essay about television and movies

The Role of Television and Movies in Our Life Essay

Nowadays, mass media and television have taken the separate cultural domain. It reveals through a wide impact of television and movies on democratic life. Mass communication has penetrated the awareness and outlook of society on the culture. Thus, people become dependent on TV programs and movies that do not always reveal useful information. Some mass media researchers believe that television and movies should be more realistic and reveal the violence and profanity. Others insist on the fact that the main function of TV is to eliminate brutality from real life. My strong belief is that television should introduce people with cardinal virtues by broadcasting educational programs and movies with clear language and moral messages due to numerous reasons.

First of all, the movies revealing violent and cruel attitudes toward people contribute to the increase of the crime rate. Many researchers figured out the consequences of watching television violence and found out that children suffer from it in most cases since it provokes aggression towards others (Dorpat, Th 30). The increase of the children’s aggression level evokes an indifferent attitude to the violence in reality. Some people while watching movies depicting violence and brutality are eager to witness bad “guys” be punished and, hence, they take pleasure from watching the cruelties. The nature of violence lies in a person’s psychological perception of violence as the cause of the conflict between people. In other words, people are unlikely to accept the good features of negative characters in the movies (Rosenberg, M. B. 18). The same concerns children who always emulate their parents’ habits believing there is only one way to punish the evil. As a result, children’s outlook on good and evil is significantly distorted and in the future children will not be able to distinguish between the actual evil and a slight offense. Moreover, violence is included in the tradition of American movies.

The profanity was especially increased over several decades of the last century. Instead of movies and TV programs overwhelmed with cuss words and the usage of abusive language, media should be directed on the education of the society. The fact that the current TV viewers are more likely to watch programs overwhelmed with scandals and obscene language should make the government to think over the future of the television media. Those surveys constitute low educational level of the society and moral degradation of the population. The situation is aggravated by the growing tendency to use cuss words by TV reporters. Television journalists are free to use taboo words such as “hell” or “damn” during the news programs holding at dinner time, the time when children are likely to be at home (Gans, H.J. 244). Therefore, government policy must be directed on the elimination of the scandalous TV shows that distort the social and moral outlooks of the society on the culture of language and behavior. That is why, people should be culturally active advocating the main moral principles. In addition, violent movies and Hollywood movies propagate the unhealthy way of life where all heroes used to smoke and to drink spirits. Currently, smoking and dissipated way of life are out of date. Besides, more programs on healthy lifestyle tend to be introduced on TV.

The exposure to the nudity and sexual scenes may lead to the early sexual contacts that can hamper the healthy development of a teenager. Nowadays, the youth is stressed with a growing amount of sexual scenes so that they get used to the growing amount of the sexual crimes. Consequently, children do not analyze what they watch on TV but perceive it as the reality. The outcome of such perception may lead to blurring the limits between the real world and the movie world as well as to the corruption of children’s innocent mind (Gauntlett, D & Hill 277). Instead, some scientific and educational programs should be provided that would cultivate the teenagers’ right outlook the sexual relationships.

However, nudity as an art should not be conflated with erotic scenes and pornography, if we talk about nudity as cult of the human body beauty. Nudity is also presented in works of famous architects and painters who glorified the beauty of male and female bodies. In this respect, nudity has nothing in common with sexual scenes and violence and has the right to be shown on TV.

In conclusion, I believe that television’s main function is to cultivate the moral values of the younger generation, which is obsessed with TV programs and movies. Hence, the television should be directed on the healthy development of the children’s personality and to the cultivation of the positive outlook on the reality. In addition, adults should be more conscious of what they watch and should not overuse it as the main means of entertainment. The government, in its turn, should take more attention to the development of mass media and set up a more strict censure on TV programs due to fact that television has the greatest impact on the current society.

Works Cited

Dorpat, Th. L. Crimes of Punishment: American’s Culture of Violence. US: Algora Publishing, 2007.

Gans, H.J., Deciding What’s News: a Study of CBS Evening News, NBC nightly news. US: Northwestern University Press, 2004.

Gauntlett, D & Hill, A. TV Living: Television, Culture, and Everyday Life. London: Routledge, 1999.

Rosenberg, M. B. Nonviolent Communication: a Language of Life US: PuddleDancer Press, 2003.

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Essays About Movies: 7 Examples and 5 Writing Prompts

Check out our guide with essays about movies for budding videographers and artistic students. Learn from our helpful list of examples and prompts.

Watching movies is a part of almost everyone’s life. They entertain us, teach us lessons, and even help us socialize by giving us topics to talk about with others. As long as movies have been produced, everyone has patronized them.  Essays about movies  are a great way to learn all about the meaning behind the picture.

Cinema is an art form in itself. The lighting, camera work, and acting in the most widely acclaimed movies are worthy of praise. Furthermore, a movie can be used to send a message, often discussing issues in contemporary society. Movies are entertaining, but more importantly, they are works of art. If you’re interested in this topic, check out our round-up of screenwriters on Instagram .

5 Helpful Essay Examples 

1. the positive effects of movies on human behaviour by ajay rathod, 2. horror movies by emanuel briggs, 3. casablanca – the greatest hollywood movie ever (author unknown).

• 4.  Dune Review: An Old Story Reshaped For The New 2021 Audience by Oren Cohen

5. Blockbuster movies create booms for tourism — and headaches for locals by Shubhangi Goel

• 6. Moonage Daydream: “Who Is He? What Is He?” by Jonathan Romney
• 7. La Bamba: American Dreaming, Chicano Style by Yolanda Machado

1. My Favorite Movie

2. movies genres, 3. special effects in movies, 4. what do you look for in a movie, 5. the evolution of movies.

“​​Films encourage us to take action. Our favourite characters, superheroes, teach us life lessons. They give us ideas and inspiration to do everything for the better instead of just sitting around, waiting for things to go their way. Films about famous personalities are the perfect way to affect social behaviour positively. Films are a source of knowledge. They can help learn what’s in the trend, find out more about ancient times, or fill out some knowledge gaps.”

In this movie essay, Rathod gives readers three ways watching movies can positively affect us. Movie writers, producers, and directors use their platform to teach viewers life skills, the importance of education, and the contrast between good and evil. Watching movies can also help us improve critical thinking, according to Briggs. Not only do movies entertain us, but they also have many educational benefits. You might also be interested in these  essays about consumerism .

“Many people involving children and adults can effect with their sleeping disturbance and anxiety. Myths, non-realistic, fairy tales could respond differently with being in the real world. Horror movies bring a lot of excitement and entertainment among you and your family. Horror movies can cause physical behavior changes in a person by watching the films. The results of watching horror movies shows that is has really effect people whether you’re an adult, teens, and most likely happens during your childhood.”

In his essay, Briggs acknowledges why people enjoy horror movies so much but warns of their adverse effects on viewers. Most commonly, they cause viewers nightmares, which may cause anxiety and sleep disorders. He focuses on the films’ effects on children, whose more sensitive, less developed brains may respond with worse symptoms, including major trauma. The films can affect all people negatively, but children are the most affected.

“This was the message of Casablanca in late 1942. It was the ideal opportunity for America to utilize its muscles and enter the battle. America was to end up the hesitant gatekeeper of the entire world. The characters of Casablanca, similar to the youthful Americans of the 1960s who stick headed the challenge development, are ‘genuine Americans’ lost in a hostile region, battling to open up another reality.”

