THE BOOB TUBE

 

TV gets a bad rap.  I haven’t researched the matter but I’m guessing the term “Boob Tube” came about from some nerdy types who lumped all TV watchers into one category of lazy, couch bound zombies who weren’t intelligent enough to entertain themselves.  A kind of a Forrest Gump category of people.  I beg to differ. 

There are those of course, who that description aptly describes.  These are the same people who have immersed themselves in to today’s tech world so deep they can no longer communicate in the English language.  Hoodies were invented for these people who exist in a slumped over state, so engrossed in their e-device du jour, for such extended periods of time their friends no longer know what they look or sound like.  Leaving those people aside, for the rest of us the Television may be the greatest invention since clothing. 

On July 20, 1969 I sat transfixed in front of my TV as Neil Armstrong’s voice spoke the words “Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed”, from the surface of the moon.  THE SURFACE OF THE MOON!!  As spellbinding a moment as I can remember.  Thanks also to television I witnessed the thrilling countdowns to blast off of most of our space programs successes as well as the gut wrenching explosion of Challenger, 73 seconds into its flight and the breaking apart of Columbia upon re-entry into earth’s atmosphere.   

I was watching live as John F. Kennedy gave his famous “Ask Not” speech and recall vividly his funeral.  The image of the prancing horse Black Jack with simple black, spurred Cavalry boots reversed in the stirrups signifying a fallen leader looking back on his troops for the last time, will be with me forever.  

There were assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, inaugurations of presidents, Royal weddings and tributes to many entertainers who Americans loved, most recently Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. 

And who among us can’t remember where they were and what they were doing on the morning of September 11^th.  As the entire nation did, I sat in front of my TV in horror and then disbelief as a wayward plane crash into the World Trade Center turned into a well orchestrated stab at the heart of America.  Thanks to television we will never forget.

Millions begin their day with a quick news fix and a weather report, ever so helpful in dressing for the day, and then a glance at the screen with different colors and flashing lights signifying traffic conditions as they head out the door.  Returning home at the end of the day they settle in front of the TV in their favorite chair hoping to lose themselves for awhile before turning out the lights.  They next morning they repeat the ritual for the gazillionth time, maybe having been slightly refreshed by an episode of Mash, Cheers, The Office or Modern Family. 

Then there is the little noticed educational side of television.  What parent can’t trace some of our kid’s earliest learning experiences to Sesame Street?  Elmo, the Cookie Monster and Oscar were positive influences for generations of kids.  As they grew older there were documentary series such as Victory at Sea, Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, Band of Brothers and Blue Planet.   There are channels that teach you how to cook, remodel your house, make jewelry and design clothes.  There are History channels, those featuring autobiographies, the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. 

Once in a while you come across a gem.  I recently watched the story of how Dolly Parton conceived the song “I Will Always Love You”.  She said she simply wanted to tell a man how she felt about him.  Then there was an emotional documentary about Bob Marley and how he helped so many of the downtrodden people of Jamaica mon who were given hope when he sang “Everything going to be alright”.   

Some will say nothing says couch potato like sports on TV.  I must agree that it can bring out the worst in some of us.  But on the positive side are the too many to mention memorable moments we have front row seats for thanks to TV.  The impact on young minds can be significant as I can personally attest.  Our family watched Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci bound through there Olympic gymnastics routines, arch their backs and thrust their chests forward while throwing their arms up and back to signify a completed routine for the judges.  Suddenly our daughters, along with millions of others, were flopping around their living rooms then doing the Olga and Nadia posses as if performing on stage themselves. 

One of my personal favorite TV sports moments was so much more than sports.  It was the little noticed performance by a brave Iranian woman in a sprint race at the last Olympic Games.  Despite ridicule and death threats towards her and her family she was on the starting line ready to race.  The head to toe clothing required by her religion could not hide the fear in her eyes.    When the gun went off she was so startled she did not move at first and then took off running.  She finished last by a bunch but she finished in what was one of the most moving scenes of the Games. 

I defend television because some would have you believe there is something cerebral about reading a book that is lacking if one chooses to watch a television program about the very same subject.  I am all for books and libraries but there are certain things that are immeasurably enhanced by beautiful, high definition color and artful narration.  The best writers in the world could work their magic on any of the subjects I have mentioned here and not produce as impactful a finished product as the best TV producers and directors. 

I enjoy a good book as much as anyone but given the choice of isolating myself while I spend the hours or days it takes to read a book or spend the time watching a TV special, event or series while chatting with my family or friends, I’ll go the TV route. 

My name is Forest, Forest Smith.