A revolution of lowered expectation

Humor at primetime slot is a very pervasive component of television programming, which has brought about a revolution of lowered expectation. This is because daily boob tube sitcoms abound 10 pieces a cent, which could well provide social scientists empirical data on why legions of Filipinos voluntarily succumb and wallow into vicarious experiences for “wholesome family entertainment.”  

This form of entertainment deadens and anesthetizes the people’s sensibilities against a daily diet of government scams, political razzmatazz, gory killings, and sizzling movie gossips (anchors, advertisers, and TV stations earn millions this way, do they?) especially on Sundays. 

However, such form of entertainment brings to the fore the Filipinos’ proclivity to laugh at their own humor—at themselves—with the end result that people, especially the young, become intellectually malnourished and virtual idiot box trash bins. 

Against this backdrop, such “whole family entertainment” thrives. Television ratings soar, sponsors edge out one another for primetime slot, the ad industry booms, television stations rake in more money than ever, while the gullible viewers get less and less. 

Such programs present scripted plots based on simple make-believe experiences magnified 10-fold, aside from a heavy bombardment of commercials telling everyone what to drink for lasting friendship, smoke for respectability, what to spray for wholesome body odor (oink, oink!), where to remove those fats and abs, and what to use during one’s period even if one wears a white jean. 

Years ago, a study conducted by Prof. Joanne Cantor of the University of Wisconsin on the effect of humor on recall of a radio ad has far-reaching implications for advertisers. She said, “Humor enhances attention to itself, but not necessarily to the information presented with it…” 

 Watching TV slapsticks also readily transports one to the end of the world where cuss words are predominantly used. Viewers salivate. Programming as a concept is dead. ]

Tom Shales, formerly of the Los Angeles Times, once lamented:  “The network will put anything on the air that sells; the old values like class and prestige are practically extinct. Our lowered expectations of television seep over into other aspects of modern life. If you tried to put on a program about wisdom or courage now, you’d be laughed right out of the conference room. Television tells us to fine-tune our expectations downward and just be grateful that some nut doesn’t blow up the world.” 

Now that the Trillanes, NBN deal, impeachment, P500,000 cash gift to governors, the Burgos disappearance, killings of journalists, and a host of other scams seemed to have been drowned by the Christmas season, and government functionaries explaining why the World Bank should not hold its loans against Pilipinas Kong Mahal because of excessive corruptions, it’s back to the boob tube for “wholesome family entertainment.”  

We can only hope that nobody dies in a stampede during a revolution of lowered expectation!

~ by jfgoloyugo on December 9, 2007.