The more things change

It's amazing how things have changed in television over the years. I'm not talking from the 1950's compared to today. I mean the 70's and even the 80's. Saturday Night Live is a great example.

Back in the 70's and 80's there were people that thought television was to wild and violent for children. They sited various FCC regulations and codes. They complained that television was morally bankrupt. But cartoons like Road Runner (before he got his Verizon deal) and Bugs Bunny stayed on the air uneditied. At the same time George Carlin was on Saturday Night Live, and had the show shut down by censors because he said a couple of bad words so fast that most of America had no idea what he said before his mike was turned off and the studio lights were shut off. Then the show went immediately to commercial.

In the 1980's it was not nearly that bad. People still complained about television violence and its morally corrupt nature. Shows got racier, especially soap operas. Bugs Bunny and Road Runner, et al., still were uneditied and tens of millions of kids watched Sesame Street every day. But when Charles Rocket said a bad word on Saturday Night Live, the show kept going. He did get fired immediately though, ending his career.

We hit the 2000's and there was an uproar about morality, violence and television. By this time every wrong of kids was blamed on television. Columbine and other similar events were claimed to be the product of television (and not bad parenting). By this time Road Runner and Bugs Bunny were so editied to be unwatchable and without any meaning (just like most shows on MTV). Sesame Street - the episodes from the 70's and 80's - were categorized as adult programs unfit for children to watch. The nation (well some of the more uptight parts of it) lost their minds when there was an accidental exposure of a naked breast for 2 seconds during the Super Bowl halftime show.

And just this weekend, on the 35th anniversary of SNL Jennifer Slater relived moments of the past. **Warning - the video contains the unaltered word**



Noticed her face after she said it? I will give her credit, as well as the other actress, as they just kept going. Good thing the lights didn't go out.

So think about it. Several aspects of television have improved, according to some, while outrageous actions that never would be allowed in the past are ignored. Slater still has a job as of this moment, Sesame Street has become almost as mindless as American Idol, and you can't even find Bugs Bunny on television without looking on cable.

Have things been getting better or worse? Does it matter as almost no one watches broadcast television anymore? And was this a plan by SNL since the show long ago stopped being funny, even to people too young to know it once was funny EVERY episode?

Top entertainment news story of 2008

Sometimes you can only be saddened by the actions of the media. These days the media fails the public so often that the youth of the nation tend to think this is the way the news is supposed to be. You know, chasing down stories about nothing ad nauseum. Yet there were days when in a year of tragedy and triumph the best and worst of it all would be recorded properly, at least in a year end list.

So for this year, who might you think have taken the top spot of the most important entertainment news story of the year? And for everyone spurring into action to write the election of Obama, that's politics not entertainment.

Could it be the death of Charlton Heston? He was 84, had been in movies since 1941. He made an astounding 22 films in the last decade of his career. For some in Hollywood's top tier that is their entire career. In total he made 82 films, just missing a film for each year of his life by 2. He starred or was in 15 great films that have stood the test of time. And I won't even mention his television career of some 51 years. And of course there is his political activism since the 1960's.

Nope not him.

Might it be George Carlin? Younger than Heston he died at 71. He was an actor of modest means, an author of some acclaim, but a comedian among the best on any list anyone will ever make. He was the first person to host Saturday Night Live, and the first to have the mike shut off and censors racing to the stage. Though infrequently in films his career as an actor spanned 14 films in just under 40 years - proving more his influence on the American culture he discussed and joked about so well. In times like these the loose of someone who can make us all laugh must be #1.

Not even close.

Well perhaps we need to look more political and philanthropic, like Paul Newman? Another logical justifiable choice considering that he was in films since 1952, was a director/producer of 12 films, and 11 of his 64 movies are unquestionably great - still drawing audiences from youth that have never heard of his name. And he was a race car driver of some skill. And he was an active philanthropist giving away millions, in fact tens of millions, long before Oprah made it fashionable. Then we have to add his political activism, for the left which Hollywood loves, and his support of gay marriage - a hot button issue in Hollywood these days.

Such a choice would be cold as ice.

Now you might start making wilder guesses. Maybe someone Black since Obama won and is not eligible in this category. Bernie Mac was a young 50. His death was sudden and shocking. He had just finished a film. He was part of the hugely successful Ocean's trilogy of films. He had huge success in television, in spite of the way in which it continues to maintain an overall view of America as if in the 1950's. He was a successful stand-up comedian, and had been in the business for 30 years. He was a family man, and had no issues. He was only in movies for a decade, but he made 27 films of which at least half were decent if not better.

You were better off picking Obama.

No the number 1 entertainment news story in America for 2008 was in fact.... Heath Ledger's death.

Because Heath ledger killed himself with an overdose of drugs. He was 28, had made 19 films of which most people could only name 8 at best. He was best known for his role as a gay cowboy, and as the worst Joker ever (in my opinion). His death was used to slather on hype to a sequel far inferior to its predecessor.

If the media were truly honest they might say that Heath Ledger won because he made them a lot of money. The movie studios used his death like a flag to rake in money, and no one would dare say anything against their film because Ledger was dead (except me). And they have kept the story going since January, fueling the chance (almost definite) of Ledger winning an Oscar - because he is dead and made a great movie about being gay. Hollywood can't resist that combination.

Maybe I shouldn't care, but I won't drink sand because the major media tells me it's water. Ledger may have been a great person, but I didn't know him. All I do know is that he was a rising star, that had performances that meant nothing to me. His last role was all hype, and he killed himself with drugs. That does not place him above a massive philanthropist and exceptional talent. it doesn't even place him above moderate talents with better resumes and longer careers.

But lest you think me too harsh, the top 10 entertainment list of 2008 as picked by the media goes on as follows:

• The writer's strike ends - money and media jobs
  
• Dark Knight becomes a blockbuster - money and inferior to Iron Man or the orginal
  
• Saturday Night Live becomes popular again - money and politics
  
• Britney Spears - making parenthood a joke and drugs interesting
  
• Paul Newman - he is BELOW Britney - HOW!
  
• TV is on the Web - money
  
• George Carlin - Way down on the list
  
• Tim Russert died - which was big news and one of the media's own
  
• Jennifer Hudson's family dies - horrible and sad.
  [Charlton Heston did not make the list likely because he was a known staunch Republican. Hollywood hates that.]
  

Out of the dozens and dozens of entertainers and celebrities that died or made real news in this past year Ledger is number 1? People who contributed more to the art and society than Ledger ever tried to do died this year, but the media can't stop talking about him. It's an insult to so many that died, and to the public the media is supposed to serve.

Any death is sad, but ranking hype and money over substance may be worse.

George Carlin: 1937 - 2008

Rather than comment on the impact of George Carlin I will let his words speak for him.

WARNING - the following videos probably contain objectionable words and language!