"Television is more ubiquitous than ever" By Greg Hernandez

Breaking Bad is finished, I know, but the damage is done. In this golden age of television, movies are on the back burner. Sure, the majority of people still go out to see them, but the purest ever-lasting joy of spectator-ship comes from the small screen. Why? Convenience is one reason. Control is the main reason. Viewers have control of the venue, the price, and the audience. Ever been to a movie theater in Manhattan? Its quite expensive! If you are paying for cable, you can watch your favorite show at your place, alone. Or you can host/attend a private gathering to watch a show. Sure, going to the movies and owning an entire row with friends is nice, but there are other people at the movie theater. Long ago, going to the movies was  considered our national past time. When it was hot during the summer, you could cool off and catch a flick. A go-to date move would be dinner and a movie. Now, that has all changed. Couples cook dinner at home and watch their favorite television shows together, with or without enthusiasm. 

Let's face it, awesome television shows own our souls. The average American family owns at least three televisions. People are easily intrigued by all of the characters fictional or not, on dramas and reality television competitions. One factor is the elimination process, characters tend to die on shows, this result has a profound impact on viewers. Contestants are inevitably eliminated from the talent competitions, until only one stands alone as the winner. Viewers care, because this is real drama, nothing is manufactured. Plus, even if it is manufactured in drama shows, the stakes are normally high enough to suspend that level of thinking, for example actor Norman Reedus' character, Daryl Dixon of "The Walking Dead." Fans have created a following of, "If Daryl dies, we riot." Can you believe that? Americans finally get serious about a movement and its all for a fictional character! We care that much. Brian on Family guy dies, everyone is shocked, he comes back, everyone is astonished and relieved...

 

Another important issue is money. The main reason why "the nerds" have taken over Hollywood in the past decade and a half is because of all the green. Companies are allowing these directors and writers to have a substantial role in with their creative power. Obviously this has not lasted, but it does not matter.  Comic book movies are hot right now. The geeks continue to make movies for just about every character imaginable, the greedy investors push for sequels, and get exactly what they want: reboots, a trilogy here, and a spinoff there. It doesn't matter it all sells. The pendulum is swinging in the favor of the nerds right now. However, it is not sustainable, soon the geeks will once again be ostracized from Hollywood. Why? Because it is only a pattern. 

One new pattern now, is television, it, unlike the geeks are here to stay. Television is a sustainable market. The sustainability proves to be more lucrative in the long run. If a particular show is successful, than odds are the show still has a good story to tell, only then will it ultimately be renewed for a new season. This keeps everyone involved in the project employed unless, you're an actor and you're character is killed off or you're a show runner who gets fired for creative differences, take Frank Darabont for example.

IGN News: Darabont Fired.

Now, what I am going to discuss is the double standard aspect of television and how it predominately supports our domestic view on complacency. Picture this: a man enters the movie theater to watch a mid-night premiere of a movie he has long anticipated to see. Another man who let's say has finished his first semester of graduate school is kicking back on a rain entrenched day, in his bedroom, with his DVR ready to view an entire season of  his favorite television show. Which do you think will wind up being more satisfied when all is said and done? 

A slew of episodes from a great show can easily beat out a great movie. Why? The answer is quite simple: longer emotional impact. Extended entertainment can prove to be quite effective if the particular show is well crafted and comprises of suspense, which can be quite engaging, riveting, and most of all addicting. While movies can rely on large doses of adrenaline to satisfy people. There is one large set-back. A great movie must absolutely stand on its own. It has two hours and change to captivate its audience. On the other side, television shows, can hit you with the slow burn approach of a dozen or so episodes jammed with exquisite character development, in shows such as "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Walking Dead." A great episode can stand on its own. There is a multitude of jaw dropping moments that viewers can savor and agonize over per episode. Plus season finales are predicated on the predictable mayhem and important character deaths, which often end up being quite satisfying/devastating to the viewers in more ways than one.

 

Note this, the 2014 television schedule is sequential. Once the NFL season ends, arguably the most popular television show, “The Walking Dead" makes its return on Feb 9^th one week after the Super Bowl. It concludes its 4^th season on March 30^th. One week later on April 6^th, season four of Game of Thrones premieres. 

Mad men returns one week later on April 13^th. You understand where I'm going here. Television is an all-year-must-watch-phenomenon. What is worse is the impact it has on everyone. Remember those NFL commercials that famously stated "Is it Monday yet?" Apparently Monday and Sunday were not enough, football is on Thursday and on Saturday during the postseason. Let's not forget about college ball. It never ends. Its madness, yeah like, "March Madness." 

People build their schedules around television. Poor people who cannot stand their jobs and barely make ends meet with them get a passing brief reprieve with television. No matter what time of the night or day their show airs, you can count on a person to watch it or record it for later. We are dependent on it. Even those who believe they are not, like the student catching up on his favorite show. It is axiomatic that after a long semester of grad school, he should be allowed to reward himself by watching a marathon of television. 

The golden age of television can keep us on the couch in a state of seasonal euphoria. We become complacent. When one show ends, another one is waiting in the wings to grab our attention and hold on for several weeks. Everyone cannot be on the tube, so basically it evens out. Television's equilibrium is firm and will remain this way for a very long time. Piracy only fuels the fire. Game of Thrones, the most pirated television show in history, yet it remains strong, but with a price; our time. We have to watch the shows if we don't read the books. It all takes time. Sure, its only one hour, but add it up and you will discover that you're spending more time sitting and watching then actually doing. What happened to Carpe diem? 

I watch all of the shows mentioned above. I guess we just need to find balance. A television show cannot seriously control our lives right? People bemoan the ending of a television show. The season went by too fast! They could have continued the story! Why did it end after only 7 seasons? Ask the people who cannot wait for their favorite show to air again. They wait impatiently in anticipation for that night's premiere. Get the popcorn ready people, 2014 is going to be a fantastic television year!

 -Greg Hernandez