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shadowkat1.Olympics NBC? You screwed up in your broadcast of the Olympic Games, when you aired an inane Ryan Seacrest interview of Michael Phelps instead of this moving portrait:
http://deadspin.com/5929778/heres-the-opening-ceremony-tribute-to-terrorism-victims-nbc-doesnt-want-you-to-see
So much for the American Broadcast Media's claims of a free and independent press. The internet has become more reliable than you are, that, is why I no longer watch news on tv.
Outside of maybe NY1. Too unreliable.
Furious about this. That number was absolutely stunning and beautiful. Possibly amongst the best of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. And most Americans never saw it. I'll never forgive NBC for this oversight. Makes me wonder how much of their broadcast of sports and other coverage is reliable.
I'm not happy with NBC's coverage of the Olympics this year. Lots of inane interviews.
And too many commercials. Plus the commentators are grating.
That said? It does make me miss Britain, particularly London. I apparently need to find a way of visiting again in the not to distant future. Last time I was there was in the 1980s, which was over 20 years ago. Needless to say I think both have changed a great deal since then, at the very least, I have. Maybe I'll go to Europe when I get vacation time and money saved instead of Costa Rica? I don't know. Don't have the time yet, at any rate.
2. Finished Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran - one of the better written of the romance novels that I've read. But does follow the trope fairly closely. Did like the examination of racism, the historical detail on the Indian army uprising against the British in the 1800s (the British paid big time for their insane imperialistic and militaristic tendencies of the 1400s - 1800s - there's a historical lesson in that which I'm not sure the US and other countries have figured out yet.), and gender politics. The examination of gender inequalities during the 1800s is well done if a bit preachy in places. Also the examination of what art is - was intriguing.
Beginning to get burned out on this genre, so may have to jump back to Feast of Crows or read something else. Don't quite have the mental energy for non-fiction yet. Or literary.
Although am tempted to try Elizabeth Gatskill - whom I've admittedly never read or Thackery, who I also have not read. Have two books by Thackery on my Kindle saved along with Dickens Bleak House. Truth is I want pulpy page turners right now that aren't that violent, somewhat fluffy and I can easily forget after I finish them but capture my attention while I'm reading. And require little to no mental energy.
3. EW has a list of the 25 Greatest Cult TV Shows - which I don't agree with. We admittedly have different definitions of cult tv. They are going by "popular tv" shows or shows with heavy fandoms and complex worlds. I go by under-the-wire shows that most people haven't heard of. And never get awards. With heavy fandoms and complex worlds.
Here's their list, I've bolded the ones that I've seen. And stricken out the ones that I don't think belong on this list because they don't fit my definition of cult which is admittedly narrower than EW's. Not that I'm an expert on cult or anything, far from it, but since when do you have to be an expert to create a list? (Don't answer that.) Also EW's list is regrettably a bit too American for its own good.
[ETA: This is the Print Edition List not the online edition list which for reasons that escape me are completely different. I actually agree more with the online edition list, although it too has some odd choices. X-Files is too popular to be cult. And I'm not sure The Comeback deserves to be there over Bab 5. ]
* Bold what you have seen.
* Strike out the shows that don't belong on the list. (explain why - ie for me they don't fit my definition of cult.) (My criteria for cult? Intense fandom, creative world, under the wire or not recognized by mainstream media very often or doesn't get emmys or awards. The show you tell people about and they have no idea what you are talking about.)
* Substitute a TV show for everyone that you removed.
1. Buffy the Vampire Series
2. Arrested Development
3. Mystery Science Theater 3000
4.The X-Files - Replaced with Doctor Who. X-Files is a mainstream American Sci-Fi series that got Emmy's and everyone watched.
5. The Wire
6. It's Always Sunny in Philadephia (eh, I've seen a few episodes but not enough for bold)
7.Star Trek the Next Generation - too popular, too known, too many movies, and nominated for emmy's, not cult any more than Star Wars is. Deep Space Nine
8. The Comeback
9. My So-Called Life
10.Lost - see X-Files and STNG. Babylon 5
11. Firefly
12.Twin Peaks
13. Veronica Mars
14. Battlestar Galatica
15. Community -not sure if this fits, it got nominated and mainstream knows it exists. Be a bit like nominating the Office or Big Bang Theory. No, I'd replace with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - a British Series that aired on PBS in the 70s and 80s. or maybe Red Dwarf - another British Series. [ Been persuaded that it fits by the avid Community fans on flist.]