In this essay, the author discusses the 1942 film  Casablanca , which is said to be the greatest movie ever made, and explains why it has gotten this reputation. To an extent, the film’s storyline, acting, and even relatability (it was set during World War II) allowed it to shine from its release until the present. It invokes feelings of bravery, passion, and nostalgia, which is why many love the movie. You can also check out these  books about adaption . 

4.   Dune Review: An Old Story Reshaped For The New 2021 Audience by Oren Cohen

“Lady Jessica is a powerful woman in the original book, yet her interactions with Paul diminish her as he thinks of her as slow of thought. Something we don’t like to see in 2021 — and for a good reason. Every book is a product of its time, and every great storyteller knows how to adapt an old story to a new audience. I believe Villeneuve received a lot of hate from diehard Dune fans for making these changes, but I fully support him.”

Like the previous essay, Cohen reviews a film, in this case, Denis Villeneuve’s  Dune , released in 2021. He praises the film, writing about its accurate portrayal of the epic’s vast, dramatic scale, music, and, interestingly, its ability to portray the characters in a way more palatable to contemporary audiences while staying somewhat faithful to the author’s original vision. Cohen enjoyed the movie thoroughly, saying that the movie did the book justice. 

“Those travelers added around 630 million New Zealand dollars ($437 million) to the country’s economy in 2019 alone, the tourism authority told CNBC. A survey by the tourism board, however, showed that almost one in five Kiwis are worried that the country attracts too many tourists. Overcrowding at tourist spots, lack of infrastructure, road congestion and environmental damage are creating tension between locals and visitors, according to a 2019 report by Tourism New Zealand.”

The locations where successful movies are filmed often become tourist destinations for fans of those movies. Goel writes about how “film tourism” affects the residents of popular filming locations. The environment is sometimes damaged, and the locals are caught off guard. Though this is not always the case, film tourism is detrimental to the residents and ecosystem of these locations. You can also check out these  essays about The Great Gatsby .

6. Moonage Daydream:  “Who Is He? What Is He?” by Jonathan Romney

“Right from the start, Brett Morgen’s  Moonage Daydream  (2022) catches us off guard. It begins with an epigraph musing on Friedrich Nietzsche’s proclamation that “God is dead,” then takes us into deep space and onto the surface of the moon. It then unleashes an image storm of rockets, robots, and star-gazers, and rapid-fire fragments of early silent cinema, 1920s science fiction, fifties cartoons, and sixties and seventies newsreel footage, before lingering on a close-up of glittery varnish on fingernails.” 

Moonage Daydream  is a feature film containing never-before-seen footage of David Bowie. In this essay, Romney delves into the process behind creating the movie and how the footage was captured. It also looks at the director’s approach to creating a structured and cohesive film, which took over two years to plan. This essay looks at how Bowie’s essence was captured and preserved in this movie while displaying the intricacies of his mind.

7. La Bamba:  American Dreaming, Chicano Style by Yolanda Machado

“A traumatic memory, awash in hazy neutral tones, arising as a nightmare. Santo & Johnny’s mournful “Sleep Walk” playing. A sudden death, foreshadowing the passing of a star far too young. The opening sequence of Luis Valdez’s  La Bamba  (1987) feels like it could be from another film—what follows is largely a celebration of life and music.”

La Bamba  is a well-known movie about a teenage Mexican migrant who became a rock ‘n’ roll star. His rise to fame is filled with difficult social dynamics, and the star tragically dies in a plane crash at a young age. In this essay, Machado looks at how the tragic death of the star is presented to the viewer, foreshadowing the passing of the young star before flashing back to the beginning of the star’s career. Machado analyses the storyline and directing style, commenting on the detailed depiction of the young star’s life. It’s an in-depth essay that covers everything from plot to writing style to direction.

5 Prompts for Essays About Movies

Simple and straightforward, write about your favorite movie. Explain its premise, characters, and plot, and elaborate on some of the driving messages and themes behind the film. You should also explain why you enjoy the movie so much: what impact does it have on you? Finally, answer this question in your own words for an engaging piece of writing.

From horror to romance, movies can fall into many categories. Choose one of the main genres in cinema and discuss the characteristics of movies under that category. Explain prevalent themes, symbols, and motifs, and give examples of movies belonging to your chosen genre. For example, horror movies often have underlying themes such as mental health issues, trauma, and relationships falling apart. 

Without a doubt, special effects in movies have improved drastically. Both practical and computer-generated effects produce outstanding, detailed effects to depict situations most would consider unfathomable, such as the vast space battles of the  Star Wars  movies. Write about the development of special effects over the years, citing evidence to support your writing. Be sure to detail key highlights in the history of special effects. 

Movies are always made to be appreciated by viewers, but whether or not they enjoy them varies, depending on their preferences. In your essay, write about what you look for in a “good” movie in terms of plot, characters, dialogue, or anything else. You need not go too in-depth but explain your answers adequately. In your opinion, you can use your favorite movie as an example by writing about the key characteristics that make it a great movie.

From the silent black-and-white movies of the early 1900s to the vivid, high-definition movies of today, times have changed concerning movies. Write about how the film industry has improved over time. If this topic seems too broad, feel free to focus on one aspect, such as cinematography, themes, or acting.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the  best essay checkers .

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out our  essays about music topic guide !

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Essay on Television

500+ words essay on television.

Television has become a crucial part of our lives now. It not only impacts our social life but also our educational life. Just as newspapers and computers are significant modes of communication, Television also counts as one. With a television, you can connect to the world outside. Moreover, it is also important in influencing our personal and public lives. However, with the benefits, there are also some disadvantages. Thus, it must be consumed within a limit. This television essay will elaborate on the same points.

Importance of Television

Television is definitely one of the most important electronic devices with a screen. It helps us in receiving information. Further, we also get entertained by it and get rid of boredom.

Most importantly, it plays a significant role in distributing news and information. News channels are a great source of information about the current happenings in the world. Similarly, television programs also teach us a lot of things.

For instance, we learn about the rich civilizations and historical sketches via historical channels. Similarly, when we are alone, it acts as a great source of entertainment. In addition, we also get to learn about many cooking recipes.

Television helps us raise the capacity of our minds. You can learn a trick or two from it to solve your daily problems. It also instils creativity in people. Further, watching information channels equip us with facts and concepts.

There are also motivation programs on television. They serve as inspiration for many to achieve success in a number of fields. Apart from that, we also get laughter therapy from television.

Watching comedy shows and movies allow us to laugh freely. On the other hand, people who are religious and spiritual also benefit from it. They get access to spiritual and religious messages to nourish their souls.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Television Essay- Why You Must Limit the Time

As the younger generations are growing up with electronics, it has become important to limit their time with these gadgets. You see all the time they are glued to phone screens or television.

It is no less than a nightmare for parents as it harms their brains. When you get used to watching the glowing screens constantly, nothing will interest you. Moreover, parents also allow their children to stare at the screens blankly to get entertainment.

This takes away their time of playing outside or spending time with their loved ones. When the children will play outside or mingle with others, they will be able to develop their social skills, gross motor skills and language.

Watching television only will not help them do that. Therefore, it is important to limit the time of television watching especially for children. This can help them greatly in the long run and give them a better life.

To conclude the television essay, while television has numerous benefits, it also comes with its fair share of disadvantages. Thus, we must ensure that our children create the perfect balance between watching TV and doing other things. This way, they can get the best of both worlds.

FAQ of Essay on Television

Question 1: Why is television important?

Answer 1: Television is a great source of entertainment. Moreover, it also provides us with valuable information about the world. It also helps us stay in touch with the outside world.

Question 2: Why should we limit the time of television?

