Even Cable TV Stinks

I remember the first time that I discovered AMC (American Movie Classics) on my cable system. It was at least 15 years ago. AMC quickly became my favorite station. There were great old movies, no commercials and fun "marathons" (Jimmy Stewart Day). But that was a long time ago. Things have changed on AMC. I don't even think that AMC stands for anything anymore. They certainly do not play classic movies. Tonight's prime time line up includes Alien Resurrection, The Matrix and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Not a classic film to be seen.

One time several years ago we were on vacation and our hotel included TV Land as one of its cable offerings. It was like heaven. We stayed in the first evening and watched Mr. Ed, The Patty Duke Show, The Donna Reed Show and Burns and Allen. It was chance to live in a time that was simpler and better. But alas, TV Land has changed too. Tonight on TV Land you can watch back to back episodes of Home Improvement, Roseanne and Married with Children. Thankfully, you can catch The Andy Griffith Show too, but there is very little classic TV on TV Land anymore.

On either of these cable channels you can find a seemingly endless variety of reality programs and new scripted series. You can also find paid programming, those perennial info-mercials that no one really likes. It is a shame that what were once my two favorite cable channels have become little more than purveyors of drivel.

I am sure that the changes in these two entities were well thought out and served a practical function. Thankfully there is Turner Classic Movies to fill the old movie void, but there is nothing bringing us television programming from the 50's, 60's or 70's. I have quit on both of these channels. And I am hoping that something will change soon.