16. Undeclared [ETA - oblivious to, so can't comment.]
17. Fringe
18. Wonder Showzen (never heard of)
19. Supernatural
20. Popular
21. Party Down (see Undeclared)
22. Farscape - I'd put this higher than Firefly, but what do I know.
23. Better off Ted -makes more sense than Community. (See Community)
24. Archer
25. Pushing Daisies
A lot of these are too young for me. I'd put Profit and Vampire Diaries on the list. As well as Star Gate and Smallville - which had sizable cult fandoms. Also, Angel is missing.
As is, Forever Knight - which is amongst the best vampire cult series out there. Then there is Louis, and The Walking Dead (although I'm not sure that's really cult either).
Dollhouse is definitely cult. Although not deserving a space on the list, admittedly.
What else...there are so many and I'm tired. I know American Gothic. But it's a one season wonder, so maybe not. I'd also substitute a few British series in here such as Misfits - which is actually more cult than Smallville. The Canadian series - Being Erica, better than The Comeback. And maybe Little Britain or Ballykissangel - which my parents got hooked on. Another one missing is The Monkees - although that may have been too popular?
Not sure.
What do you think?
http://deadspin.com/5929778/heres-the-opening-ceremony-tribute-to-terrorism-victims-nbc-doesnt-want-you-to-see
So much for the American Broadcast Media's claims of a free and independent press. The internet has become more reliable than you are, that, is why I no longer watch news on tv.
Outside of maybe NY1. Too unreliable.
Furious about this. That number was absolutely stunning and beautiful. Possibly amongst the best of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. And most Americans never saw it. I'll never forgive NBC for this oversight. Makes me wonder how much of their broadcast of sports and other coverage is reliable.
I'm not happy with NBC's coverage of the Olympics this year. Lots of inane interviews.
And too many commercials. Plus the commentators are grating.
That said? It does make me miss Britain, particularly London. I apparently need to find a way of visiting again in the not to distant future. Last time I was there was in the 1980s, which was over 20 years ago. Needless to say I think both have changed a great deal since then, at the very least, I have. Maybe I'll go to Europe when I get vacation time and money saved instead of Costa Rica? I don't know. Don't have the time yet, at any rate.
2. Finished Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran - one of the better written of the romance novels that I've read. But does follow the trope fairly closely. Did like the examination of racism, the historical detail on the Indian army uprising against the British in the 1800s (the British paid big time for their insane imperialistic and militaristic tendencies of the 1400s - 1800s - there's a historical lesson in that which I'm not sure the US and other countries have figured out yet.), and gender politics. The examination of gender inequalities during the 1800s is well done if a bit preachy in places. Also the examination of what art is - was intriguing.
Beginning to get burned out on this genre, so may have to jump back to Feast of Crows or read something else. Don't quite have the mental energy for non-fiction yet. Or literary.
Although am tempted to try Elizabeth Gatskill - whom I've admittedly never read or Thackery, who I also have not read. Have two books by Thackery on my Kindle saved along with Dickens Bleak House. Truth is I want pulpy page turners right now that aren't that violent, somewhat fluffy and I can easily forget after I finish them but capture my attention while I'm reading. And require little to no mental energy.
3. EW has a list of the 25 Greatest Cult TV Shows - which I don't agree with. We admittedly have different definitions of cult tv. They are going by "popular tv" shows or shows with heavy fandoms and complex worlds. I go by under-the-wire shows that most people haven't heard of. And never get awards. With heavy fandoms and complex worlds.
Here's their list, I've bolded the ones that I've seen. And stricken out the ones that I don't think belong on this list because they don't fit my definition of cult which is admittedly narrower than EW's. Not that I'm an expert on cult or anything, far from it, but since when do you have to be an expert to create a list? (Don't answer that.) Also EW's list is regrettably a bit too American for its own good.
[ETA: This is the Print Edition List not the online edition list which for reasons that escape me are completely different. I actually agree more with the online edition list, although it too has some odd choices. X-Files is too popular to be cult. And I'm not sure The Comeback deserves to be there over Bab 5. ]
* Bold what you have seen.
* Strike out the shows that don't belong on the list. (explain why - ie for me they don't fit my definition of cult.) (My criteria for cult? Intense fandom, creative world, under the wire or not recognized by mainstream media very often or doesn't get emmys or awards. The show you tell people about and they have no idea what you are talking about.)
* Substitute a TV show for everyone that you removed.
1. Buffy the Vampire Series
2. Arrested Development
3. Mystery Science Theater 3000
4.
5. The Wire
6. It's Always Sunny in Philadephia (eh, I've seen a few episodes but not enough for bold)
7.
