“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday just after 8 AM and 5 PM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of October 11, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Infomercials
Over
the last couple years when I have talked about changes and
innovations in the media world it wasn’t always good news for
institutions that I have enjoyed over the years. This story, while
not good news for everyone, is one that I think will be met with
general approval. I may be jumping the gun just a little bit but how
would you feel if I told you that the age of the infomercial was
coming to an end?
the last couple years when I have talked about changes and
innovations in the media world it wasn’t always good news for
institutions that I have enjoyed over the years. This story, while
not good news for everyone, is one that I think will be met with
general approval. I may be jumping the gun just a little bit but how
would you feel if I told you that the age of the infomercial was
coming to an end?
Infomercials,
also known as long form commercials, direct response advertising or
simply “paid programming” have been around for awhile. The very
first one may have aired as early as 1974 in San Diego. They really
take off following the 1984 Reagan administration’s elimination of
hourly time limits on commercials for television. Suddenly, TV
stations saw that they could make money on otherwise dead advertising
times, like over night, and weekends. Plus it was easy, a single
program filled an entire half hour or hour. It was set and forget
kinds of television. And it was locally controlled advertising.
That meant all the money from that time slot went right into the
local station’s pocket. There are few things in this world that
makes local media happier than money they don’t have to share.
also known as long form commercials, direct response advertising or
simply “paid programming” have been around for awhile. The very
first one may have aired as early as 1974 in San Diego. They really
take off following the 1984 Reagan administration’s elimination of
hourly time limits on commercials for television. Suddenly, TV
stations saw that they could make money on otherwise dead advertising
times, like over night, and weekends. Plus it was easy, a single
program filled an entire half hour or hour. It was set and forget
kinds of television. And it was locally controlled advertising.
That meant all the money from that time slot went right into the
local station’s pocket. There are few things in this world that
makes local media happier than money they don’t have to share.
The
problem, at least from the viewers point of view, was that this paid
programming replaced syndicated programming during those hours.
Re-runs cost money, infomercials made money, so it was a simple
equation for the station.
problem, at least from the viewers point of view, was that this paid
programming replaced syndicated programming during those hours.
Re-runs cost money, infomercials made money, so it was a simple
equation for the station.
But,
as is so often the case, the times they are a changin’. Today there
are many more outlets for viewers to watch what they WANT to watch.
The infomercials are actually giving viewers another reason to stop
watching the local TV. That sounds like money leaving the pocket to
the local stations. KRON-TV in San Francisco has decided to take a
step back. They are abandoning daytime infomercials for a return to
syndicated programming. Think about it, since audiences are less
inclined to sit through a thirty second spot or a three minute
commercial break, why would they put up with thirty to sixty minutes
of it?
as is so often the case, the times they are a changin’. Today there
are many more outlets for viewers to watch what they WANT to watch.
The infomercials are actually giving viewers another reason to stop
watching the local TV. That sounds like money leaving the pocket to
the local stations. KRON-TV in San Francisco has decided to take a
step back. They are abandoning daytime infomercials for a return to
syndicated programming. Think about it, since audiences are less
inclined to sit through a thirty second spot or a three minute
commercial break, why would they put up with thirty to sixty minutes
of it?
While
I started this by talking about the end of infomercials, that’s
probably overstating the case. There are still plenty of people who
believe in long form advertising and no doubt can show the sales
figures that prove it. Even if they are less high profile on
broadcast TV there’s no reason to think they won’t find their way on
station’s websites. No local broadcaster ever simply walked away
from easy money. Not ever. Not once.
I started this by talking about the end of infomercials, that’s
probably overstating the case. There are still plenty of people who
believe in long form advertising and no doubt can show the sales
figures that prove it. Even if they are less high profile on
broadcast TV there’s no reason to think they won’t find their way on
station’s websites. No local broadcaster ever simply walked away
from easy money. Not ever. Not once.
But
it’s an interesting world where I can celebrate the return of the
four thousandth airing of “Walker, Texas Ranger”.
it’s an interesting world where I can celebrate the return of the
four thousandth airing of “Walker, Texas Ranger”.
Re-makes and Sequels
When
it comes to entertainment media I am not a huge fan of re-makes,
re-launches or even sequels. Too often they are far more about
wringing more money out of a concept that has already given it’s best
rather than trying to bring something new to the fore. Sequels tend
to get worse as they go along, although I’ve been told that the most
recent installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise is very
good and, of course in the “Star Trek” franchise the reverse is
true, where the first movie is easily the worst. In the end my
concern is always that truly creative story telling is one of the
first casualties of the remake and sequel process.
it comes to entertainment media I am not a huge fan of re-makes,
re-launches or even sequels. Too often they are far more about
wringing more money out of a concept that has already given it’s best
rather than trying to bring something new to the fore. Sequels tend
to get worse as they go along, although I’ve been told that the most
recent installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise is very
good and, of course in the “Star Trek” franchise the reverse is
true, where the first movie is easily the worst. In the end my
concern is always that truly creative story telling is one of the
first casualties of the remake and sequel process.
Let’s
look at the list of upcoming proposed sequels. Can you really get
excited about “23 Jump Street”, “Alien 5”, American Pie 5”,
“Alvin and the Chipmunks 4”, “Beverly Hills Cop 4”, “Bill
and Ted 3”, “Dodgeball 2” or “Dredd 2”? If you answered
yes to any of those movies my immediate question would be why?
look at the list of upcoming proposed sequels. Can you really get
excited about “23 Jump Street”, “Alien 5”, American Pie 5”,
“Alvin and the Chipmunks 4”, “Beverly Hills Cop 4”, “Bill
and Ted 3”, “Dodgeball 2” or “Dredd 2”? If you answered
yes to any of those movies my immediate question would be why?
