I find myself horribly underwhelmed by this year’s midseason offerings. Thank goodness 24 (Fox) is heating up. Critics of this truly original drama are speculating about the future of this show with an arrogant tone: For the second season, does Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) change into pajamas so we can watch him catch up on his much-needed sleep?
Why assume that 24 will follow lock step of past TV fare? Just because this season’s 24 is offered in consecutive hours doesn’t mean the next season has to pick up where this season left off (geez!). Nor does it mean that the show must return with the same cast or setting.
In thinking about 24, the midseason, and television in general, I found myself wondering: If I had a magic remote control what would I wish for? Not all of my ideas are based in reality, but it doesn’t take an Einstein to know that “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Wish No. 1: The end of news programming, as we now know it.
First, why have local news? These programs have become promotional tools for the network affiliate, with local commercials and weather thrown in for color. I would much rather see a well-produced once-a-week recap of local news, except when important civic events like elections are happening. Second, make national network news and cable network news programming matter. For this, I dream of news programming not led by the demands of a parent corporate conglomerate, but guided by an independent entity that has the public interest as its foundation. Lastly, I would like to see a news program that focuses on international news coverage from not only the U.S. perspective, but from the nation from where the news originates.
Wish No. 2: The de-ghettoization of cable access. Does anyone else wonder why you can’t find out what’s on public access television without actually watching it? Ever wonder why when you tune to those channels and try and pull up the show description (cable subscribers can do this) you get a blank ribbon across the bottom of the screen? These small, seemingly meaningless gestures disarm the growth of public access television. How many of you would sit through an evening staring at a channel with no idea of what’s coming on, in hopes that you’ll catch something good? How many talented TV producers want to spend their time working on a project that may only be seen by chance? Sure, you can go online to find a detailed program description — how many low-tech couch potatoes are going to do that?
With some exceptions, cable access television programs have small audiences and have developed a reputation for appealing to the marginal and off-the-wall. Granted, I like some of those shows, but the simple gesture of letting the viewer know what’s on and when would make me a more active viewer.
Wish No. 3: More people of color, more seniors, and more young people unmediated by corporate commercial ideas of these groups. In other words, more TV by the people and for the people (see Wish No. 2). On network television, nothing will change in front of the camera until there are more people of color behind the scenes.
Wish No. 4: More foreign-language fare designed for U.S. audiences. More networks like BBC America, featuring programming from other nation’s airwaves.
Wish No. 5: A new kind of reality show. I’d like to see a reality show that follows a U.S. family trying to get by on minimum wage.
Wish No. 6: Bring back Captain Kangaroo. Not that awful The All New Captain Kangaroo, but the original version with Bob Keeshan. Sure, he’s been in retirement for years, but if Phil Donahue can come back to TV, so can the Cap’. Mr. Greenjeans has passed on, but Bunny Rabbit, Dancing Bear, and Grandfather Clock — they live forever! If the Captain has already died, don’t tell me. It will only make me cry.
Local Events
The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center presents The Mike Wallace Interview Series: Snapshots From the 1950s. The series features the surly television journalist and guests as first aired on The Mike Wallace Interviews (1956-1958). Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Sanger are featured on April 20. William O. Douglas and Henry Kissinger follow on April 27. Screenings are at 2pm in the First Lady’s Theater of the LBJ Library and Museum at the University of Texas at Austin. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information call 471-8944 or visit www.treasures.utexas.edu.
The Austin Music Network has released The REEL Austin, Volume 1, a DVD collection of Texas artists previously featured on the local network (cable channel 15). The DVD sells for $15.99 and is available at 33 Degrees, Antone’s Records, or online at www.austinmusicnetwork.org. Sale of the DVD benefits the Doug Sahm Mendocino Clinic, which provides affordable health care for artists. For more information call 451-8445.
Mojo’s Daily Grind Coffeehouse hosts its Fourth Annual TV Smash this Saturday, April 20, at 2pm, at Mojo’s (2714 Guadalupe). Local bands will provide music to kill your TV to. Call 477-MOJO or visit www.mojosdailygrind.com for more info.
This article appears in April 19 • 2002.