This second week of television we progressed into more modern shows and television aspects ranging from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Today in class we watched an episode of ER, as someone who watched many episodes of Greys Anatomy, I found it fascinating to see the difference in style and focus between the character and the ER as a protagonist. In Greys Anatomy the surgeries and medical issues almost work around the personal drama among the coworkers. I think it is interesting the priorities that both the audience and the producers have when comparing the too. I think it says a lot about our society’s mindset when comparing what we what to watch to get away from real life.

Aside from ER, we also watched the first episode of the Netflix episode The Eighties. It explained the jump from just the late 70s to the 80s and how much cable changed people’s relationship with television as well as each other. I thought it was interesting how different cable changed how people watched TV. In the film, they mentioned how the late 70s was the last time that people gathered around the television like it was an “electric” fireplace. Great examples of this include ER, Dallas, and M*A*S*H*, M*A*S*H* finale which too this day leads the most-watched episode at the same time. It is amazing how something such as a show could stop time for that many people and have them stop their lives to watch the finale.

In this day and age, television brings people together only in access to ideas and knowledge, however, overall I feel as though it brings people apart as that they can each watch there own show: alone and in a separate room. The abundance of choices doe snot give the same excitement fro finales or airings that the pre-cable era gave.

Finally, on Monday we watched the Pioneers of Television, a documentary about incredible and inspiring women of television and comedy. It was very interesting to watch the struggles and expectations fo being a woman through the lens of the television world. One of the most influential people, who still is making people laugh is Betty White. One of the things that I find most interesting about her is that she is still alive. I think this is a great example of showing how quickly everything is this technology era has been changing. All the women in that video were truly inspiring.

-Grace Hanlon