Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson
anybody complex good million news programs shows suggest watch watching younger
The good news is that, today, adults can watch programs that were way better than before. We can watch 'The Sopranos' and 'Deadwood' and 'Sex and the City' and other really interesting, emotionally complex shows that I would not in a million years suggest watching with anybody younger than 14.
comic complex great lack longevity quality stopped
Even if it stopped now, its combination of longevity and quality has never been matched, ... is one of the great comic creations. ... He's complex in his own lack of complexity.
center consensus consider cultural divisive enormous everybody facts happening lack medium miss nature provide radio realize television time total
I think we have yet to realize how much we are going to miss that. I don't think it's a total coincidence that it's happening at the same time there's an increasingly divisive nature in the country. What the consensus medium of television used to do, and radio before that, was to provide this enormous center that everybody had to go to now and then. ... Now, there is a lack of cultural consensus that even extends to what we consider the body of facts we used to debate.
bunch characters compelling essence hook people
I think that dramatically, he had kind of been used up, ... If they can put some other compelling new characters in there that can hook people with a bunch of new storylines, you in essence have got a new show.
beyond children doctor doubt legal soap time
I think it's now beyond a trend. It's now a form, just like soap operas, doctor shows, or legal shows. I doubt you, me, our children or our grandchildren will know a time without it.
basic family last learned prepared
I think we all learned not only from 9/11, but even from the snowstorms last fall, that being prepared - yourself and your family - with the basic necessities can only help.
air behave colonial easy extent figure guitar historical iconic invite kid opportunity people psychology rock sick wanting ways
I think to some extent the opportunity to go and take the place of an iconic figure of rock and roll, well, what's the psychology of not wanting to do that? You'll see a kid play air guitar in a garage. It's the same thing. It's easy for these people to get teased, and some behave in ways that they invite it. But I don't think it's intrinsically sick or strange. What is colonial Williamsburg but people in historical drag?
appeal couple few grandma kids love loves network past seldom shows time tv wide
It is one of the few shows on American television, especially after you get past those first couple of weeks, where really little kids love it, grandma loves it. It's got the kind of wide appeal we used to see all the time on network TV that we very seldom see anymore.
affinity age certain consciousness high psyche until watch
You always have a certain affinity to the programming you watch from the age of six, ... where your consciousness is formed, until high school, and anything that comes after that will be positioned in your psyche in a different way.
home instead kids opened parents playing poker staying talking
Parents are now talking about kids staying home playing poker instead of going out to movies. It opened up this whole other area.
becomes clear develop industry land north oil percent slope wants
It becomes very clear that the oil industry wants to develop 100 percent of the North Slope - the land and the ocean.
becomes media
It becomes just another media in which these celebrities work.
alone argument bad characters death gay kinds kiss means sign
Will & Grace' alone should make the argument that gay characters are by no means the kiss of death for a show. There's no sign that these kinds of characters are bad for ratings.
apply definition guys perky sexist
That definition of perky is really kind of a sexist statement. We could apply that to a lot of guys as well.