Nielsen Loves Me...But Not Really

So a few weeks ago I received a call which I thought was a telemarketer, but it was not. Instead it was the people at Nielsen TV Ratings, asking how many televisions I had so they could send me TV Viewing Diaries.

So my diaries arrived last Thursday. Apparently you write down every minute the TV is on, whether anyone is watching it or not. Any persons watching must be listed, including their gender, age and hours they work a week. Of course that means just me, except for one other person (who also writes on this blog) who was a visitor one night, so she got included too.

While this is not an informative nor necessarily intelligent post for my first non-CMVofW posting in months, it's something I find amusing. I'm not sure how or why the Nielsen people picked me, but I don't think I'm helping their cause.

Here is the television I have listed as watching so far:

• The Soup (on E!)
• SpongeBob SquarePants (on Nick)
• Everybody Hates Chris (on the CW)
• My Name is Earl (on NBC)
• The Office (on NBC)
• Scrubs (on NBC)
• Grey's Anatomy (on ABC)
• Best Week Ever (on VH1)
• Sex & The City (on TBS)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (on Nick. Twice.)
• SpongeBob SquarePants (yes, again)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (okay, three times)
• Full House (on Family)
• The Philadelphia Story (on TCM)
• How I Met Your Mother (on CBS)
• 50 Greatest TV Icons (on TV Land)
• Heroes (on NBC)

If they were expecting According To Jim or Dancing With The Stars, they are sorely mistaken. Needless to say I doubt I'll skew their results, they'll probably just throw them away. It's almost encouraging me to watch weird things on TV, just so I can write it down.

There's also a small section for me to write in my "comments" on Television in general... Maybe I should just write down this blog's URL...and leave it at that.

Pop-Pop Hall of Shame

I felt it was appropriate with this blog to honor something the Bluth's know firsthand, shame. We are all snobs about what we enjoy in the pop culture world so why shouldn't the same apply to what we feel is unworthy? The Hall of Shame should highlight pop culture that not only was awful, but managed to succeed despite the lack of quality and sometimes because of it. This is what separates it from the Razzies. After all, the general public should be ashamed of some of the creations they have chosen to rally behind. This becomes increasingly more relevant as quality music, movies and television (especially this blog's namesake) die out long before they should.

Each Inductee will receive this magnificent trophy:

Tobias Fünke Trophy of Shame

Now on to the inductee. The first choice was a no-brainer. Jim Belushi, for reasons beyond understanding, has been able to make a career out of acting without any discernable talent. His latest and perhaps best known foray into acting has been with the long-running show, According to Jim. The show has long been an unsightly stain on the television industry. The show continues to astound people of any reputable taste as it has lasted 7 seasons and could potentially continue on. If Jim was the only cause of this grotesque display of television then perhaps he would be inducted himself. But there is a gem of a cast that has helped make this monstrosity successful.

We also have to thank Courtney Thourne-Smith who for years has played the most annoying characters on shows like Melrose Place and Alley McBeal. Then there is Kimberly Williams who's biggest acting credit is sadly enough, According to Jim. Rounding out this all-star team of a cast is Larry Joe Campbell whose greatest claim to fame is also According to Jim.

Despite it all of its shortcomings the show has found an audience over the years and has succeeded where so many quality shows have failed. It is hard to say whether this is a failure on behalf of the networks or the American television viewing public. Either way it is a sad display for the state of modern television.

As it is too unbearable to watch for great lengths at a time I will only post links to 2 short clips. Anything more would be inhumane. For evidence of this atrocity click here and here.

So here it is, the inaugural inductee of the Pop-Pop Hall of Shame:

More inductees to follow once I get back from vacation. And all blog contributors are encouraged to induct their own candidates worthy of shame.