8. The Comeback
9. My So-Called Life
10.
11. Firefly
12.Twin Peaks
13. Veronica Mars
14. Battlestar Galatica
15. Community -
16. Undeclared [ETA - oblivious to, so can't comment.]
17. Fringe
18. Wonder Showzen (never heard of)
19. Supernatural
20. Popular
21. Party Down (see Undeclared)
22. Farscape - I'd put this higher than Firefly, but what do I know.
23. Better off Ted -
24. Archer
25. Pushing Daisies
A lot of these are too young for me. I'd put Profit and Vampire Diaries on the list. As well as Star Gate and Smallville - which had sizable cult fandoms. Also, Angel is missing.
As is, Forever Knight - which is amongst the best vampire cult series out there. Then there is Louis, and The Walking Dead (although I'm not sure that's really cult either).
Dollhouse is definitely cult. Although not deserving a space on the list, admittedly.
What else...there are so many and I'm tired. I know American Gothic. But it's a one season wonder, so maybe not. I'd also substitute a few British series in here such as Misfits - which is actually more cult than Smallville. The Canadian series - Being Erica, better than The Comeback. And maybe Little Britain or Ballykissangel - which my parents got hooked on. Another one missing is The Monkees - although that may have been too popular?
Not sure.
What do you think?
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no subject
Date: 2012-07-30 09:40 pm (UTC)But you define it the same way that EW does. I'm going to google cult and see what I find. Okay found something..I tend to come at from a film perspective, because that's what I was taught:
The Somewhat Longer But More Precise Definition With Examples:
A cult film is defined through a variety of combinations that include four major elements:
Anatomy: the film itself – its features: content, style, format, and generic modes.
Consumption: the ways in which it is received – the audience reactions, fan celebrations, and critical receptions.
Political Economy: the financial and physical conditions of presence of the film – its ownerships, intentions, promotions, channels of presentation, and the spaces and times of its exhibition.
Cultural status: the way in which a cult film fits a time or region – how it comments on its surroundings, by complying, exploiting, critiquing, or offending.
We do not propose that all of these elements need to be fulfilled together. But we do suggest that each of them is of high significance in what makes a film cult.
http://www.cultographies.com/definition.shtml
Or:
‘Cult’ as in a relatively small but dedicated following.
[Which is why Firefly fits but Star Wars and Star Trek don't - too large a following.]
http://cultdefinition.com/60/cult-fiction
And finally here:
But what exactly is cult TV? By dictionary definition `cult` is set apart from the mainstream. Cult programmes are objects of special devotion. Cult TV is often distinguished by its high style, its innovative subject matter (such as improved roles for women), its sexual outrageousness, or its uncompromising political stance. All this means that cult TV often succeeds only after a troubled start. First the TV executives, then the audiences are slow to catch on. A number of cult programmes only survived because of campaigns by devotees.
To help us distinguish cult TV from normal programming, you need to look at audience engagement. Nearly all entertainment programmes attract three different kinds of viewers who can be categorised in terms of engagement: casual viewers, devoted viewers, and avid fans.
Casual viewers will attend to a show if they happen to be watching TV but do not experience the show as a "special event". For the casual viewer, the show is part of the flow of television and not something that requires rapt attention nor prompts adjustments in the viewer's schedule of activities in order to tune in.
Devoted viewers will make arrangements to watch every episode of their favourite show. For the devoted viewer, a favourite show is a "special event" that disrupts the flow of television and inspires more intense levels of identification and attention than typical television fare. However, though the devoted viewer may read occasional articles about the show or talk about it with their friends, their involvement with the show falls short of fanaticism.
Avid fans will not only take special pains to watch every episode of the show but, today, will tape the episodes so that they can review them or even archive them. The show is not only a "special event" but also a major source of self-definition, a kind of quasi-religious experience. Avid fans enthusiastically purchase or consume ancillary texts related to the programme and often join interpretive communities that have formed around the show, such as fan clubs and online discussion groups. Though the availability of such groups in cyberspace has made the recruitment process somewhat easier, it is still difficult for a new show to build "cult" interpretive communities from scratch. Therefore, most new shows hoping to cultivate a cult following tend to appeal to existing interpretive communities, particularly the large umbrella of sci-fi fandom which has in place an infrastructure of fanzines, newsgroups, and conventions.
Virtually every TV show has some viewers in each of the three engagement categories. What distinguishes cult shows from typical fare is that a relatively large percentage of the viewers are avid fans and that these fans have relatively high visibility compared to the avid fans of other shows.
http://www.culttv.plus.com/whatis.html