How about, we lost Petticoat Junction and got Maude?
Posted on 06/30/2008 5:59:40 AM PDT by Leisler
That's the oldest ever since Sternberg started analyzing median age more than a decade ago -- and the first time the nets' median age was outside of the vaunted 18-49 demo.
Fueling the graying of the networks: the rapid aging of ABC, NBC and Fox. The three nets continue to grow older, while CBS -- the oldest-skewing network -- has remained fairly steady.
(Excerpt) Read more at variety.com ...
Yea,and they all drive Buicks!
Well then, it’s nice to be slightly below average.
Now that TV has (once again) lost the 18-49 demographic, what will they do?
funny you mention that!
i’ve never liked buick drivers.
Oh carp, this means re-runs of the Golden Girls will be increased.
I was just reading about the “rural purge” on TV from 1971. Huge TV audiences were watching shows like Mayberry RFD, but the advertisers wanted shows that attracted the 18-49 urban demographic — so all the rural shows were axed, and we got All in the Family instead.
That is not a good example. Mayberry sucked...All in the Family was great. Try another example for the next time please. lol.
The "Rural Purge" of American television networks was a series of cancellations of still-popular rural-themed or senior citizen-skewing shows, instigated by CBS executive Fred Silverman in 1971, following research highlighting the greater attraction to advertisers of the more affluent younger urban viewer demographic and the institution of the Federal Communications Commission's Prime Time Access Rule, which led to the loss of a half-hour of network programming each night.
Silverman, disturbed by CBS's reputation as the "Country Broadcasting System," decided not to renew a number of long-running and short-lived shows that were either rural oriented or had a low youth/ urban demographic: The Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry R.F.D., Green Acres, Hee Haw, The Jim Nabors Hour, The Ed Sullivan Show, Family Affair, and Hogan's Heroes were all cancelled. Pat Buttram, who played "Mr. Haney" on Green Acres, said at the time, "It was the year CBS killed everything with a tree in it."
When CBS axed Hee Haw in 1971, it immediately went into first run syndication, and ran for another twenty-one and a half years, ending in 1993.
It wasn't just "Mayberry RFD". The nation's definition of "good entertainment" in 1971 was pretty wholesome -- but for 37 years we've been drifting toward the type of entertainment enjoyed by the urban crowd.
Why?
Because 90% of all programming these days sucks, networks, otherwise.....I'd rather enjoy myself outside, working with my hands and mind on my hobbies.
Must you use age 50 and “deathwatch” in the same sentence??
Some of us are perilously close to that milestone....
Despite this demographic, the networks continue to produce programming designed for 13 year olds and the mind numbed. I can’t imagine too many of us baby boomers being interested in watching such schlock as American Idol or inane sit-coms about 20 year old nit wits. Programing like CSI...you fill in the city...are poor in comparison to TV cop shows of the 1950s and 60s and even more contemporary cop dramas like Hills Street Blues. If my only TV choices were the offerings of the 3 major networks, I would not even own a TV.
Yet, how much of the viewing is still catering to the MTV crowd? Many of the newer, more successful shows (”Idol” notwithstanding) are more sophisticated and clever: “The Shield,” “House,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Law & Order,” “CSI,” “Dexter,” and the popular HBO mini-series, “Rome” and “The Tudors.” I think this is where TV has to head if it is to retain the viewers it has.
And 20 year olds don't generally watch CSI. It's the older demographics.
Life is too short to waste it in front of the idiot box.
Anyone know the Demos on “The Wire?” It was very popular among folks in their 30s, yet few over 50 it seems were avid watchers, to say nothing of the 18-25 demo.
TV is so 20th Century.
The last time I watched network TV was about 1-2 months ago at my grandma's. She has the bunny ear antenna and went to sleep so I watched some dumb sitcom.
It was about 9PM and this show had some of the crudest sex jokes I ever heard on TV. Not funny at all, terrible writing and just seeking a shock factor. I caught ONE decent joke in the show but it had to be a mistake/ad-lib since there was no laugh track.
I'm in my 20s and don't mind well written dirty jokes for adults. But bad ones at 9PM when kids are still watching make my head spin.
It was the 1st time I watched network TV in years and I had my mouth gaping the whole time while watching this train-wreck. It's scary how far we've fallen since the classy well written shows of the 50s and 60s.
I too just made it over the line. Sorry. My blind, long time dislike of MSM just causes me to lose what little social sensitivities I have.
(must get out of the cave more often must get out of the cave more often must get....)
I guess that means we should bring Neil Simon and Woody Allen out of retirement.
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