Posted on 07/17/2014 2:54:29 PM PDT by NYer
The TV critic at The New York Times is keeping an eye on the tube, so we don’t have to. Reading this, describing what’s coming into our living rooms this summer, I have to think that’s a very good thing:
In case you missed the news that traditional courtship is dead, naked people on VH1 stand ready to enlighten you. And in case you thought that television networks had evolved beyond trying to attract viewers with cheesy titillation — ditto.
Yes, it’s time for “Dating Naked,” a reality series beginning Thursday on VH1 in which just-introduced strangers looking for love are nude from the get-go. This comes nine days after the new FYI channel, an A&E offshoot, introduced “Married at First Sight,” in which strangers paired by supposed experts begin their relationship by marrying, then decide whether they like each other.
Both shows are probably inevitable next steps in television’s endless effort to capitalize on the human need to pair up, which stretches back to “The Dating Game” of the 1960s and runs through “The Bachelor,” “The Millionaire Matchmaker” and odd variations like “It Takes a Church.”
The two new entries are, of course, outrageous affronts to the style of courtship that has served humanity quite well for millenniums, if you don’t count the dismaying frequency of divorce and resulting psychological damage to all involved. The shows are taking what used to be the long-term goal — getting married or seeing someone naked or both — and making it the starting point. As Chrissy, one of the geniuses in the first episode of “Dating Naked,” notes: “It is awkward meeting someone naked. I mean, usually you wait till sex.”
…“Dating Naked” won’t seem all that scandalous to inhabitants of the texting generation, for whom sharing photos of their naughty bits is now routine. The series is just a continuation of a tawdry show-it-all TV trend that began a year or so ago when reality series involving nude castaways (“Naked and Afraid”), nude real estate transactions (“Buying Naked”) and nude body painting (“Naked Vegas”) began turning up.
Fox has apparently been developing its own naked-dating show, though The Wrap reported the other day that it has been postponed for reasons unknown; maybe to study ways to make it nakeder than “Dating Naked”? Showtime commissioned a video (title: “Undress Me”) of strangers stripping one another as a promotion — oh, sorry; according to the network, it’s a “social experiment” — for the new season of “Masters of Sex.” In August, GSN introduces a body painting show called “Skin Wars.”Clearly, there soon won’t be a clothed person left on television, reality or scripted.
I cancelled tv completely about 8 years ago.
Cancelled mine about 6 weeks ago. Had to buy a good replacement modem because Cox Cable owned the one I had been using for about 10 years. It had a telephone jack for their phone service. Cancelled the phone, too.
Bought a HD antenna at Wally World. Now get about 12 "over air channels. Switched land line phone service to Magic Jack Plus. Even with those 3 purchases I am breaking even right now.
Changed my phone # when I got the MJ phone service which is great. Tested it out for 6 months ($52 with tax) and now pay $32/YEAR, tax included. With the new phone # I immediately lost all the telemarketing calls that just wouldn't cease and desist. (Yeah baby!)
Wife complains about missing Fox some, but we have Netflix for date night. And more time for talk radio, etc.
Life is good!
All designed to destroy the notion of traditional marriage.
I dust my TV. Not even sure it would work as it’s older the may not pick up the signal.
All it’s hooked up to at the moment is the DVD player and that gets dusted occasionally, too.
20 years ago it was only 57 channels with nothing on. We have evolved since then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAlDbP4tdqc
Personally if wasn’t for Deadliest catch and Duck Dynasty I would cancel my cable tv subscribtion I would keep the computer and phone line
Right now I been watching a lot of Gettv Movies MeTV Antenna TV Cozi TV
If they come out with a naked pawn shop show, my TV is going out the window.
“In a couple of weeks ( July 30 ) “Sharknado 2” will be out so at least that’s something. “
Is that the second one? ;-)
People need to watch EWTN — LOL! At least everyone has clothes on.
Looks like you beat me to it...
hey, i love my cable tv...i dont watch any of those trashy shows they list here, but me and my wife watch a lot of HGTV type shows, we dvr a lot of them like Junk Gypsys, etc...i dvr tons of my fave comedies, and spend countless hours watching the history channel, bio, etc...
im not sure why folks say there is nothing on....
:-)
Is that a pickle in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Oh wait,,never mind I guess your happy to see me.
Seems like most of the shows have a token gay couple/person on them.
With the blurred areas, the programs aren’t really worth watching
So what was the turn off, the "blurred" areas?
I’d love it if we could pay for only the channels we watch. We have Directv, and there are a lot of junk channels we never go to.
I’m keeping my TV, because I am not going to miss The Walking Dead. ‘)
And the advertising! ED pills used to be promoted after hours; now, they’re advertised during breakfast.
Excellent idea!
Velocity Channel. Car stuff only. That’s one good one out of many bad ones.
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