The Idiot box:living upto its name
Here is the honest truth.I can be used, beyond any reasonable amount of doubt by research professionals as the perfect specimen while studying the behavioural habits of 'the typical couch potato'.
Give me a cosy chair and a widescreen T.V. and I can stare at the idiot box not knowing even if it starts raining diamonds! I watch everything from Arnold Schwarzenegger spouting expletives in a Tamil – dubbed version of Terminator to a T.V. host dressed as a heroic police officer sensationalising random murders on a 'competent' news channel.
However, it was this time around that the absurdity of the entire situation on the silver screen hit me. While I do not deny the presence of a select few good shows on Nat Geo or the Discovery Channel, the majority are cliched. A few moments of channel surfing will bring you to the same conclusion. Its all there, the Saas – Bahu melodrama, reality shows, stand – up comedies, talent hunts and shows strangely titled “Breaking News”!
The Saas – Bahu dilemma is the undisputed champion of banality. Every channel has its share of this trademark programme. There is this one particular soap that has the prima donna playing multiple roles (for added good measure they were of different generations!). Last I heard, she was the role model for house wives and was busy contesting elections. What is the country coming to?
The 'Reality talent' shows-bereft of both reality and talent, these shows play on the highly sentimental Indian mind. Its the perfect way of misappropriating the hard earned tax payers money by encouraging SMSs to save a person who probably did not deserve to be on T.V. in the first place. Recently these shows got a major TRP boost when a cheap actress resorted to an even cheaper method to win what was anyway the cheapest show (for the record,it did not work and she blew her top. Analysis: a simple case of sour grapes!). Again whats the country coming to?
You know something is wrong when you get up early in the morning, flip through the entertaintment section and discover that 'Breaking News' is scheduled at a particular time slot. It makes you wonder if you have your reading glasses on. 'Breaking News' ? Atleast we have something to make the boring days happening!
Although some of the impressions in stand – up comedies may pull off a grin, there exists a cruel half that makes you wish you could commit murder! A turbaned judge incessantly laughing at just about anything takes up most of the limelight.
If you thought that all these T.V shows drained me emotionally and I finally got started with my long term ambition of working out,Think again!Channel Flip!You got to admit.Some things never change.Arnold-bashing, even in Tamil has its own charm!