Answer 2: It is essential to do that especially for children so they can develop their social skills and gross motor skills better. Watching too much television will also hamper their eyesight. Thus, it must be consumed within a limit.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Effects of Watching too much TV — A Role Of Television In Our Life

A Role of Television in Our Life

• Categories: Effects of Watching too much TV Negative Impact of Technology Personal Experience

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Published: Sep 19, 2019

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Diversity and representation in TV and movies and why it matters

The world is extremely diverse which is why representation is so important. There are people of different colors, different cultures, and different backgrounds everywhere. Yet when we take a look at some of the highest-grossing movies of the last decade, or the most popular television series on streaming services such as Netflix, we can not always find this diversity translated back on the screen. This lack of representation has consequences on our society and the people that can not find themselves back on the screen. In an interview with PBS, a high school junior said, “I do think it’s powerful for people of a minority race to be represented in pop culture to really show a message that everybody has a place in this world” (Elbada, 2019). This essay aims to analyze the representation of minority groups in popular media and the effects this has on our multicultural society. 

Representation and diversity in numbers

The Annenberg Foundation, a philanthropic foundation dedicated to funding charities and building communities, released a study examining the portrayal of, among other things, race and ethnicities in over a thousand films released between the years 2007 and 2017 (see Figure 1). They found that in the top 1100 most popular films, only 30% of the speaking characters are non-white actors. Of those 1100 films, 20 did not have any Black or African American speaking characters, 37 films had no Asian speaking characters, and 43 films had no Latino speaking characters. These statistics include both men and women.

Figure 1: Percentage of different ethnicities in Hollywood movies.

Taking a look at the numbers for women of color in the most popular movies produces even more staggering results. In the top 100 films of 2017, 42% did not include any black women. Asian or Latina women appeared even less, with respectively 65% and 64% of the films showing no women of that background. The Annenberg Foundation study also compared these numbers to the percentage of the Latino population in the United States. Whereas Latino speaking characters only reach 6% of all speaking characters in the top 1100 movies, they make up almost a fifth of the American population (The Annenberg Foundation, 2018). 

The effect of Representation

We live in diverse societies, yet Hollywood does not represent our reality accurately. Not only is this unfair, but as Sara Boboltz and Kimberly Yam state in an article for HuffPost, “It’s unfair that just over a quarter of speaking roles went to people of color in 2015’s top movies ― that Asians and Latino nabbed tiny slivers. It’s unfair that women made up less than one-third of protagonists in top movies in 2016. It’s unfair that black, Asian, and Latinx actors were completely left out of acting categories in the Academy Awards last year, and the year before that.” (Boboltz & Yam, 2017). It is also a vital issue to address in terms of consequences. The media people consume, the movies they watch, and the television series they follow, are not just entertainment, it also has an impact on the way people think and view other people. Television and movies have the ability to normalize events and phenomena that they show on the screen, and this can both have negative and positive results.

Representation has an impact on the way people think and view other people

Darnell Hunt, the director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, said, “We’re pretty confident that, the more TV you watch, the more media you consume, the more likely it is that media ― almost like radiation ― builds up. And the accumulated effect is to make you feel that what you’re seeing is somewhat normal.” This notion is supported by Ana-Christina Ramón, the assistant director of the Bunche Center, “What you see often becomes a part of your memory, and thus a part of your life experience.” (Boboltz & Yam, 2017). This means that films and television can influence the views of the watcher on certain people or different cultures. In addition to this, people of color or characters with different backgrounds can also shape how underrepresented people view themselves. 

Symbolic Annihilation

As The Annenberg Foundation established, many people of color will not see themselves in the majority of the popular films; this can lead to symbolic annihilation. As Cole Bowman explains, “the term “symbolic annihilation” refers to the erasure of people—specifically categories of people like women, people of color, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community—from popular media” (Bowman, 2021). The representation of people belonging to minority groups, or the lack thereof, is not only a narrative issue. It is an issue that is social, political, and psychological. As Coleman and Yochim explain in their article on the subject, “symbolic annihilation points to the ways in which poor media treatment can contribute to social disempowerment and in which symbolic absence in the media can erase groups and individuals from public consciousness” (Coleman & Yochim, 2008). Simply put, symbolic annihilation occurs when a lack of representation of a specific group begins to affect their experiences in real life (Bowman, 2021). The term symbolic annihilation was first coined by George Gerbner in 1976 to describe the absence of representation of certain groups in the media. He states, “Representation in the fictional world signifies social existence; absence means symbolic annihilation" (Gerbner, 1976). 

Figure 2: Lovecraft Country, HBO, 2020.

Multiple studies are showing the psychological effects of poor or non-existent representation. For example, a study by The Opportunity Agenda concludes that the way black boys and men are represented often adds to negative stereotypes such as aggression. Furthermore, the study argues that these stereotypes, the negative ways in which Black males are perceived, are especially harmful when the black males are dependent on others’ perception of them, for example, a judge in the court of law. Research shows that this can lead to “less attention from doctors, harsher sentencing by judges, lower likelihood of being hired or admitted to school, lower odds of getting loans, and a higher likelihood of being shot by police” (The Opportunity Agenda, 2011). 

In 2019, Vice Media interviewed eight black women on how they are portrayed in popular culture. With black women being underrepresented, and considering the black women we do see in movies and on television are often shown in a negative light, Essence, a magazine and lifestyle organization conducted a study on the representation of black women, finding that the majority of images encountered regularly on television, social media, music videos, etc. are overwhelmingly negative. They will often fall into stereotypical categories such as gold diggers, baby mamas, or angry black women (Walton, 2020). To the question, “What is still problematic about the way Black women are represented and/or portrayed in pop culture,” visual artist Armina Mussa responded, “Where white women are said to be standing up for themselves, Black women are seen as wanting a fight. We are still unseen, and society has successfully exploited the cultural psyche of Black women. I hate how much pain everyone feels we are still capable of enduring. We are a glimmer of light, spirited and gentle, too.” (Vice Media, 2019). Mussa’s response notes the social and psychological impacts on-screen representations have. 

Emily In Paris: a case study

A very recent occurrence of harmful representations having a direct real-life impact is the second season of the Netflix series Emily In Paris. The series follows the titular Emily as she moves from the United States to Paris, France, for a job at an elite fashion magazine. The series focuses, among other things, on the cultural clashes Emily experiences in the European country. 

Soon after the first season of Emily In Paris, a controversy followed. The video essayist known as Friendly Space Ninja on YouTube analyses the issues in the series, specifically the casual racism, xenophobia, and offensive representation that appears in the video “ Emily In Paris: Romanticizing Ignorance .” This video is currently the most viewed video concerning Emily In Paris on the entire internet, even beating the official trailer for the show on Netflix’s YouTube channel. 

In December 2021, Friendly Space Ninja made a follow-up on the Emily In Paris video, discussing the controversy surrounding the second season of the series. He argues that the xenophobia that was rampant in the first season, is still a big issue in the second season. In the second season, Emily begins to take French lessons, where she meets and befriends a Ukrainian woman named Petra. Petra’s character is highly one-dimensional; the audience only learns her name, that she is from Ukraine, and, most importantly, that she shoplifts. After the episode where Petra tricks Emily into shoplifting, she is never seen again. 

