed episode of a television show ever with a grand total of over 83 million people watching when it aired.
Do you think a show today could possibly top the record that “Dallas” holds with viewers? Do you usually watch some tv shows when you’re bored? How impactful was “Funny Ladies” to you?
Mass Media and American Life 
Great blog to read! I enjoyed the gifs, In my opinion I feel that no show today will top the record that Dallas holds. When I was younger I watched a lot more tv than I do today because I am a lot busier now than I was before. I really enjoyed “Funny Ladies” the short film helps women actresses to reach for their dreams even if people put you down. The film had many influential moments that stick to the audience.
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I’ve noticed that when I’m bored, television is almost one of the last options I look to for entertainment. Mostly I’ll go to apps on my phone, things to do in person, and then tv. Even when I do consider watching a show, I’m watching it on something other than a Tv which really brings the question of what are we truly talking about when we say the word TV. Is it the shows in general or are we talking about the viewing system. I’ve been thinking about that a lot during our past 2 weeks talking about television and I think it’s interesting.
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