Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wall Street Journal Tests Head/Ass Compatibility

Like most women, I don’t really understand business. Quarterly projections, leveraged buyouts, bulls, bears – like Barbie said, “Math is hard!” That’s why I read The Wall Street Journal. I don’t really understand what it says, but it sounds smart. Plus, pretty pictures! One suggestion, though – less Ben Bernanke, more Daniel Craig.

Anyway, today I was just tickled to find my go-to business paper deigning to discuss my favorite topic. In a recent WSJ Business Technology Blog post (subscription required), Ben Worthen takes on television:

Television characters have never been known for their depth. Usually writers take a stereotype – the sloppy single guy, the dumb blond, the grouchy old guy – add a catchphrase and call it a day. It’s easy to dismiss these programs as lacking any societal benefit, but that’s not totally right. They’re a useful barometer of how society views certain character types.

Gee, Ben, what are you watching on TV? Wasn’t it awful when Yes, Dear got cancelled? At least you can console yourself with new episodes of According to Jim. Poor Courtney Thorne Smith – her husband is such a boor! Plus, CSI: Miami still has healthy ratings. So there’s still plenty of crap on television. You’ll have stuff to complain about forever, as long as you steer clear of anything worth watching.

I guess I shouldn’t be too hard on Ben. I mean, WSJ reporters have never been known for their depth. Usually they just take an unoriginal idea – television is low brow, anything commercially popular is intellectually inferior – throw in a quote from a hedge fund manager, and call it a day. It’s easy to dismiss these “journalists” as lacking any societal benefit, but that’s not totally right. They’re a useful barometer of how far one’s head can be shoved up one’s own ass.