This harmful stereotype of Eastern European women as criminals caused a significant backlash. Many Ukrainian celebrities have taken to social media to speak out against this negative portrayal of Ukrainian women. Ukrainian influencer Eugenia Havrylko wrote an open letter on Instagram to express her disappointment in the series. She says, “@emilyinparis I’m speaking here on behalf of all the Ukrainian women around the world. And I feel like this cannot be ignored. Being the most successful @netflix show in 2021, knowing your influence on millions of minds and hearts all over the world, there is still a place for such ignorance and intolerance? The way you treated the image of Ukrainians in your second season, 4th episode is such a low cost trick, absolute scandal and a shame. And I cannot believe this is still happening in 2021. Time, where we show respect to all the nations and genders. Time, when we fight all the stereotypes that are ruining peace and cross-cultural relationship. Time, when nobody is laughing at such miserable things. Despite of that, you expose Ukrainian woman as a person without any feeling of taste and dignity. Stupid, ignorant thief. Come on. are you even serious? Such a shame for such a scale and this is happening when there are so many talented Ukrainians, who are influencing worldwide market of technology, fashion, art, sustainability, science, sport, etc.? In case, you didn’t know. Just some of thousands absolutely cosmic Ukrainian women. Just In art and fashion as an example.” (Havrylko, 2021). Havrylko’s caption perfectly encapsulates the issue people, especially Ukrainian women, have with the series, how this negative portrayal of someone like them in a remarkably popular series can be harmful and insulting. 

Figure 3: Emily and Petra in 'Emily in Paris'.

The public backlash did not end with a handful of Instagram posts. Instead, it became a conversation amongst large press institutions as well. The Ukrainian branch of Cosmopolitan and Vogue spoke out against this offensive representation. Even the Ukrainian Minister of Culture and Information, Oleksandr Tkachenko, condemned the show’s portrayal of Ukrainian women. He said, “We have a caricature image of a Ukrainian woman that is unacceptable. It is also insulting. Is that how Ukrainians are seen abroad?” (Abbott, 2022). 

The importance of representation

In November 2021, the Disney movie Encanto was released. It was an instant hit with audiences. The movie follows a multi-generational Colombian family with magical powers (Smit, 2022). Soon after, a mother, Kaheisha Brand, posted a picture of her son standing in front of the TV playing Encanto. Her son, who bears a striking resemblance to the animated character of Bruno, stands proudly next to Bruno. Brand tagged the post with #RepresentationMatters. With the addition of a repost on Twitter, the photo received over one million likes and more than eight thousand retweets. The virality of this picture proves how important people find it to be able to see themselves in the media they consume and how touching it is to see a young boy experience that. In an interview, Brand said, "The image of him sitting and staring was actually the first picture I took. He seemed to be in awe. He would stare at the screen and turn around smiling. [...] I think there is empowerment in positive representation. It is important that he see images that reflect him. I’m grateful for the creativity behind this movie and the diversity amongst the Black and brown characters." (Valdivia, 2022). 

Figure 4: Real-life example of why representation matters.

Michael Morgan, former professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, said, “Stories matter, stories affect how we live our lives, how we see other people, how we think about ourselves.” (Boboltz & Yam, 2017). Diversity in popular movies and television series matters because an accurate portrayal of society affects both the over-and under-represented groups of society. Whereas an inaccurate, often offensive portrayal is harmful to both entire communities and also individual people. Representation matters. Representation impacts people. Everyone deserves to have their story told.  

Abbott, K. (2022, January 3). Ukraine’s culture minister blasts Emily in Paris over ‘unacceptable’ stereotype.

Coleman, R.R.M., & Yochim, E.C. (2008).  Symbolic Annihilation . The International Encyclopedia of Communication.

Friendly Space Ninja. (2021, February 4). Emily In Paris: Romanticizing Ignorance [YouTube Video].

Gerbner, G., & Gross, L. (1976). Living with Television: The Violence Profile. Journal of Communication, 26(2), 172–199.

Havrylko, E. [eugeniahavrylko]. (2021, December 23). Emily In Paris [Instagram].

katchingupwithkenzo. (2021, December 31). #RepresentationMatters [Instagram].  

Rawan Elbaba, Student Reporting Labs. (2019, November 14). Why on-screen representation matters, according to these teens.  

Smit, F. (2022, January 19). Diversiteit gaat in Encanto verder dan alleen uiterlijkheden, vandáár die monsterhit.

The Annenberg Foundation. (2018, July). Inequality in 1,100 Popular Films: Examining Portrayals of Gender, Race/Ethnicity, LGBT & Disability from 2007 to 2017.

The Opportunity Agenda. (2011, October). Opportunity for Black Men and Boys: Public Opinion, Media Depictions, and Media Consumption. Tides Center.

Valdivia, P. (2022, January 10). This 2-Year-Old’s Reaction To Seeing Himself Represented In “Encanto” Is Why These Movies Matter .

Vice Media. (2019, February 4). 8 black women on how they’re portrayed in pop culture.

Walton, D. (2013, October 7). ESSENCE’s Images Study: Bonus Insights. 

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Student Opinion

What Have You Learned About Life From Watching Movies?

By Shannon Doyne

• Dec. 3, 2018

Do you enjoy watching movies? Have you felt that the characters or situations in a movie presented a lesson about how you should act, talk and look; or that movies taught you about the relationships you should cultivate or the values you should have?

To what degree, if at all, do you think you benefited from those lessons?

In “ What the Movies Taught Me About Being a Woman ,” Manohla Dargis, the co-chief film critic of The New York Times, writes:

Movies teach us all sorts of things: how to aspire, who to fantasize about (all those princes will come), how to smoke, dress, walk into a room ( always like Bette Davis). They teach us who to love and how, as well as the ostensible necessity of sacrificing love along with careers. They also teach us that showering, babysitting, being in underground parking lots or simply being female might get you killed. There isn’t a causal relationship between viewer behavior and the screen. There doesn’t have to be. Because movies get into our bodies, making us howl and weep, while their narrative and visual patterns, their ideas and ideologies leave their imprint.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

— What, if anything, do you agree with in Ms. Dargis’s assessment of what movies “teach” about topics like gender and romance? Explain.

— What movies did you, or do you now still, feel illustrate what life is really like, or will be like when you are older? Why do you think that?

— Do you think some of the movies you have seen send negative messages to viewers about, perhaps, how they should act or what to expect from family, friends, romantic partners, colleagues or neighbors?

— Have you noticed prevalent stereotypes in movies? Have you seen movies that seem to have a bias toward certain groups? If so, what movie or movies come to mind?

— Have you seen any of the movies referred to by New York Times readers who shared what lessons they have learned? Did any of their comments resonate with you?

— Some of the comments mention genres, such as horror films and romantic comedies. What are your thoughts on these genres and what the writers say about them? What would you like to say about other movie genres?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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8.2: The Relationship Between Television and Culture

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Learning Objectives

• Identify ways in which American culture is reflected on television.
• Identify ways in which television affects the development of American culture.

Since its inception as an integral part of American life in the 1950s, television has both reflected and nurtured cultural mores and values. From the escapist dramas of the 1960s, which consciously avoided controversial issues and glossed over life’s harsher realities in favor of an idealized portrayal, to the copious reality television shows in recent years, on which participants discuss even the most personal and taboo issues, television has held up a mirror to society. But the relationship between social attitudes and television is reciprocal; broadcasters have often demonstrated their power to influence viewers, either consciously through slanted political commentary, or subtly, by portraying controversial relationships (such as single parenthood, same-sex marriages, or interracial couplings) as socially acceptable. The symbiotic nature of television and culture is exemplified in every broadcast, from family sitcoms to serious news reports.

