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Cartoons I like cartoons. They're soothing, like a good book on a rainy day (except you can't turn up the volume on a good book and disturb the neighbors). If you like cartoons, check out some of the great toon resources on the Net. You can get pictures, sounds, movies and other cool cartoon stuff. Web:
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Cooking Shows Cooking shows have always been a popular type of television show, and why not? It's relaxing to watch someone else cook, and inspiring to see an expert prepare elegant dishes, especially when everything works out perfectly and the food is always ready just as the show ends. Enjoy your favorites: Emeril Lagasse, Epicurious, the Food Network, the Iron Chef, Julia Child, Martin Yan, and Ming Tsai. Web:
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Daytime Talk Shows Take pity on those people who waste their time working all day, for they are not able to enhance their existence on Planet Earth by watching daytime talk shows. People may sneer at these shows; they may say that the hosts and hostesses pander to sensationalism and the lowest common cultural denominator. Never mind. You and I know that these hosts and hostesses are more than mere television personalities; they are honored guests in our homes. Let's face it. From day to day, most people have pretty dull lives (and thankfully so). Isn't it nice to know that any afternoon you want, you can turn on the TV and see interviews with people whose lives are more to be pitied than censured. Web:
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Game Shows If you're a game show junkie, you probably like to participate as you watch the show. ("What a dummy! Everyone knows Mozart's middle name. Boy, if I was ever on that show, I'd beat everyone.") I remember having the same feeling as a kid. Something tells me that it's harder when you're actually there, under the bright lights, feeling the pressure. Still, you and I could do a lot better than everyone else, if we really wanted to. (We just can't be bothered.) Web:
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Judge Shows When you were a kid and you had a disagreement with someone, do you remember your mother telling you, "I want you to settle this between yourselves." Do you ever wonder what happened to the people who didn't listen to their mothers and never learned how to settle their disagreements with other people? They end up on national television looking like goofballs while the rest of us watch them pathetically strut their stuff in front of a TV judge. The best thing is that you too get to pass judgment. Does the judge agree with you? We'll see in a moment, just after this commercial. Web:
Late Night Talk Shows In the United States, it has been the custom for several decades to watch a late-night talk show before falling asleep in front of the television set. For many years, late night was ruled by Johnny Carson, but since he retired in May 1992, the nation's attention has been split between Jay Leno and David Letterman. Or has it? What about Conan O'Brien, Craig Kilborn and Bill Maher (Politically Incorrect)? And what about... oh, never mind. It's time to go to sleep. Web:
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Reality Television Isn't everything around us reality? Not any more. Reality is now a commodity to be packaged, advertised and televised. Reality television consists of heavily edited, highly contrived, artificial slices of "life", showing people, often ordinary people, in unusual (preferably embarrassing) situations. The more preposterous the situation, the larger the audience. The larger the audience, the more money it generates. The more money there is, the more reality television we get. My only question is, how are we going to explain this to our grandchildren? Web:
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Sitcoms The idea behind a sitcom (situation comedy) is simple. Start with a regular cast with well-defined, one-dimensional characters. For each episode, create a situation, usually some type of misunderstanding, that lends itself to comedy. Develop the story and resolve everything within a half hour (minus a judicious 7 or 8 minutes for commercials). Repeat. The formula is simple, but it has given all of us some of the most diverting and memorable moments of our lives. Who doesn't have their favorite sitcoms? (I do, and I don't even watch television anymore.) Web:
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Soap Operas Soap opera fans, the Net is your home away from the TV. There are so many soap-opera-related resources, you can spend every waking moment -- when you are not watching a show -- following the adventures of your favorite characters and talking with other soap fans. Web:
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TV Show Downfalls When was the exact moment that a television show started to go downhill? Vote for the defining moment for your favorite show and see what others think. For example, Seinfeld started going downhill after Susan died; Laverne and Shirley began their plunge after the move to Los Angeles; and MASH hit the skids when Charles replaced Frank. Web: |
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