The TV Column

Television: So much to watch, so little to agree on

Monica Villalobos, one of 10 young ladies searching for a soul mate, bows and blows the mystery man a kiss during Monday’s first episode of ABC’s The Proposal.
Monica Villalobos, one of 10 young ladies searching for a soul mate, bows and blows the mystery man a kiss during Monday’s first episode of ABC’s The Proposal.

When I was a tyke and network TV was just getting started, a popular program such as I Love Lucy (1951-1957) was seen by 72 percent of those watching television.

Gunsmoke (1955-1975) took over the top spot for four seasons in 1957 when 43 million viewers tuned in.

An impressive 36.4 million tuned in to the finale of Roots in 1977, and a stunning 106 million watched the MAS*H finale in 1983. Even 52.5 million saw the finale of Friends in 2004.

At its most popular in 2006-07, American Idol was pulling in more than 30 million viewers each week. That slowly dropped to a third of that many before Fox let it go in 2016.

Watching TV was much simpler in the early years. After 1955 when DuMont bailed out, there were only three major networks (Fox came along in 1986), and they gave the limited programming choices that allowed such astronomical early ratings. Thanks first to cable and now to streaming services such as Netflix, those big number days are long gone.

What has been gained since is a vast diversity of programming choices. What has been lost is a unifying medium around which the country can gather and discuss civilly.

For example, if the rebooted Roseanne (27.3 million eventually watched the premiere) was intended to be the new All in the Family beloved by liberals and conservatives alike, then the current polarized political climate is to blame when Roseanne's eponymous star went on one Twitter rant too many and ABC flinched.

Today's TV audience is splintered into a growing number of increasingly narrow niches. I'm not certain that's such a good thing, but it is what it is.

On the plus side, no longer requiring huge ratings in order to survive allowed such masterpieces as The Sopranos (only 11.9 million watched the finale), The Wire and Breaking Bad.

But it also allowed video drivelphiles such inanity as, say, anything with a Kardashian or a "real" housewife, and escapist silliness such as The Bachelorette, The Bachelor, Bachelor in Paradise, Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire and Flavor of Love.

I'd include Fox's I Wanna Marry "Harry" on that list, but that sort of came true.

Which brings us to the latest in mindless diversion from the creators of The Bachelor franchise. The 10-episode summer series The Proposal debuts at 9 p.m. Monday on ABC.

Hosted by former NFL quarterback and Season 5 (2004) Bachelor Jesse Palmer, each hourlong episode will feature 10 eligible women (or men) selected "by a blue-ribbon panel of matchmakers" (whatever that is) competing in four pageant-style rounds to win the heart of a mystery man (or woman) whose identity is concealed from them until the final big reveal.

"What you are about to see has never been attempted before on television," Palmer intones with a straight face as Monday's show opens. "Tonight, history will be made and hopefully love will be found. This is not a game."

What? It's not? Oh, the drama. Oh, the tension.

For those who've forgotten, Palmer dramatically gave his final rose (but no engagement ring) to blond law student Jessica Bowlin. Their post-show "romance" lasted all of a month. By the way, he's still single, but she married someone else and has a couple of kids.

Monday's episode of The Proposal features 10 ladies trying to impress Mike, a 29-year-old amputee police officer from California. Mike remains out of sight in an elevated booth during the herd-culling process.

First impressions count. Three ladies get a quick ax after merely walking down the stairs and introducing themselves.

The Miss America Pageant (oops, it's now called a "competition") may have dumped the traditional swimsuit cheesecake parade, but not so on The Proposal. The second round has the women "bare their souls and their bodies in a beachwear round."

Sorry, prurient seekers -- I've seen the first episode and the swimsuits are relatively modest.

Mike kicks hopefuls to the curb after each round until only two remain. The last pair finally get to meet the mystery man "just in time for a romantic proposal."

Enjoy.

OTHER STUFF

The Affair returns to Showtime at 8 p.m. today for Season 4. Sanaa Lathan joins the cast of this messy, convoluted relationship drama as the principal of the charter school where Noah (Dominic West) now teaches.

Shades of Blue. Watch it while you can. The third and final season of the Jennifer Lopez/Ray Liotta cop drama arrives at 9 p.m. today on NBC. The network labels it "the explosive" final season, so cover your ears. There will be 10 episodes.

2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards rolls out from 8-10 p.m. Monday with actress/comedian Tiffany Haddish (The Carmichael Show) as host. Up for best TV show are 13 Reasons Why, Game of Thrones, Grown-ish, Riverdale and Stranger Things.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:

mstorey@arkansasonline.com

Style on 06/17/2018

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