Cultural Influences on Television

In the 1950s, most television entertainment programs ignored current events and political issues. Instead, the three major networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS) developed prime-time shows that would appeal to a general family audience. Chief among these types of shows was the domestic comedy—a generic family comedy that was identified by its character-based humor and usually set within the home. Seminal examples included popular 1950s shows such as Leave It to Beaver, The Donna Reed Show , and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet . Presenting a standardized version of the white middle-class suburban family, domestic comedies portrayed the conservative values of an idealized American life. Studiously avoiding prevalent social issues such as racial discrimination and civil rights, the shows focused on mostly white middle-class families with traditional nuclear roles (mother in the home, father in the office) and implied that most domestic problems could be solved within a 30-minute time slot, always ending with a strong moral lesson.

Although these shows depicted an idealized version of American family life, many families in the 1950s were traditional nuclear families. Following the widespread poverty, political uncertainty, and physical separation of the war years, many Americans wanted to settle down, have children, and enjoy the peace and security that family life appeared to offer. During the booming postwar era, a period of optimism and prosperity, the traditional nuclear family flourished. However, the families and lifestyles presented in domestic comedies did not encompass the overall American experience by any stretch of the imagination. As historian Stephanie Coontz points out, “the June Cleaver or Donna Stone homemaker role was not available to the more than 40 percent of black women with small children who worked outside the home.”Stephanie Coontz, “‘Leave It to Beaver’ and ‘Ozzie and Harriet’: American Families in the 1950s,” in The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trip (New York: BasicBooks, 1992), 28. Although nearly 60 percent of the U.S. population was labeled middle class by the mid-1950s, 25 percent of all families and more than 50 percent of two-parent black families were poor. Migrant workers suffered horrific deprivations, and racial tensions were rife. None of this was reflected in the world of domestic comedies, where even the Hispanic gardener in Father Knows Best was named Frank Smith.Stephanie Coontz, “‘Leave It to Beaver’ and ‘Ozzie and Harriet’: American Families in the 1950s,” in The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trip (New York: BasicBooks, 1992), 28.

Not all programs in the 1950s were afraid to tackle controversial social or political issues. In March 1954, journalist Edward R. Murrow broadcast an unflattering portrait of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy on his show See It Now . McCarthy, a member of the Senate Investigation Committee, had launched inquiries regarding potential Communist infiltration in U.S. institutions. Murrow thought that McCarthy’s aggressive tactics were a potential threat to civil liberties. His portrait cast the senator from Wisconsin in an unflattering light by pointing out contradictions in his speeches. This led to such an uproar that McCarthy was formally reprimanded by the U.S. Senate.Michael J. Friedman, “‘See It Now’: Murrow vs. McCarthy,” in Edward R. Murrow: Journalism at Its Best , publication of U.S. Department of State, June 1, 2008, http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2008/June/20080601110244eaifas8.602542e-02.html .

Entertainment programs also tackled controversial issues. The long-running television western Gunsmoke , which aired on CBS from 1955 to 1975, flourished in a Cold War society, where U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) stood up to lawlessness in defense of civilization. The characters and community in Gunsmoke faced relevant social issues, including the treatment of minority groups, the meaning of family, the legitimacy of violence, and the strength of religious belief. During the 1960s, the show adapted to the desires of its viewing audience, becoming increasingly aware of and sympathetic to ethnic minorities, in tune with the national mood during the civil rights era. This adaptability helped the show to become the longest-running western in television history.

Violence and Escapism in the 1960s

During the 1960s, television news broadcasts brought the realities of real-world events into people’s living rooms in vivid detail. The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite , which debuted in 1962, quickly became the country’s most popular newscast, and by the end of the decade, journalist Walter Cronkite was known as the most trusted man in America. Following John F. Kennedy’s election to the presidency at the beginning of the decade, the 1960s took an ominous turn. Shocked viewers tuned into Cronkite’s broadcast on November 22, 1963, to learn about the assassination of their president. During the next few days, viewers followed every aspect of the tragedy on television, from the tremor in Cronkite’s voice as he removed his glasses and announced the news of Kennedy’s death, to the frantic scenes from Dallas police headquarters where the assassin, Lee Harvery Oswald, was gunned down by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, to the thousands of mourners lining up next to the president’s flag-draped coffin.

Around the same time as Kennedy’s assassination, horrific images from Vietnam were streaming into people’s living rooms during the nation’s first televised war. With five camera crews on duty in the Saigon bureau, news crews captured vivid details of the war in progress. Although graphic images were rarely shown on network television, several instances of violence reached the screen, including a CBS report in 1965 that showed Marines lighting the thatched roofs of the village of Cam Ne with Zippo lighters and an NBC news report in 1968 that aired a shot of South Vietnamese General Nyuyen Ngoc Loan executing a captive on a Saigon street. Further images, of children being burned and scarred by napalm and prisoners being tortured, fueled the antiwar sentiments of many Americans. In addition to the devastation caused by the president’s death and the Vietnam War, Americans were also feeling the pressure of the Cold War—the clash between the United States and the Soviet Union in the years following World War II. This pressure was especially great during periods of tension throughout the 1950s and 1960s, such as the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a confrontation that caused many people to fear nuclear war.

As a result of the intense stress faced by many Americans during the 1960s, broadcasters and viewers turned to escapist programs such as I Dream of Jeannie , a fantasy show about a 2,000-year-old genie who marries an astronaut, and Bewitched , a supernatural-themed show about a witch who tries to live as a surburban housewife. Both shows typified the situation comedy, or sitcom, a comedy genre featuring a recurring cast of characters who resolve zany situations based on their everyday lives. Other popular sitcoms in the 1960s included The Beverly Hillbillies , a show about a poor backwoods family who move to Beverly Hills, California, after finding oil on their land, and Gilligan’s Island , the ultimate escapist comedy about seven characters shipwrecked on an uncharted island. None of the 1960s sitcoms mentioned any of the political unease that was taking place in the outside world, providing audiences with a welcome diversion from real life. Other than an occasional documentary, television programming in the 1960s consisted of a sharp dichotomy between prime-time escapist comedy and hard news.

Diversity and Politics in the 1970s

During the 1970s, broadcasters began to diversify families on their shows to reflect changing social attitudes toward formerly controversial issues such as single parenthood and divorce. Feminist groups including the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women pushed for equality on issues such as pay and encouraged women to enter the workforce. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court sanctioned women’s right to abortion, giving them control over their reproductive rights. Divorce rates skyrocketed during the 1970s, as states adopted no-fault divorce laws, and the change in family dynamics was reflected on television. Between 1972 and 1978, CBS aired the socially controversial sitcom Maude . Featuring a middle-aged feminist living with her fourth husband and divorced daughter, the show exploded the dominant values of the white middle-class domestic sitcom and its traditional gender roles. Throughout its 7-year run, Maude tackled social and political issues such as abortion, menopause, birth control, alcoholism, and depression. During its first four seasons, the show was in the top 10 in Nielsen ratings, illustrating the changing tastes of the viewing audience, who had come of age during the era of civil rights and Vietnam protests and developed a taste for socially conscious television. Other 1970s sitcoms took the same approach, including Maude ’s CBS predecessor, All in the Family , which covered issues ranging from racism and homophobia to rape and miscarriage, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show , which reflected changing attitudes toward women’s rights by featuring television’s first never-married independent career woman as the central character. Even wholesome family favorite The Brady Bunch , which ran from 1969 to 1974, featured a non-nuclear family, reflecting the rising rates of blended families in American society.

