The other day I was watching one of he many shows on TLC about people with some horrible or bizarre affliction (in this case, the world's oldest surviving conjoined twins). It suddenly hit me that no matter how they package it, and despite the fact that they call it "the learning channel," it's not educational TV. It's nothing more than an old-fashioned freak show repackaged to fool people into not feeling guilty about gawking. I felt very dirty and guilty for watching it. I was never a huge TLC watcher, but now I think I'm pretty much done with it altogether. Does anyone else feel the same way, or am I overreacting? (Let's not even get into Jon & Kate.)
TLC - the circus sideshow of TV?
- Thread starter Obsessed
- Start date
The Learning Channel has fundamentally changed into what you see it as now. Unfortunate.
Similarly, very few shows on the History Channel seem to have anything to do with history. It's kind of sad.
TLC = The LookyLoo Channel
Indeed they are drifting more towards entertaining the mindless masses than properly teaching/conveyting accurate historical accounts.
Indeed they are drifting more towards entertaining the mindless masses than properly teaching/conveyting accurate historical accounts.
There was a time when the History Channel had everything you ever wanted to know about history--as long as that was the history of Nazi Germany. Now they seem to be getting all Fortean with endless episodes of Monster Quest and assorted UFO shows. I will have to admit that I do like watching Cities of the Underworld.
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Let's see:
Midgets? Check
Human Clown Car? Check (twice)
Moronic Meatheads? Check
All we're missing is the bearded lady and they'd have a proper freak show.
Midgets? Check
Human Clown Car? Check (twice)
Moronic Meatheads? Check
All we're missing is the bearded lady and they'd have a proper freak show.
the sole purpose of commercial TV is to sell you something.
do not ever believe that there is any purpose other than that.
do not ever believe that there is any purpose other than that.
Then there is Bravo!
Man, I cannot wait until Tabitha comes back to crack skulls from Joisey and Strong Island to the Valley and West Palm Beach.
I admit it, I have a thing for her.
Agreed. I used to like this channel about 5 years ago. It has evolved into crap.
Quoted for truth.
I remember back when TLC was about something. At least we still have Discovery.
I happen to know a man who is an expert on pioneer medicine. At the 1812 War Reenactment at Mississenewa, he always has a booth set up and plays the character of a doctor. He will break character with me from time to time. One time, he told me that the History Channel hired him as an advisor for an episode on his very specialty. There was one segment, where they changed the "facts" from the truth. He asked why and they said it was racist. He said of course it is racist. But it is also the truth.
Point: You can't even believe the "Facts" on the networks.
Point: You can't even believe the "Facts" on the networks.
Dont forget the families with freakishly large amounts of kids, and the midget reality shows.
I was watching a show a couple years back on TLC about the effects of a "full moon" on people and the reasons strange things sometimes seem to happen and people act out when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.
One of the reasons provided was because of the increased gravitational pull of the moon when it is "full" and that affecting the residents of Earth. Now, I'm no scientist, not even close, but I'm pretty sure it has been proven that even when the moon isn't "full," the entire moon still remains in orbit.
I was watching a show a couple years back on TLC about the effects of a "full moon" on people and the reasons strange things sometimes seem to happen and people act out when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.
One of the reasons provided was because of the increased gravitational pull of the moon when it is "full" and that affecting the residents of Earth. Now, I'm no scientist, not even close, but I'm pretty sure it has been proven that even when the moon isn't "full," the entire moon still remains in orbit.
To quote my father:
What's that old saying about give em what they want. if the old formula worked they would still use it. Unfortunately the newer one sells more ad time and the audience in general prefers this one.
Good point. Kind of falls in line with the general dumbing down of America. Look at what other tripe is getting ratings.
"Reality" is cheaper than script writers or field experts.
I was watching a show a couple years back on TLC about the effects of a "full moon" on people and the reasons strange things sometimes seem to happen and people act out when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.
One of the reasons provided was because of the increased gravitational pull of the moon when it is "full" and that affecting the residents of Earth. Now, I'm no scientist, not even close, but I'm pretty sure it has been proven that even when the moon isn't "full," the entire moon still remains in orbit.
Yep, the full moon is still there.
Now, the gravitational argument could be logically made for when the moon is at perigee orbit relative to the earth, but the difference in gravitational pull (so I've read) is insignificant because (unlike the planets around the sun), the moon's orbit around the earth is very nearly circular. But, like the man said, why let the facts interfere with a good story.
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