"When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better.
But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you
to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes
on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a
magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a
rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the
station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast
wasteland.
You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about
totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence,
sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes,
gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly commercials — many
screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all, boredom. True,
you'll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few.
And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it."
- FCC chairman Newton N. Minow in his speech at the convention of National Association of Broadcasters 05/09/1961
p.s.: I could not believe my eyes: only 3 weeks after I posted an article on American television I found out that even an FCC chairman agreed with me, some 54 years ago. If someone in such a position did not or could not do anything to improve it, I think it's safe to say the subject is doomed.
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