The
list of re-make candidates isn’t much better. Do we really need to
get a do over on “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!”, “Three Men and a
Baby”, “Police Academy”, or, God help us, “Porkys”? That
last one has been linked with radio shock jock Howard Stern.
Undoubtedly, this would mean that the low brow humor would descend
ever further in a new version. Beyond that folks are talking about
yet another version of “Frankenstein”. Is there any part of that
particular story that hasn’t been completely mined?
list of re-make candidates isn’t much better. Do we really need to
get a do over on “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!”, “Three Men and a
Baby”, “Police Academy”, or, God help us, “Porkys”? That
last one has been linked with radio shock jock Howard Stern.
Undoubtedly, this would mean that the low brow humor would descend
ever further in a new version. Beyond that folks are talking about
yet another version of “Frankenstein”. Is there any part of that
particular story that hasn’t been completely mined?
Then
you have the folks with a professional death wish. The ones that
want to take on a movie already regarded as a classic. Place the
proposed re-make of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” in this category.
You know you’re not going to out Hitchcock Hitchcock. Lunacy.
you have the folks with a professional death wish. The ones that
want to take on a movie already regarded as a classic. Place the
proposed re-make of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” in this category.
You know you’re not going to out Hitchcock Hitchcock. Lunacy.
In
fact, I’ve only seen one re-make idea that appeals to me at all.
There is a proposal to re-make the ’80s cult classic “Road House”.
The original starred Patrick Swayze. In many ways he was the only
thing worth watching in the film. It’s pretty much all you have to
work with in the film. You need someone with that presence who is
still believable as the bouncer in a bar. And I think they might be
onto something. How about the charismatic UFC champion Ronda Rousey?
If she can act even a little bit it’s enough to give you an
interesting new view of the story.
fact, I’ve only seen one re-make idea that appeals to me at all.
There is a proposal to re-make the ’80s cult classic “Road House”.
The original starred Patrick Swayze. In many ways he was the only
thing worth watching in the film. It’s pretty much all you have to
work with in the film. You need someone with that presence who is
still believable as the bouncer in a bar. And I think they might be
onto something. How about the charismatic UFC champion Ronda Rousey?
If she can act even a little bit it’s enough to give you an
interesting new view of the story.
The Age of Narcissism
One of the upsides to having stepped away from a weekly program for a year has been the opportunity to look at the media from a more global point of view. For example, we are living in a time of transition in the media. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about those specific changes but when history looks back on us now, how will they judge us? There was the Age of Aquarius and the Jazz Age and the Gilded Age. What will they call this time period?
My very first thought was that we will be remembered as the “Age of Snark”. If you’ve ever wondered, snark is a combination of the words “snide” and “remark”. It is sarcasm. Now there are plenty of folks who are quite proud of their “snark” but I am unconvinced that it has generally risen to the level of Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table. We may be impressed but I’m not sure History will be as well.
So my second thought was “The Age of Outrage”. Beyond the lovely internal rhyme, it gives a nod to perhaps our greatest pastime in this age. Just puffing up like blowfish, letting our blood pressure rise till it worries our physicians and then lambasting anyone who dares cross any “line in the sand”, no matter how petty it may be. Ranging from declaiming the end of civilization over the use or non-use of the Oxford comma, to death threats because someones political, religious or sports rooting core beliefs have been challenged. For every moment of sincere, intelligent discussion I get at least a half a dozen moments when my intelligence, my parentage, my personal hygiene and/or my right to go on living in this country are attacked in colorful and vitriolic language. It would be a sad legacy.
But it really felt like there was an underlying connection between those previous two. Then it struck me. I fear that we shall be remembered as the “Age of Narcissism”. Narcissism is defined as an excessive interest in oneself, with a grandiose view of one’s talents and a craving for admiration. That really seems to sum up what I see out on the Web most days. Even worse I see it in places beyond the web. Our culture has become more and more obsessed with our individual desires, wants, “rights” and demands. I fear that narcissism is the head water for the snark and outrage that seems prepared to wash away rational disagreement and discussion.
I have a friend who ends her posts with the hashtag “be kind”. It may be that she has stumbled on the cure for the ill of our “age”.
My very first thought was that we will be remembered as the “Age of Snark”. If you’ve ever wondered, snark is a combination of the words “snide” and “remark”. It is sarcasm. Now there are plenty of folks who are quite proud of their “snark” but I am unconvinced that it has generally risen to the level of Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Round Table. We may be impressed but I’m not sure History will be as well.
So my second thought was “The Age of Outrage”. Beyond the lovely internal rhyme, it gives a nod to perhaps our greatest pastime in this age. Just puffing up like blowfish, letting our blood pressure rise till it worries our physicians and then lambasting anyone who dares cross any “line in the sand”, no matter how petty it may be. Ranging from declaiming the end of civilization over the use or non-use of the Oxford comma, to death threats because someones political, religious or sports rooting core beliefs have been challenged. For every moment of sincere, intelligent discussion I get at least a half a dozen moments when my intelligence, my parentage, my personal hygiene and/or my right to go on living in this country are attacked in colorful and vitriolic language. It would be a sad legacy.
But it really felt like there was an underlying connection between those previous two. Then it struck me. I fear that we shall be remembered as the “Age of Narcissism”. Narcissism is defined as an excessive interest in oneself, with a grandiose view of one’s talents and a craving for admiration. That really seems to sum up what I see out on the Web most days. Even worse I see it in places beyond the web. Our culture has become more and more obsessed with our individual desires, wants, “rights” and demands. I fear that narcissism is the head water for the snark and outrage that seems prepared to wash away rational disagreement and discussion.
I have a friend who ends her posts with the hashtag “be kind”. It may be that she has stumbled on the cure for the ill of our “age”.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Stories Are My Life 
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