tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post2435767383155494236..comments2023-10-28T06:19:33.110-04:00Comments on Current.org Blog: Noting that Romney likes pubcasting, Kerger is glad for bipartisan supportDruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113068910907963072noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-19648395049487437612012-01-06T10:08:15.834-05:002012-01-06T10:08:15.834-05:00“Programming like Pawn Stars and American Pickers ...“Programming like Pawn Stars and American Pickers is not the same as American Experience and Ken Burns.” <br /><br />But it is very much like, oh, say, "Antiques Roadshow," right down to the cha-ching of the cash register at the payoff.<br /><br />The fact that History Channel and Discovery Channel have drifted away from PBS-style programming should tell you something: maybe PBS-style programming is largely boring, infinitely repetitive, and downright tedious.<br /><br />If it wasn't for British-imported soap operas such as the incessantly hyped and cross-promoted "Downton Abbey" on "Masterpiece" (and, really, *that's* a masterpiece??), viewership would be running on empty.<br /><br />When Bill Moyers has to go on one of his hiatuses in order to dig up more funding, as he discussed in a recent speech reported in these very pages but Koch Industries-funded nature program eye candy continues on year after year, well, I suspect that tells you all you need to know about PBS programming.Stevenoreply@blogger.com