[Paul C. Jesup]

It's a logical conclusion. For except, put on a good, thought provoking sci-fi series, you note the expressions on the faces of people are far more intelligent than the zoombie like expressions will have when they watch something like a mindless soap opera.

[ordinaryguy]

The content can affect the viewer's expression, but the medium has a much greater effect. I've long observed and noted how people react to different media and content. I've yet to see any television programming which causes the viewer's expression to come anywhere near that of someone attending a play.

Television can be an informational medium, as can a book. If you read a passage describing how green an alien's face is, the physiological reaction in your brain is much different than what you would experience seeing a green alien while watching your "good, thought provoking sci-fi series."

The medium has a profound impact on how the message is received. The Kennedy-Nixon debate showed us a difference between experiencing the same event via television versus radio.