In addition to changing family dynamics on sitcoms and other prime-time shows, variety and comedy sketch shows developed a political awareness in the 1970s that reflected audiences’ growing appetite for social and political commentary. Sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live ( SNL ) premiered on NBC in 1975 and has remained on air ever since. Featuring a different celebrity guest host every week and relatively unknown comedy regulars, the show parodies contemporary popular culture and politics, lambasting presidential candidates and pop stars alike. Earlier NBC sketch comedy show Laugh-In , which ran from 1968 to 1973, also featured politically charged material, though it lacked the satirical bite of later series such as SNL . By the end of the decade, television broadcasting reflected a far more politically conscious and socially aware viewing audience.

The Influence of Cable Television in the 1980s

Until the mid-1980s, the top three networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS) dominated television broadcasting in the United States. However, as cable services gained popularity following the deregulation of the industry in 1984, viewers found themselves with a multitude of options. Services such as Cable News Network (CNN), Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN), and Music Television (MTV) profoundly altered the television landscape in the world of news, sports, and music. New markets opened up for these innovative program types, as well as for older genres such as the sitcom. During the 1980s, a revival of family sitcoms took place with two enormous hits: The Cosby Show and Family Ties . Both featured a new take on modern family life, with the mothers working outside of the home and the fathers pitching in with housework and parental duties. Despite their success on network television, sitcoms faced stiff competition from cable’s variety of choices. Between 1983 and 1994, weekly broadcast audience shares (a measure of the number of televisions in use that are tuned to a particular show) for network television dropped from 69 to 52, while cable networks’ shares rose from 9 to 26.Horace Newcomb, ed., Encyclopedia of Television (New York: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2004), 389.

With a growing number of households subscribing to cable television, concern began to grow about the levels of violence to which children were becoming exposed. In addition to regularly broadcast network programs, cable offered viewers the chance to watch films and adult-themed shows during all hours, many of which had far more violent content than normal network programming. One study found that by the time an average child leaves elementary school, he or she has witnessed 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other acts of violence on television.Rea Blakey, “Study Links TV Viewing Among Kids to Later Violence,” CNN Health , March 28, 2002, http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/03/28/kids.tv.violence/index.html . Although no conclusive links have been drawn between witnessing violence on television and carrying out violence in real life, the loosening boundaries regarding sexual and violent content on television is a persistent cause for concern for many parents. For more information on the social effects of violence in the media, please refer to Chapter 2.

Specialization in the 1990s and 2000s

Although television viewership is growing, the vast number of cable channels and other, newer content delivery platforms means that audiences are thinly stretched. In recent years, broadcasters have been narrowing the focus of their programming to meet the needs and interests of an increasingly fragmented audience. Entire cable channels devoted to cooking, music, news, African American interests (see sidebar below), weather, and courtroom drama enable viewers to choose exactly what type of show they want to watch, and many news channels are further specialized according to viewers’ political opinions. This trend toward specialization reflects a more general shift within society, as companies cater increasingly to smaller, more targeted consumer bases. Business magazine editor Chris Anderson explains, “We’re leaving the watercooler era, when most of us listened, watched and read from the same relatively small pool of mostly hit content. And we’re entering the microculture era, when we are all into different things.”Marc Gunther, “The Extinction of Mass Culture, CNN Money , July 12, 2006, http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/11/news/economy/pluggedin_gunther.fortune/index.htm . Just as cable broadcasters are catering to niche markets, Internet-based companies such as Amazon.com and Netflix are taking advantage of this concept by selling large numbers of books, DVDs, and music albums with narrow appeal. Section 9.3 and Section 9.4 of this chapter will cover the recent trends and issues of this era in television.

Black Entertainment Television (BET)

Launched in 1980, Black Entertainment Television (BET) was the first television network in the United States dedicated to the interests of African American viewers. The basic-cable franchise was created in Washington, DC, by media entrepreneur Robert Johnson, who initially invested $15,000 in the venture. Within a decade, he had turned the company into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, and in 1991 it became the first black-controlled company on the New York Stock Exchange. The company was sold to Viacom in 2003 for $3 billion.

Predating MTV by a year, BET initially focused on black-oriented music videos but soon diversified into original urban-oriented programs and public affairs shows. Although BET compensated somewhat for the underrepresentation of blacks on television (African Americans made up 8 percent of the prime-time characters on television in 1980 but made up 12 percent of the population), viewers complained about the portrayal of stereotypical images and inappropriate violent or sexual behavior in many of the rap videos shown by the network. In a 2004 interview with BET vice president of communications Michael Lewellen, former BET talk show host Bev Smith said, “We had videos on BET in those days that were graphic but didn’t proliferate as they seem to be doing now. That’s all you do seem to see are scantily dressed women who a lot of African American women are upset about in those videos.”The O’Reilly Factor, “Is Black Entertainment Television Taking a Disturbing Turn?” Fox News , May 26, 2004, www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,120993,00.html. Despite the criticisms, BET remained the No. 1 cable network among blacks 18 to 34 in 2010 and retained an average audience of 524,000 total viewers during the first quarter of the year. Forbes , “BET Networks Unveils New African American Consumer Market Research and New Programming at 2010 Upfront Presentation,” April 14, 2010, www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/2010/04/14/prnewswire201004141601PR_NEWS_USPR_____NE86679.html.

Television’s Influence on Culture

Despite entering a microculture era with a variety of niche markets, television remains the most important unifying cultural presence in the United States. During times of national crises, television news broadcasts have galvanized the country by providing real-time coverage of major events. When terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers in 2001, 24-hour television news crews provided stunned viewers around the world with continuous updates about the attack and its aftermath. Meanwhile, network blockbusters such as Lost and 24 have united viewers in shared anticipation, launching numerous blogs, fan sites, and speculative workplace discussions about characters’ fates.

Televised coverage of the news has had several cultural effects since the 1950s. Providing viewers with footage of the most intense human experiences, televised news has been able to reach people in a way that radio and newspapers cannot. The images themselves have played an important role in influencing viewer opinion. During the coverage of the civil rights movement, for example, footage of a 1963 attack on civil rights protesters in Birmingham, Alabama, showed police blasting African American demonstrators—many of them children—with fire hoses. Coupled with images of angry white segregationist mobs squaring off against black students, the news footage did much to sway public opinion in favor of liberal legislation such as the 1964 Voting Rights Act. Conversely, when volatile pictures of the race riots in Detroit and other cities in the late 1960s hit the airwaves, horrified viewers saw the need for a return to law and order. The footage helped create an anti-civil-rights backlash that encouraged many viewers to vote for conservative Republican Richard Nixon during the 1968 presidential election.

During the past few decades, mass-media news coverage has gone beyond swaying public opinion through mere imagery. Trusted centrist voices such as that of Walter Cronkite, who was known for his impartial reporting of some of the biggest news stories in the 1960s, have been replaced by highly politicized news coverage on cable channels such as conservative Fox News and liberal MSNBC. As broadcasters narrow their focus to cater to more specialized audiences, viewers choose to watch the networks that suit their political bias. Middle-of-the-road network CNN, which aims for nonpartisanship, frequently loses out in the ratings wars against Fox and MSNBC, both of which have fierce groups of supporters. As one reporter put it, “A small partisan base is enough for big ratings; the mildly interested middle might rather watch Grey’s Anatomy .”James Poniewozik, “CNN: Can a Mainstream News Outlet Survive?” Time , May 3, 2010, www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1983901,00.html. Critics argue that partisan news networks cause viewers to have less understanding of opposing political opinions, making them more polarized.

