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And now, for something completely different, a message from Dr. Twain Weck of the Institute for Backup Trauma. Caution, some scenes may prove too funny for words..

Filed under: Industry, Programming

It's not news to us here at TV Squad, but Steven Johnson in The New York Times Magazine writes an interesting essay (excerpted from his upcoming book) on how the television of today actually makes us smarter. And even though I say interesting it doesn't mean it's not off on a few points. It's a long read, but it has a lot to do with the multi-story arcs that have been part of the television landscape since Hill Street Blues. Personally, I think soap operas - both daytime and primetime soaps like Dallas -did it before Hill Street Blues. Johnson touches on soap opera structure being carried over to prime time dramas, but not enough for my liking, and seems to dismiss certain shows because the subject matter wasn't "serious." And why cite Joe Millionaire as an example that even bad TV has gotten better? He says Joe Millionaire is an advance over Battle of the Network Stars. This is incredibly off-base. Still, any serious piece of writing that is pro-TV in some way I'm all for. And just in time for TV Turnoff Week!