Aaron Berkowitz – General Assignment Reporter
For a while it seemed as though the popularity of television shows was going to be replaced by an increase in people watching movies, said Jamie Rowland, a junior liberal studies major.
“I remember there would be lots of times during the week where I couldn’t find any good shows to watch on TV,” said Rowland, “But I started watching old seasons of shows like ‘Sons of Anarchy,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ last year. I haven’t really had the same problem since then.”
Nowadays television really caters to everyone’s individual wants and needs. If someone wants to see action and excitement then they can turn on “Sons of Anarchy” or “Breaking Bad.” If another person wants to watch a sitcom they can check out episodes of ABC’s “Modern Family.” There’s also the popular political thriller “Scandal” which debuted its third season with more than 10.5 million viewers tuning in.
Elaine Hernandez, a senior interpersonal communications major, said she believes television is making a comeback because newer shows provide the audience with more to relate to. She also said the modern day portrayal of society in a show like “Modern Family” is accurate and good for the audience to see.
“I believe this show [Modern Family] can start a whole new wave [of television],” said Hernandez. “Now in our society we have very mixed [interracial] families, and families that do consist of same sex marriage, which many people need to understand and accept.”
Kaleigh Michaud, a senior liberal studies major, said she believes a show like “Modern Family” is needed on television right now.
“I haven’t seen another show that shows our country’s diversity like ‘Modern Family,’” said Michaud. “The diverse cast appeals to a much more broad audience and it also shows how our society has moved towards accepting people’s sexual orientation and comfortableness with interracial relationships over time.”
Michaud says television shows can be influential to its viewers in both a negative and positive way.
“Shows like ‘Modern Family’ can boost someone’s confidence,” said Michaud. “The families on the show not only show diversity in our country, but also can reassure people that just because they are in a same-sex or an interracial relationship does not mean they are any different from any other family.”
Rowland says he stays clear of “Modern Family,” but enjoys shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Sons of Anarchy” because the plot of the shows provides him an outlet to everyday life.
“It’s interesting,” said Rowland. “I don’t know how else to put it. There’s always something exciting happening, whether it’s a shootout or a motorcycle chase. I think the main reason I kept watching ‘Sons of Anarchy’ was because it was just something new. I see so many of the same shows being re-made or just stupid shows being aired all the time, but ‘SOA’ actually has an original plot and never has a dull moment.”
Michaud said she also believes that even with a lot of good television shows coming out in the past few years, there are still a lot of shows she thinks receive too much attention.
“I feel that the “Teen Mom” shows promote that if you have a baby at a young age that you can always back yourself up with a TV show,” said Michaud. “We need a show talking about 18 and graduating or 20 and paying for school on my own reality shows, not about young girls getting pregnant. Let’s celebrate the good of our youth, not support stupidity.”
