Commercial Broadcasting

The ‘Gag’ Rule

No, I'm not talking about some political rule in congress; and I'm not making reference to anything in jurisprudence either! My use of the "Gag Rule" refers to something completely different. My Gag Rule is that American television (and radio) has now gotten so commercialized, trivialized, and bastardized that if you simply surf the channels or stations you will very probably GAG as a result of what you find!

Basically, there are two separate and equally disgusting characteristics that can be easily observed at anytime of the day or night, on any station.

The first GAG is that the preponderance of commercial interruptions completely destroys the continuity of virtually ANY program content. And, the second GAG is that the program contents themselves have become so disgracefully banal and simpleminded that the deluge of commercials is almost MORE enjoyable than the programs themselves.

We now watch programs in which people play poker (with background narration), or people try to answer questions that most third graders could answer when I was in school -- and need to "phone a friend" for help then get it wrong anyway -- GAG! Or we watch so called "reality" shows which occasionally experience "writers strikes" (October 2005)! If they are REALLY reality shows, why do they need writers? GAG!

Then of course there is professional wrestling, UNprofessional advice shows for people who are socially dysfunctional, soap operas that highlight all that is wrong with modern society, and even news programs that hype upcoming news items during their own program to keep you from changing channels! Gag, Gag, GAG!

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright hit the nail squarely on the head way back in the 1960s when he characterized commercial TV as "chewing gum for the eyes!" Gag!