Another Thing I Didn't Know I Didn't Know

[MTI]

Yesterday, May 9th, was the 50th anniversary of former FCC Chairman Newton Minow's 1961 speech in which he stated

"When television is good, nothing, not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers, nothing is better.

But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."


Well, a certain TV Producer took offense. Yes, Sherwood Schwartz had his revenge when he named the ill fated boat on that "three hour tour" . . . The Minnow.

Now we have about 500 stations, and it's a "vaster wasteland."

[sjh]

Originally Posted by MTI

...
Well, a certain TV Producer took offense. Yes, Sherwood Schwartz had his revenge when he named the ill fated boat on that "three hour tour" . . . The Minnow.

Another thing I did not know!

[layback40]

Hmmmmm,
Different spelling !!
Care to share with us where you got this claim of connection from.

[ah-kay]

Originally Posted by MTI

Yesterday, May 9th, was the 50th anniversary of former FCC Chairman Newton Minow's 1961 speech in which he stated

"When television is good, nothing, not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers, nothing is better.

But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."


Well, a certain TV Producer took offense. Yes, Sherwood Schwartz had his revenge when he named the ill fated boat on that "three hour tour" . . . The Minnow.

I hope you were listening to NPR and not becoming a Donald Rumsfield clone.

[cmac2012]

TV could be pretty rough in that day. Minow was on the mark. I've seen shows from that era where the host would be interviewing someone or doing some other part of the show and then they'd turn to the camera with something like, "Yes friends, it's times like these where I really appreciate the smooth, rich flavor of Viceroy. No other cigarette is rated as highly for soothing the throat . . . ."

Some of these ads bring back bad memories for me. I watched a lot of TV approx. 1958 on (age 6). The shows were sappy, the ads were sappy.

This is Dennis James reminding you to keep smoking Old Gold Cigarettes (1952)

More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette

EARLY 1960'S CIGARETTE ADS

Kent, the only cigarette with the highly adsorptive micronite filter.

Yes, "adsorptive."

[MTI]

Originally Posted by layback40

Hmmmmm,
Different spelling !!
Care to share with us where you got this claim of connection from.

Does Google not work for Aussies?

[mgburg]

Originally Posted by MTI

Yesterday, May 9th, was the 50th anniversary of former FCC Chairman Newton Minow's 1961 speech in which he stated ... "When television is good, nothing, not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers, nothing is better. ... But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."

Well, a certain TV Producer took offense. Yes, Sherwood Schwartz had his revenge when he named the ill fated boat on that "three hour tour" . . . The Minnow.

One of my many publications I get at work also noted the infamous date with the same quote...some...the whole, some...welllllll, they left off the "wasteland" part...

Example below:

Brought to you by: TV Technology Magazine serving the Broadcast, Production, Broadband, Satellite and Mobile Markets
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top Stories 05.09.11
Deborah McAdams - Executive Editor

Quote of the Day: “When television is good, nothing--not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers--nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse.” ~ Newton Minow in the now famous “Vast Wasteland speech,” delivered at the NAB Show 50 years ago today.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahhhhh, the medium we all quote/hate/love/despise.

Feel free to save anyone in the cesspool...they'd appreciate a life-ring or two.

[dynalow]

Originally Posted by cmac2012

TV could be pretty rough in that day. Minow was on the mark. I've seen shows from that era where the host would be interviewing someone or doing some other part of the show and then they'd turn to the camera with something like, "Yes friends, it's times like these where I really appreciate the smooth, rich flavor of Viceroy. No other cigarette is rated as highly for soothing the throat . . . ."

Some of these ads bring back bad memories for me. I watched a lot of TV approx. 1958 on (age 6). The shows were sappy, the ads were sappy.

This is Dennis James reminding you to keep smoking Old Gold Cigarettes (1952)

More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette

EARLY 1960'S CIGARETTE ADS

Kent, the only cigarette with the highly adsorptive micronite filter.

Yes, "adsorptive."

Pretty rough yes. But also some pretty funny stuff too. Even today. Sid Ceasar, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx. Golden age of comedy.
For instance: Sid & Imogene mime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wEj9aSZZZo

Originally Posted by cmac2012

TV could be pretty rough in that day. Minow was on the mark. I've seen shows from that era where the host would be interviewing someone or doing some other part of the show and then they'd turn to the camera with something like, "Yes friends, it's times like these where I really appreciate the smooth, rich flavor of Viceroy. No other cigarette is rated as highly for soothing the throat . . . ."

Some of these ads bring back bad memories for me. I watched a lot of TV approx. 1958 on (age 6). The shows were sappy, the ads were sappy.

This is Dennis James reminding you to keep smoking Old Gold Cigarettes (1952)

More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette

EARLY 1960'S CIGARETTE ADS

Kent, the only cigarette with the highly adsorptive micronite filter.

Yes, "adsorptive."

The problem is that TV has actually gotten worse since then. At least the folks who wrote Gilligan probably went out and laughed about it's stupidity over drinks. Have you every watched the stuff on TV today; with the exeption of live sports and a few of the premium programs, it is complete garbage that is presented with without irony. Can you imagine spending all day working on the Real Housewives Dancing with American Idols?

[MTI]

Originally Posted by Craig

Can you imagine spending all day working on the Real Housewives Dancing with American Idols?

But Craig, then we would not have had this scene from "How I Met Your Mother" this season

"You are the weakest link, goodbye. Punchy, the tribe has spoken. Please pack up your knives and go. Your work of art didn't work for us. Your time's up. I have to ask you to leave the mansion. You must leave the chateau. Your tour ends here. You've been chopped. You've been evicted from the Big Brother house. Your dessert just didn't measure up. Sashay away. Give me your jacket and leave Hell's Kitchen. I'm sorry, you did not get a rose. You have been eliminated from the race. You are no longer in the running to be America's Next Top Model. You're fired. Auf Wiedersehen."

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by dynalow

Pretty rough yes. But also some pretty funny stuff too. Even today. Sid Ceasar, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx. Golden age of comedy.
For instance: Sid & Imogene mime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wEj9aSZZZo

Some of it was quite good, it's true. I used to dig listening to my old man dissolve with laughter while watching the Red Skelton show.

Our town, Roswell, NM, had only one station, an NBC affiliate. When I was about 14, we got cable from Albuquerque and WOO-HOO! 4 stations (big 3 and educational TV)

So a lot of the stuff of the day is unknown to me except from hearing about it. IOW, a deprived childhood.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by Craig

The problem is that TV has actually gotten worse since then. At least the folks who wrote Gilligan probably went out and laughed about it's stupidity over drinks. Have you every watched the stuff on TV today; with the exeption of live sports and a few of the premium programs, it is complete garbage that is presented with without irony. Can you imagine spending all day working on the Real Housewives Dancing with American Idols?

At least now we have PBS, the History Channel and several other fairly solid offerings.

Originally Posted by cmac2012

At least now we have PBS, the History Channel and several other fairly solid offerings.

I haven't really watched PBS in a long time; the last time I watched the History Channel, it was more like the WW2 Channel (there is much more interesting history out there). It's also been a while since I've watched anything with commercials (except F1 races).

[MTI]

History Channel?

Tonight: Modern Marvels: Doors (not Jim Morrison); Aliens and the Third Reich, followed by Monster Quest: Birdzilla; Bigfoot: The Defninitive Guide

Must See TV, Indeed.