From: v101pyrw@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Michelle L. Zafron)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv
Subject: Re: Dreck or Not Dreck
Date: 5 Apr 92 21:35:00 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Mar29.000427.13082@leland.Stanford.EDU>, ridenour@leland.Stanford.EDU (Robert Lynn Ridenour) writes...
>In article <1992Mar28.141802.18731@lmpsbbs.mot.com> fergus@areaplg2.corp.mot.com (George Fergus) writes:
>>In article <1992Mar28.084609.5767@leland.Stanford.EDU>
>>  ridenour@leland.Stanford.EDU (Robert Lynn Ridenour) writes:
>>>Dreck:
>>>     The Golden Girls
>>>     Empty Nest
>>>     Nurses
>>>     Anything with Bob Saget  (I think I'm gonna hurl!)
>>>     Anything beginning with "America's Funniest..."
>>>     Murder, She Wrote
>>>     Designing Women
>>>     Full House
>>>     Rescue 911
>>>     Unsolved Mysteries
>>>     The Cosby Show - with the exception of the first few seasons
>>>     L.A. Law - became dreck this season
>>>     Family Matters - why is the main character not in the "family?"
>>>     Star Trek: The Next Generation
>>>Not Dreck:
>>>     Growing Pains - dreck this season, but past seasons redeem it
>>>     Dinosaurs - if you don't like it, you haven't watched it
>>>     The Simpsons
>>>     Beverly Hills 90210
>>>     Civil Wars - great opening theme music
>>>     The Wonder Years
>>>     Baywatch - ok, maybe dreck now, but first season was definitely great

>>What an extreme view you have.  I would class most of these shows in that
>>vast middle ground of the occasionally worthwhile.  "Dreck" is for shows
>>with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.  Shows also do not make sudden
>>quantum leaps (no relation) from "great" to "dreck".

>>Shows like DESIGNING WOMEN, STAR TREK, and L.A. LAW, though they have
>>perhaps fallen off lately, are certainly not dreck.  

Maybe we all have different definitions of "dreck".  Now I am a media junkie.
I watch way too much tv, and I can't believe some of the shows people are 
considering "dreck".  HOGAN'S HEROES was dreck.  SMALL WONDER was dreck.  Dreck
tv shows are programs you sit and watch because you cannot believe that anything
could be this tasteless or bad or utterly pathetic.  

Now LA LAW was never great tv.  It's gotten a lot worse this season too.  But
it's not dreck.  There are far worse programs on the air now.  It's ranged from
good to decent to mediocre.  But I've yet to see an episode where I could find
nothing watchable.  Even when the stories have s*cked big time, good 
performances have kicked it over the "bad" category.

DESIGNING WOMEN has been bad this season, but past seasons have been IMHO, 
great.

And by no means would I classify STAR TREK: TNG as dreck.  It may not measure up
to your exacting standards (if you are a Trekker), but people--there is so much
trash on the airwaves out there today.  I know, I've watched it.  When you have 
a program where the majority of the acting is good, the stories range from 
passable to good, and the production values are decent--then you have a fair tv
show.  It may not be art.  It may not be even great.  But it is not bottom of 
the barrel sludge.  

Maybe this is all pointless, so much of this has to be chalked up to our humble
opinions.  I'd have to rate a lot of what the first posted listed as "not dreck"
as poor television.   What he listed as "dreck" (ST:TNG, Designing Women, LA 
LAW) are shows I make an effort to watch.  Oh well...

>Bob
--Michelle L. Zafron (v101pyrw@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu)
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"Suppose that you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress.  But
 I repeat myself."
                                 --Mark Twain   
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