Bones of contention

Our recent article on intrusive television elicited a lot of reactions, many of them agreeing that on-cam TV people should be on their best behavior, because their shows enter into viewers’ homes. Of course, current practice is far from that ideal, hence the need for much more self-regulation in this regard.

On the other hand, some TV people have responded by pointing out that viewers are “overloading” the broadcast industry with too many “extra” duties and responsibilities that shouldn’t be imposed in it.

For one thing, some viewers say that TV should be an alternative “teacher” of young children, but some broadcasters point out that teaching is the responsibility of parents and teachers, not theirs.
Educational and even instructional television is an actuality in some countries that don’t favor “free” TV but go in for “fee TV.” But, the local TV system is funded by the money our TV networks earn from airing sponsors’ commercials, so entertainment should be its major concern, not education. —What’s your opinion regarding this sticky issue?

Contentious topic

Another contentious topic is stars’ loss of privacy, which opens their sins and scandals up for everyone to gawk at, get “deliciously” shocked by, and comment on—and on.

Some industry insiders shrug, “It comes with the territory. When you became a public figure, you surrender your right to privacy to the media and the public—it’s part and parcel of your ‘contract’ with them. So, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!”

On the other hand, there are some luminaries who believe that the only thing they owe the public is a good performance. —So, who’s right?

Personally, we favor the “good performance” advocates’ stand because, frankly speaking, we find most stars’ lives, and even their most outrageous and smelliest sins and scandals, numbingly predictable and boring.

What happens below their navels is of utter disinterest to us—but, if they don’t come up with good performances, our right to competent entertainment is flouted, so they won’t hear the end of it.

Frankly, the only time we were shocked by a local show biz scandal was when we heard that a midget starlet was rumored to have—a sex video!

Another bone of contention as per viewer-readers’ feedback: The 2012 Metro Manila Film Festival’s predictably commercial lineup of official entries. —More on that issue next time!