😎 The Day That TV Died
Knock Knock. Who’s there? Not T.V.
It’s the beginning of the end. Let the digging begin. Get the tombstone ready; for the day that T.V, died. Buried respectfully next to magazines and movies.
Officially the end of an era.
Did the Trump settlement with CBS and Paramount merger play a role in getting rid of Colbert? Sure. Was CBS pissed that Colbert called them out about the merger on air? Sure. Was CBS losing money with The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Sure. Does it all come down to money first and everything else being a way distant second, like censorship, etc. Sure. Colbert and Jon Stewart can pretend that it is about censoring Colbert, but the truth is this was just the push they needed to begin the process and call it a day. Kimmel and Fallon will be next, and not because of Trump but because it’s over. T.V. as we once knew it, is over. Blame the algorithm.
Most of our lives we had four channels: CBS, ABC, NBC & FOX
In the morning, they aired the morning shows. Soap Operas, and other talk shows in the afternoon. And at night you had the news, sitcoms and drama series, and finally late-night talk shows. Sprinkled throughout the day, of course, were game shows. We all had our favorites, but we ALL were included in the same algorithm.
And then came cable T.V. which just gave us more movies, tv shows, talks shows, reality series and of course 24-hour news. We all adapted and continued watching our networks, our late-night talk shows but welcomed the addition of more, more, more, more, more!
And then came streaming….
First went the magazines. RIP
Second went the movies. RIP
And here we are today as we watch the beginning of the end of Network T.V.
With the Colbert cancelation, leaving with him are a creative team of about 200 people. Writers, art directors, producers, camera people, set designers, carpenters, interns, assistants, etc. etc.
No more live bands. No more live audiences. No more culture. Soon our only entertainment will be podcasts. Period. Full stop. Just a couple of people talking, with a couple other people working the equipment. That’s it.
It’s officially the end of an era. The beginning of the end is today.
There’s nothing left to talk about. All we get is politics pushed in our faces and division. There’s no escape. Follow the money. Now our entertainment is just 15 second clips. No need for creative, talented brains. Why pay funny writers, editors, fabulous photographers, genius storytellers when mediocrity makes you the big bucks. It’s over.
I wasn't even really a fan of Colbert. I found him annoying, but I was a fan of being able to discuss whether I was a fan and soon that will be gone. Which reminds me of a quote:
Don’t it always seem to go, you don't know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.
— Joni Mitchell
So a huge wave goodbye to talent. And I guess a welcoming “what’s up” to mediocracy.
Our new normal.
And sorry you can't unread this.
Everything in this newsletter is intended as satire.
You’ve said what I’ve been thinking about for awhile now and it’s so, so sad. I miss the communal experience that TV used to be. Everything is so fractured now.