Thursday, September 18, 2008

Anatomy of a Television Channel

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

In the past year, I've had the opportunity to watch more daytime television than in years past. And while I've never gotten into soap operas or daytime gameshows (well, except for
The Price is Right, of course), I do enjoy the syndicated sitcoms and dramas that air all day. And I think I kinda always have.

Since I first discovered its existence when I moved to Florida in 1993, TBS has been one of my favorite channels.
Saved by the Bell, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Home Improvement, Yes, Dear, King of Queens, Seinfeld, and Friends are among the shows which air weekdays on that channel. ABCFamily has Sister, Sister, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Step by Step, Gilmore Girls, and Full House. Hallmark only has Little House on the Prairie, MASH, and 7th Heaven. I only turn to TNT for ER.

I remember when I spent the entire day flipping between Nickelodeon and Disney. But now, Nick's only offer of interest is their Nick @Nite lineup (
Home Improvement, Family Matters, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Roseanne on this rotation) and Disney just has Recess, Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse, and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. I used to LOVE MTV and VH1, but ever since their movements away from actual music videos, I might catch My SuperSweet 16, and I Love the 80s/90s. No more Say What Karaoke, old-style pop-up videos, TRL with Carson Daly, Where are they Now?, and Jesse Camp specials. Small tangent: I remember the very early days of TRL, now ten years ago, and am nostalgic about the series' end this November.

As far as the major networks go, I don't know that I really have a particular preference. They all have really bad shows, and they have some good ones too.
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