There's still a place for quality on TV

This weekend Grant McCracken wrote about television and the changing nature of programming on basic cable and network television. He notes how once “highbrow” networks like Bravo, A&E and TLC now traffic in ‘trainwreck’ shows like The Real Housewives of… and John and Kate Plus 8. Grant references a terrific article from TVbythenumbers which you can read here. While it’s certain that reality programming has gripped television (it’s cheap and it draws ratings) I think I see some other things at play here as well.

We often he talk of the disappearing middle class in America. At seemingly the same time, we have a disappearing of the middle on television. Not a socio-economic middle, but a creative middle. It seems like television is starting to divide into two options: Insultingly stupid and/or cheap on one side, high quality, even challenging, fare on the other.

My viewing habits have changed significantly in the last 15 years, but it seems to me the well done, yet broad appeal shows are not as plentiful as they used to be. Sitcoms like Wings or News Radio. Dramas like Northern Exposure or thirtysomething. These weren’t groundbreaking shows, but they were smart enough, yet appealed to a fairly wide audience.

Also seeming to disappear are the smart sitcoms that appealed to the masses – Frazier, Seinfeld; or the lowbrow shows that were still smart like Home Improvement, Everybody Loves Raymond or even Roseanne. The only thing close to this (and I’m guessing because I’ve never watched it) is Two and a half men. Most of the network shows in the Top 20 now seem to be game shows, reality shows or reality-game shows.

But wait a second, it’s not all bad, for at the same time, we’re seeing some of the best original programming the small screen has ever seen. In the last 10 years, we’ve been treated to The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, Mad Men, The Shield, Sex and the City  and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Yes, those are all cable (and mosty premium cable), but I’m not making a distinction on that note – it’s all television.

It seems we’re being given a choice: Traditional comedy and drama formats of an exceptionally high level, or “check your brain at the door” reality and game shows. Now, certainly there are some mediocre dramas and comedies just as some of the reality and game shows are well produced and quite fun, but it’s the shows at the far ends of the spectrum that are drawing the attention (awards and/or ratings).

Opiate for the masses

It will be interesting to see how if sites like Hulu, Funnyordie or even YouTube start to generate original content that can jump to the big screen, and if so, which direction it will go in.