Source: “Partisanship and Cable News Audiences,” Oct. 30, 2009, Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, a project of the Pew Research Center.

Social Controversy

The issue of whether television producers have a responsibility to promote particular social values continues to generate heated discussion. When the unmarried title character in the CBS series Murphy Brown —a comedy show about a divorced anchorwoman—got pregnant and chose to have the baby without any involvement from the father, then–Vice President Dan Quayle referenced the show as an example of degenerating family values. Linking the 1992 Los Angeles riots to a breakdown of family structure and social order, Quayle lambasted producers’ poor judgment, saying, “It doesn’t help matters when prime-time TV has Murphy Brown, a character who supposedly epitomizes today’s intelligent, highly paid professional woman, mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another ‘lifestyle choice.’” Time , “Dan Quayle vs. Murphy Brown,” June 1, 1992, www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975627,00.html. Quayle’s outburst sparked lively debate between supporters and opponents of his viewpoint, with some praising his outspoken social commentary and others dismissing him as out of touch with America and its growing number of single mothers.

Similar controversy arose with the portrayal of openly gay characters on prime-time television shows. When the lead character on the ABC sitcom Ellen came out in 1997 (2 weeks after Ellen DeGeneres, the actress who played the role, announced that she was gay), she became the first leading gay character on both broadcast and cable networks. The show proved to be a test case for the nation’s tolerance of openly gay characters on prime-time television and became the subject of much debate. Embraced by liberal supporters and lambasted by conservative objectors (evangelical Baptist minister Jerry Falwell infamously dubbed her “Ellen DeGenerate”), both the actress and the show furthered the quest to make homosexuality acceptable to mainstream audiences. Although Ellen was canceled the following year (amid disagreements with producers about whether it should contain a parental advisory warning), DeGeneres successfully returned to television in 2003 with her own talk show. Subsequent shows with prominent gay characters were quick to follow in Ellen ’s footsteps. According to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), 18 lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender characters accounted for 3 percent of scripted series regulars in the 2009–2010 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.3 percent in 2006.Wendy Mitchell, “GLAAD Report: Gay Characters on Network TV Still on the Rise,” Entertainment Weekly , September 30, 2009, hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/09/30/glaad-report-gay-characters-on-rise/.

Creating Stars via Reality Television

Emerging out of the 1948 television series Candid Camera , in which people were secretly filmed responding to elaborate practical jokes, reality television aimed to capture real, unscripted life on camera. The genre developed in several different directions, from home-video clip shows ( America’s Funniest Home Videos , America’s Funniest People ) to true-crime reenactment shows ( America’s Most Wanted , Unsolved Mysteries ) to thematic shows based on professions of interest ( Project Runway , Police Women of Broward County , Top Chef ). Near the turn of the millennium, the genre began to lean toward more voyeuristic shows, such as MTV’s The Real World , an unscripted “documentary” that followed the lives of seven strangers selected to live together in a large house or apartment in a major city. The show drew criticisms for glamorizing bad behavior and encouraging excessive drinking and casual sex, although its ratings soared with each successive controversy (a trend that critics claim encouraged producers to actively stage rating-grabbing scenarios). During the late 1990s and 2000s, a wave of copycat reality television shows emerged, including the voyeuristic series Big Brother , which filmed a group of strangers living together in an isolated house full of cameras in an attempt to win large amounts of cash, and Survivor , a game show in which participants competed against each other by performing endurance challenges on an uninhabited island. Survivor ’s success as the most popular show on television in the summer of 2000 ensured the continued growth of the reality television genre, and producers turned their attention to reality dating shows such as The Bachelor , Temptation Island , and Dating in the Dark . Cheap to produce, with a seemingly never-ending supply of willing contestants and eager advertising sponsors, reality television shows continue to bring in big ratings. As of 2010, singing talent competition American Idol is television’s biggest revenue generator, pulling in $8.1 million in advertising sales every 30 minutes it is on the air.Paul Bond, “‘Idol’ Listed as TV’s Biggest Revenue Generator,” Hollywood Reporter , May 5, 2010, www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i8f1f42046a622bda2d602430b16d3ed9.

Reality television has created the cultural phenomenon of the instant celebrity. Famous for simply being on the air, reality show contestants are extending their 15 minutes in the spotlight. Kate Gosselin, star of Jon & Kate Plus 8 , a cable television show about a couple who have eight children, has since appeared in numerous magazine articles, and in 2010 she starred on celebrity reality dance show Dancing with the Stars . Survivor contestant Elisabeth Hasselbeck became a co-host on television talk show The View , and several American Idol contestants (including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood) have become household names. The genre has drawn criticism for creating a generation that expects to achieve instant wealth without having to try very hard and also for preying on vulnerable people whom critics call “disposable.” When Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle suffered a public meltdown in 2009 after the stress of transitioning from obscurity to stardom in an extremely short time period, the media began to point out the dangers of reality television. In 2009, TheWrap.com investigated the current lives of former stars of reality shows such as The Contender , Paradise Hotel , Wife Swap , and Extreme Makeover and found that at least 11 participants had committed suicide as an apparent result of their appearances on screen.Guy Adams, “Lessons From America on the Dangers of Reality Television,” Independent (London), June 6, 2009, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lessons-from-america-on-the-dangers-of-reality-television-1698165.html ; Frank Feldlinger, “TheWrap Investigates: 11 Players Have Committed Suicide,” TheWrap, www.thewrap.com/television/article/thewrap-investigates-11-players-have-committed-suicide-3409.

Key Takeaways

• Television has been reflecting changing cultural values since it first gained popularity after World War II. During the 1950s, most programs ignored current events and political issues in favor of family-friendly domestic comedies, which featured white suburban middle-class families. Extreme stress during the 1960s, caused by political events such as the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, led people to turn to escapist television offered by fantasy sitcoms. These provided a sharp dichotomy with the hard-news shows of the era. Social consciousness during the 1970s prompted television producers to reflect changing social attitudes regarding single parenthood, women’s roles, and divorce, and sitcom families began to reflect the increasing number of non-nuclear families in society. The increasing popularity of cable television in the 1980s led to an explosion of news and entertainment channels, some of which raised concerns about the levels of violence on television. During the 1990s and 2000s, television networks became more specialized, catering to niche markets in order to meet the needs of an increasingly fragmented audience.
• Television reflects cultural values, and it also influences culture. One example of this is the polarization of cable television news, which is no longer centrist but caters to individual political tastes. Critics argue that this influences cable news viewers’ opinions and makes them less open to opposing political viewpoints. Entertainment programs also play an influential role within society. By portraying controversial relationships such as single parents or gay couples as acceptable, television shows have the power to shape viewers’ attitudes. In recent years, broadcasters have created the concept of the instant celebrity through the genre of reality television. Contestants on reality television shows now permeate every aspect of culture and the media, from the music charts to popular magazines and newspapers.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Please respond to the following short-answer writing prompts. Each response should be a minimum of one paragraph.

• Choose a popular sitcom from the past 50 years you are familiar with (you can view episodes on Hulu.com to refamiliarize yourself if necessary). Using the ideas in this section as a starting point, identify three ways in which your chosen sitcom reflects or reflected American culture.
• Spend a few days reviewing news coverage on Fox News and MSNBC. How is coverage of similar news stories different? Do you think partisan news networks can affect public opinion? Why or why not?

