Reality TV - Some Good, Most Awful

I'm not a fan of most Reality TV, but some programs are so distasteful they should not be seen, much less broadcast to millions.

The rancor displayed by reality contestants puts the worst aspects of human behavior on display and contributes to those who wrongly contend that American society is declining.

The culprits are, for the most part, the producers and network executives who take a bunch of strangers, force them to live together, shut them off from the world and provide liquor.

Is it any wonder that the final products feature little but sniping and catfighting?

The worst examples are "The Bachelor" and "Survivor."

On the plus side, there are a few programs that bring us together - as viewers, music lovers, champions of young people trying to make it in the world and even aspiring business magnates.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but the current run of "The Celebrity Apprentice" employs a respected group of performers and other semi-famous individuals who are showing viewers how to be effective and how to raise money for charity while remaining collegial.  Stand-outs are Holly Robinson Peete, Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders and, shockingly, Poison rocker, Bret Michaels.  What a great group!

While it's been said quite often that the current group of American Idol contestants doesn't measure up to past idols talent-wise, these young singers seem to be incredibly supportive of each other.  They're fighting for their artistic lives, but they still pat each other on the back.  The program is a further joy in that it showcases music appreciated by all generations and gives us all something to talk about the next morning.

I don't believe network programmers should eliminate all reality television, but I implore them to start weeding out that which offends.  I'd rather turn the TV off than watch programs that present people as lower life forms.

On Deutsch, Olbermann and Biden

So MSNBC removed Donny Deutsch from its broadcasts because he named the network's own Keith Olbermann among others who are displaying intense anger during their political talk programs.  (Others were Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.)

MSNBC is correct from an HR standpoint - you can't have one of your top talkers maligned by his own colleagues - but Deutsch's thinking is right.  Who wants to watch these guys explode every day and why can't they speak reasonably?  On both sides, they're mongering fear and hate.  And, they're contributing to the divisiveness that precludes any positive action in Washington.

On "The View" today, Vice President Joe Biden was asked about the lack of decorum in politics by Joy Behar, of all people.  He recalled the late Senate Majority Leader, Mike Mansfield, who lectured to Biden as a young Senator about discourse and collegiality.  Biden noted that some of his fellow members of Congress frequently refer to former President Clinton as "Bubba."  You wonder, he said, "why kids don't respect authority."

Let's get back to discussing ideas and refrain from spewing anger - in private and on TV.

Conan signs with TBS

Conan is going to cable, in my opinion, to be able to do the comedy he couldn't do at NBC.  At TBS, he'll be free to say the things that Bill Maher, George Lopez, et al, get away with. He won't be marginalized; he'll be unleashed.

He's probably also tired of the network hierarchy and the allegiance that must be paid to network programming and movies produced by parent companies.  At Fox, he would have been forced to promote everything that came out of that company's studio.

And, yes, basic cable is the new place to be.  TBS, TNT, HBO and USA are producing comedies and dramas that are better than those of the old networks.  Programs like "My Boys," "The Closer," "Leverage" and the dearly departed "Monk" are better than anything on CBS, NBC and ABC, with few exceptions.

Superbowl Spots: Some Were good

I don't think all the Superbowl ads were a disappointment as many have been saying.  Although I do agree with Stuart Elliott of The New York Times who opined that nostalgia was front and center.

The Snickers spot with Betty White and an appearance by Abe Vigoda (long thought dead by many) was great.

I loved the kgb Sumo wrestler piece wherein a couple of skinny guys are poised to fight a couple of HUGE sumo wrestlers.  The guy who didn't use kgb to text his question (How to say "I surrender" in Japanese) gets mauled while the guy who does gets his answer and escapes safely.

The Audi ad with the "green police" was funny and drove home a number of points, not the least of which poked fun at the environmental movement.

The Jay/Oprah/Dave bit was hysterical, topical and clever, all of which are the hallmarks of a great Superbowl ad.

I'm not a big fan of the Simpsons, so the Coke spot set in Springfield was lost on me.

Others that were simply lame included Denny's, Budweiser and Monster.com.

A Quick Pitch for Castle and White Collar

There are two detective shows that are relatively new that are blowing me away - Castle (ABC, Mondays, 10 PM EST) and White Collar (USA, Tuesdays, 10 PM EST).

Both are clever, smart, sophisticated and feature beautiful people - and they're both set in New York City.

The mysteries are fun and easy enough to follow.  The dead bodies aren't too gory.  And the characters and dialogue are fantastic.

If you haven't watched these shows yet, I highly recommend that you try them.

Conan: I Hope He Comes Back

I keep hearing, "don't feel sorry for Conan O'Brien, he's walking away with millions."  But the fact is I do.

The guy grew up dreaming about being Johnny Carson and as soon as his wish was fulfilled, it went up in smoke.  He moved his family and staff to the West Coast to set up shop at the hallowed NBC studios in Burbank and was given only seven months to prove himself.

Sure, money and fame are great.  But suffering that kind of disappointment and embarassment is tough.

Personally, I already miss watching O'Brien at 11:30.  His monologues were getting funnier, particularly at the biting end.  And he is a smart, pleasant person to watch.  (Unfortunately, his interviewing skills are not up to par.)

I do hope Conan O'Brien is picked up by another network in late night.  The viewing alternatives   are sparse.  Jay Leno tries to appeal to the least common denominator and I don't think he's nearly as clever as Conan.  Letterman is tired.

When Conan does land in another spot, he should be advised to keep the edge that he displayed during his last NBC shows and to learn how to conduct interviews, namely by practicing the art of listening.

Good luck, Conan.

Letterman Revelation Isn't Funny

On camera, David Letterman is the same clown today as he was when he was hosting a daytime talk show in the 80’s (not long after he began his career as an Indiana weatherman). His humor came from his irreverence.

As an individual, he seemed fairly serious and contemplative. He was said to be with one woman, Merrill Markoe, then Regina Lasko, his current wife, for a long time. He was not photographed out on the town and didn’t ever mention his personal life until he had a son. The conclusion was that he was a fairly straight-up, though commitment-phobic guy.

Last week’s revelation of sex with subordinates is a surprise and a disappointment. There are so few individuals in public life who are as they seem. Now, there’s one fewer.

I guess sexual harassment training isn’t mandatory for someone like Letterman whose World Wide Pants Productions is contracted to produce a program for CBS. Or, he took it as a joke.

But it’s not funny for people in power to take advantage of women (or men) in the workplace. Letterman’s behavior wouldn’t be accepted at most corporate offices or small businesses. In some places, it would be grounds for dismissal.

CBS should investigate and take action. If he is found to have used his position to demand sex, or if women were rewarded or punished for being with him or not, he should be fired, or, at the very least, suspended.

No matter how funny, or successful, or profit-making, Letterman should be treated like any other jerk.