Chicks-n-Scratching

With A & E. I used to love this channel, but here lately it seems to be a storm drain of depressing reality shows. Where’s the Arts and Entertainment in that? Used to be they would make original movies that became classics – Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth anyone? The Scarlet Pimpernel series starring Richard E. Grant? Or what about those great Agatha Christie mysteries they used to show? There’s nothing like that anymore.

Now, while I enjoy Bill Kurtis and his American Justice and Cold Case Files shows, I’m thinking and entire marathon of 48 Hours, that takes up the amount of time it’s named after is a bit much. If they want to have one day of their programming devoted to reality tv, that’s one thing. But everyday of the week? Bad. Very bad. With the exception of Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Love that show! But then Gene is cool no matter what.

And while I’m on the subject, what does Pawn Stars and American Pickers really have to do with the History Channel? (I mean I understand there is history behind the items being found) But both these shows are time sucks. I tell myself I’m absolutely not going to watch and what happens, they come on and I find myself watching them and unable to look away. I get sucked into the abyss.

Which brings me to all the really super uneccessary shows on E. Like Kendra. And the Kardashian sisters. I mean really. Who cares? Makes me shake my head in wonder. I firmly believe that every time one of these shows are viewed, the collective IQ of the entire country goes down by at least 20 points.

I think this is where my programming snobbery really comes out. As a devoted documentary junkie, I will watch anything from the mating cycle of the gnat to how to make rubber stamps. I find these programs terribly fascinating. And the best part is I’m learning something I didn’t know before. It’s a win-win. I’m also a devotee to old movies. Just last night the hubster and I watched Akira Kirasawa’s The Fortress (1958) – and while I’ll admit, I didn’t like it as much as I adored Seven Samurai, I did like it very much.

Other shows that capture my interest, The Universe (History Channel), Naked Archeologist (History International) – (sadly we don’t get this channel anymore so I’m bereft of Simcha’s company on Tuesday nights. Also, the Food Network has taken up a large part of my time lately. Diners, Drive-ins and Dives rocks!

Netflicks has become an addiction. You can get just about anything on there, from old monster movies to modern Manga. It’s really quite awesome. Now you can also do instant videos through your computer or PS3 and not have to wait for the mail to deliver the DVD’s. How cool is that? I’ve gotten hooked on the short-lived series, Moonlight, where sexy vampire Mick St. John (played by the delicious Alex O’Loughlin)  protects the innocent of L.A. I never got a chance to watch this while it was on television, but now I’m catching up…and boy am I pissed that series was cancelled. It’s just damn hot! Netflicks is also going to be my window into seeing the very first episode of Farscape. (Which I haven’t seen to this day) Not to mention all the episodes I missed there in the middle after Zan left the show, or was killed or whatever happened. See, I missed so many of them I don’t even know. But shhhhh, don’t tell me. I want to watch them all in order from beginning to end. And then there are all the BBC shows that I love like Last of the Summer Wine and others I’ve seen an episode of here or there but want to see the entire program for, like Monarch of the Glen and Ballykissangel.

So, what do you want to watch? Are there certain channels that the programming gets under your skin so bad it’s an automatic skip on your remote?

Let me know, I can’t be the only one annoyed by what’s on the tube.

-Kate

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