I think right now is a really great time for TV. So many great shows on that it is hard to keep up, Add in shows from Netflix and Amazon prime and there really is an impressive amount of quality to choose from.

It makes the dominance of Breaking Bad at the Emmy's the last few years even more impressive, It really goes a long way in proving how great the show really is. In my opinion the greatest show ever.

With all that said I still watch way more movies then TV, I will always be a movie guy.

The great divide between TV and Movie has shifted.

HBO is responsible for a lot of the changes and others have jumped on the bandwagon. Quality scripts attracting big name stars - who previously would have never deigned to act in 'television' now jump at the chance - Spacey in House of Cards, McConaughey & Harrelson in True Detective, Buscemi in House of Cards - exemplary scripts and high production values - meaning big budgets has resulted in a superior product.

And, it's having a flow on effect. Production companies are jumping on the bandwagon acknowledging that viewer's tastes are more sophisticated and demanding than in previous times - and not just U.S. products. Look at The Fall (BBC/RTE/Artists Studio - and imports like The Bridge which has been remade twice by the US and the UK.  It's a brilliant time for television.

I think the shift started when TV (HBO?) decided that an MA-rating was not a negative thing and would result in better shows for a more mature public without being a stupid skinflix at 3am in the morning.

TV is turning out far better quality than ever before.
Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Walking Dead, American Horror story and so on.

Also lot of big time directors are  moving to TV

http://www.redsharknews.com/business/item/326-top-movie-directors-move-to-tv

Mark

The best of times. And the worst of times. The good stuff is better than ever. You know all the names.

Sadly the bad stuff is worse than it's ever been. Most of the TV on at any given time is truly a waste of space. But the good stuff is great. Pity there's not more of it.

R

I hope it isn't the golden age of TV... I was hoping it would get better.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I hope it isn't the golden age of TV... I was hoping it would get better.

There's always going to be a bunch of crap mixed in with the good stuff. And that'd be usually the stuff with laugh tracks imh.

There's always been good TV.


You used to have The X-Files, The Shield, Murder One, StarTrek, Farscape, Battlestar Galatica.

Stuff is a bit bigger budget these days, but I'm not sure I enjoy it anymore than the stuff I used to watch growing up.

I prefer gritty dramas, one offs. Maybe split into three or four separate episodes. I watched one not long ago that was 5 episodes of an hour and I loved it. Can't remember the name now... Happy Valley? Anyway, the point is, they end. There's a finishing point. The characters aren't milked to death like I see happening in a lot of these serials. Often, serials get one run, 6 shows usually here... and for me, that's their lot.

In regards to sitcoms (that can last longer than six episodes), anything with canned laughter takes me out of the comedy. I find myself concentrating on the laughter, noting how they use different types for different pay offs. If something is funny then it's funny, we shouldn't be forced, or feel compelled to laugh.

There is very little on TV that appeals to me these days. Some of the reality stuff is pretty good, like when they follow wasters around. One I missed recently was about car thieves. I wanted to see that. The shoplifting one was pretty funny, then there are the dossers who never want to work and moan about immigrants stealing their jobs in the same breath. I don't like the fat buster programs that much, aside from maybe the first episode where everyone gets to revile the contestants for their obesity. I do like the X Factor, but only the audition stages where dreams are crushed. I sit there just hoping somebody really dumb will open their mouths and say something, maybe even get violent, security carry them away. Once all the happy background music comes on I usually switch off because it means they've set someone up to go through regardless of the quality of the audition. Kids singing make me ill too. Everyone thinks they're cute and puts them through. Utter bollocks. Kids should get their own show.

I suppose TV has to cater for everyone. I've been toying with making my own reality show. But there's a moral dilemma in taking advantage of these people I'm thinking of following around. If these guys acted normal it would make great TV... but at the same time, they're not exactly compos mentis. Plus it would be quite time consuming to do.