Howard Beale, we need you now!
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Just now, while trying to digest my evening meal, I read some rather disconcerting news on MSNBC about the ‘Law and Order’ franchise of programming. It seems that just today an agreement has been reached to allow the continuance of the trio of programs on NBC, and its cousin, the USA cable network. After 18 years, is this really necessary? Haven’t we jailed and prosecuted each and every bad guy in the known universe? What comes next, ‘Law and Order: The Outer Solar System?’
What if the real problem with these programs, along with the semi-ubiquitous CSI franchise on CBS, is the public perception that real justice in our society has been lost? Each day the newspaper tells us of yet another unsolved violent crime, while casual perusal of the news on television gives another sign that Corporate America has again gone unchecked. One only has to look at any polling results to see the general feeling of helplessness the average person feels. It becomes hard to live without becoming morose. Does putting the ‘bad guys’ away in each of these series give some vicarious thrill?
What is the solution? Possibly the one given in the Paddy Chayefsky movie ‘Network.’ When the feeling of ominous doom comes, everyone should go to their window and, at the top of their lungs, scream out ” I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
Tags: howard beale, law and order, csi
2 Comments
Brian Shields
May 18th, 2007
at 9:08am
Well, I think you have to remember what Law and Order replaced. If you’ll recall, before the early 90’s, television was filled with “Made for TV Movies” of very low quality that tried to capitalize on the latest story or personality in the news. Dick Wolf essentially drove those awful things out of existence with Law & Order. The franchise offers a chance to take everything from private contractors in Iraq to Anna Nicole Smith and turn it into a generally well written, well produced network television format. The tie between the story lines and the latest news also keeps the whole thing fresh, for me.
Give me L&O any day over what it replaced.
theoracle
May 18th, 2007
at 9:54am
First, thanks for the comment. I didn’t expect one after a few days passing.
I really don’t remember things the way you do, but then I really haven’t only watched broadcast television for a long while. I do know that it bothers me that we have SO MANY shows about crime on television. I am sure it makes some young people wonder if crime is a major component of anyone’s life if they happen to live in a major city. I don’t think it needs to be that way.
Remember in that same time frame the Star Trek franchises had restarted, and with them there was a choice…The Next Generation showed that people could have hope that, in a few [hundred] years, great things could be accomplished by people who put the baser instincts like greed aside to do marvelous things. For me, the entire Roddenberry franchise is vastly superior to any shows depicting the lowest parts of today’s society.
Also, have you seen the movie ‘Network’? There was a bit more about television in general in my post releative to the movie. If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly receommend it.