Sarcastic Bastard

i have a new understanding of why star trek fans are generally considered to be the nerdiest folks in existence. now, i'm not talking about the casual fans, but the hard-core, dress-like-spock and talk with lisps fans. i was on the aint it cool news web site today, browsing through comments about last night's "24" season premiere (i was extremely bored). here is part of a comment that was on AICN's site, about 24 (this person is talking about what he liked about the episode):
"There are TWO former Star Trek actors in the show so far: Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) and the President's advisor (who played a lieutenant cmdr while under Data's command on a blockade to stop Commander Sela from supplying the Duras family)."
can someone explain to me how this is AT ALL relevant to the quality of 24? it's quite sad when that level of devotion causes completely irrelevant excitement about another show. and then there are the people like kal, who'll watch anything with the star trek brand name (ie. "enterprise"), even if they don't actually like the show all that much. (i just had to throw that one in there, even though it has nothing to do with my thoughts today)

but all this is really just a preamble about my thoughts on the comment sections on web sites, or call-in shows on radio/tv stations. it blows my mind to read/hear what people say sometimes. their slavish devotion to a particular subject/sport/tv show, or whatever else, is sick! back in the summer, on an american idol board, i came across a header that read "YOU'LL REGRET THIS!" because a particular contestant had been voted off. a couple of the 24 comments read as follows:
"What in the hell is wrong with people??? 24 should be in the top 5 for the Neilsens every week!!!!"
"Are you out of your mind!?!"

and then, of course, there are the comments on web sites like tsn.ca...angry leafs fans, people who hate the leafs more than anything else in the world, people who are convinced they can do a better job, people who know all the answers, etc. the ironic part about this message board culture is that people who will swear up and down that they hate something can't seem to get enough of it! "buffy sucks this year, i can't wait till next week's episode!" or "i never watch that show, it sucks...remember the one when...?"

i can't figure it out...these people seem to believe that they have the pulse on the world. they are oblivious to the fact that they are a minority. back to the 24 example. i'm a fairly new fan of the show (i watched a few times last year, but missed enough shows that i gave up), and it really is extremely well done. but i'm not about to start telling people they're crazy if they don't watch it, or tell them that whatever they're watching is shit! the fact is, the audience ultimately decides the fate of tv shows. back when american idol was on, voters called in to support the one they wanted to win. arguing against ratings and poll results is pretty pointless. not that i agree with it - i'm just as disappointed when millions of people watch lowest common denominator crap like "fear factor" and "the bachelor". but it looks like that stuff may be what the public wants, at least for now. (though this subject brings out a whole other ball of wax regarding sociological issues, politics, escapism, economics...countless issues that determine what goes to air and what doesn't)

oh man, i think i lost focus somewhere here! feels like i've been working on an essay :)

Dr. Leor

posted by leor @ 13:42