From: lwv26@cas.org (Larry W. Virden)
Subject: Re: SF-LOVERS Digest   V17 #381
Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.tv
Reply-To: lvirden@cas.org (Larry W. Virden)
Organization: Nedriv Software and Shoe Shiners, Uninc.
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 11:44:24 GMT

In article <920727125839.202000b8@LENORE.TCH.HARVARD.EDU> ELKOWITZ@LENORE.TCH.HARVARD.EDU (Allan Elkowitz) writes:
:
:I suppose I would like to know that too.  Of course, the same could be said
:about many other stupid shows people seem to like.  How else can you explain
:the popularity of Green Acres, even after 20 years, or most of today's
:silly talk shows?
:

WARNING!  While the above comment set off the following flame, I do NOT
direct it at Mr. Elkowitz personally - this is a peeve of mine that gets
sounded occasionally.  If the characterization does not fit you Mr.
Elkowitz, then please feel free to ignore it. 

FLAME ON!

You know, I get tired of hearing the pseudo intellectuals in this country
who poo-poo the world's fascination with TV dramas.  For some reason,
it became quite popular in the 60s and 70s to think of TV as the great
wasteland because it did not exclusively deal in political commentary or
other documentary forms of education.  These so called intelligentia
seem to think the majority of the world is just a large number of stupid
red neck illiterate peons only worthy of the crud on their shoes, and they
take every opportunity to let those around them know they would never
waste their time watching such crap.

Fine - perhaps that is the case.  What is interesting to note is that 
the spectrum of folk who watch things like Quantum Leap are, in general,
quite intelligent, well adjusted, normal humans.  They are both male and
female, work across the spectrum of the work force, enjoy life in the
fullest.  As far as I have noted personally (and things might be quite
different elsewhere in the USA) these folk have a good life, do some
reading, sometimes some writing, get out and get exercise, contribute
to the US ecomomy, have families, etc.  They enjoy watching shows in
which they can care about the characters.  Whether they are watching
soap operas, weekly sitcoms, dramas, dramadies, game shows, sports,
cartoons, or anything else, all they ask for is a period of time where
they need not worry about their real-life pressures, concerns, trials.
They want a few moments reprieve from dealing with the parent who is dying
of cancer, the child who has a croup, the boss who is demanding more than
the 40 hrs a week they are paid for, the polititians who are stealing the
present and future of our country, etc.

An earlier poster asked what it was about QL that folks liked.  Myself,
I enjoy the characters of Sam and Al.  Some of the solutions to problems
are not what I would write, sure.  But over the years, these two 'characters'
I have come to enjoy watching.  I think of watching QL in the same manner
as I do when I read the Amber series of novels, or Asimov's Foundation/Robot
series, or any other series that fits into an intellectual's narrow
view of useful time spent.  I want to know what happens next.  The thing
I regret most about QL is there is little continuity - but then, that is
the practicality of life outside the tube.

FLAME OFF

-- 
Larry W. Virden			UUCP: osu-cis!chemabs!lvirden
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