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• Television Essay

The Television

The television is a popular entertainment device. It is very common and is found in almost all households. When the television first started broadcasting, it was known as the "Idiot Box” because at that time, the only purpose of television was to provide entertainment. Now, with the advancement of technology and creativity, television has emerged as an important mass media. There are many learning and informative channels on the TV today which act as the source of knowledge as well as entertainment.

The word "Television" comprises two words: "tele" and "vision". Tele is a prefix of Greek origin, which means far-off, which is used in creating names of instruments for operating over long distances, whereas vision means the act or faculty of seeing. “Television” can be termed as a device with a screen for receiving signals. 

The Perspectives of Television

The television was first invented by a Scottish scientist, John Logie Baird. Originally, it was capable of displaying monochromatic motion images (or videos). With advances in technology now, we have coloured TVs and even smart TVs. Children and adults depend on television for their entertainment. People spend a lot of their leisure time watching television. This may lead one to wonder whether it is really a good practice to spend so much time on the television. There are certain advantages and disadvantages of television beyond doubt.

The Advantages of Watching Television

An Inexpensive Source of Entertainment: Television is now a very cheap mode of entertainment. Televisions are not very costly, and apart from a very minimal service fee, one needs nothing more to be entertained. Televisions are a great entertainment option for people who live alone or cannot go out often. Televisions are cheap enough to be affordable for all.

Provides Knowledge: Television has a number of services, like news channels and so on. These channels and services help us stay up-to-date with the latest news all around the world. Television also offers educational programs, which help us expand the horizon of our knowledge. We get to learn about science, wildlife, history, and so on.

Gives Motivation: There are programs on television which motivate people to develop certain skills. There are programs of motivational speakers which inspire the viewers to push themselves to excel in their line of work.

The Disadvantages of Television

Like every other device, television too has some demerits alongside its advantages. 

Inappropriate Content: Television has barely any measures to prevent segregation of mature and adult audiences from younger audiences. Thus, when a piece of content is aired, it can be viewed by all. As a result, the younger section of the audience is exposed to inappropriate content.

Addiction: Studies have shown that watching a lot of television can get addictive. Television addiction helps lower social activities and promotes inactivity. This makes children more susceptible to mental as well as physical illnesses.

Fake Information: A lot of television content is aimed to spread misinformation for views and ratings. This kind of misinformation can hinder social and communal harmony. The misinformation can also leave a lasting impression on the audience who are of a vulnerable age.

Short Essay on Television in English (200 words)

Television is a great medium of entertainment for people from every age group. It provides enjoyment for the whole family. There are many channels, including news channels, sports channels, and channels of films, cartoons, or songs. Television also contains many programs and shows for kids. Television is a device that entertains the public and informs us about the country and the world.

Television is an amazing invention of science. Watching television makes us fresh, and we forget our worries and fatigue with its magic. Nowadays, the satellite technology and the cable network are far more powerful than ever. A variety of content is available on television and we can watch a channel of our choice. Television also has a great educational value as there are so many channels reserved for educational purposes. Many companies in the world prepare graded programmes.

However, television has a dark side too. Watching too much television can be harmful. Generally, kids are very fond of watching television, but continuously watching television can affect their eyes. Furthermore, it has an adverse effect on their studies. Students will not get enough time to study well if they stay busy watching television, and it makes them less imaginative. In spite of its dark side, television has become a vital means of transmitting both education and entertainment. 

10 lines on a Television Essay in English

Television is an effective medium for communication. 

Television is a vast medium of entertainment, information, and education of the modern age.

Television was invented in 1925 by John Logie Baird.

Television enables children to learn moral lessons in a fun way with special channels and programs meant for children.

The television shows, live matches, movies, music, cartoons, etc. are sources of our entertainment.

Television is considered an amazing invention of science.

We can enjoy a cinema, a football or cricket match, news, serials, and many other programs.

It is called Doordarshan in Hindi because it gives the vision of distant objects.

Television is also used to teach children in school

We can watch and hear the news of the world through television.

Whether television is good or bad for the viewers can be a long debate. However, one must always bear in mind that a device is not good or bad, it is merely a device. How one uses that device is what determines its effect. If we judicially use the television and control our television viewing time, we can get the benefits while avoiding the shortcomings.

FAQs on Television Essay

1. What is the importance of television?

Television has helped immensely in broadcasting a lot of information since its inception. Television is a great medium for people, which is used as a means of delivering entertainment, advertising products, and services, right in the comfort of the home. Television is also helpful in delivering news swiftly across the people and many programs are designed to serve as education and a source of knowledge, which is designed for all the age groups. Recently, most households have a television set and many of them have more than one television.

2. What is the history of television?

Television comprises both hearing and watching. Things can be seen from a great distance by means of the television. Television enables us to watch the live images of a person dancing, singing, or talking at a great distance. The television was invented by a scientist named Baird in 1925. Since its invention, television has gone through a lot of development and improvements. Initially, the sound and picture were not clear, and even images were mono-colored. But today, televisions have crystal clear sounds and images in actual color.

Test Resources

TOEFL® Resources by Michael Goodine

Sample toefl essay – do television and movies influence our behavior, the question.

Movies and television strongly influence the way people behave.  Do you agree or disagree? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

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The Sample Essay

          Most people agree that all forms of entertainment affect society.  In my opinion, movies and television shows really do influence how people behave. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.

           First of all, films and television provide society with a lot of negative role-models, which many people are willing to emulate. These days, the so-called “anti-hero” is a big part of popular culture. This is a type of character who acts badly around other people, ignores the rules of society and has a really misanthropic attitude. Commonly, these characters  glorify excessive violence and drug use. My own personal experience is a compelling example of this. When I was in high school, a close friend of mine was a huge fan of characters like this. While he started high school as a straight-A student, he later began to watch a lot of films which gave him the impression that taking drugs and fighting with his classmates was amusing and even desirable behavior.  As a result, he barely finished high school and is now unemployed. Moreover, he has few job prospects. Had he not watched so many terrible movies, he would not be in such a desperate situation today.

           On the other hand, TV shows and movies also provide people with a lot of positive role models.  For people who desire to watch wholesome shows, there are many family-friendly options to choose from. Programs of this type showcase functioning and stable families. They don’t just show traditional and conservative families, but caring, loving people from many different backgrounds and with many different beliefs.  For instance, my own family often takes inspiration from the parents and children we see on our favorite family drama, “The Bosby Show.” We are not always able to live up to the ideals the show presents to us, but they positively influence the way we behave every day.  We are really thankful for the influence it has on our lives.

           In conclusion, I am of the opinion that television and movies influence the way almost everyone behaves in modern society.  This is because some movies cause us to act in detrimental ways, and because other shows inspire us to emulate and embrace positive values. (370 words)

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Sperm, jokes, and two bisexual kaijus hope to rule our screens this weekend. Alternately, you could just blast the Talking Heads by rewatching Stop Making Sense (and listen to Lorde’s spin on “Take Me to the River” ). But this weekend we all know Beyoncé is at the top of your mind, so here are the new TV shows and movies to fill your time between Cowboy Carter listens. —Savannah Salazar

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The Ultimate Guide to What to Watch on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, and More in April 2024

It's spring out — time for Fallout

If you like adaptations, April's got 'em. The first full month of spring brings plenty of fresh takes on familiar properties, like Netflix's Ripley , a new limited series starring Andrew Scott as the talented Mr. Ripley himself; Prime Video's Fallout , which adapts the video game franchise for TV; and HBO's The Sympathizer , based on the book of the same name. But if you like original stories, April has them, too. Two of the month's biggest releases — Apple TV+'s detective series Sugar , starring Colin Farrell, and Hulu's spy series The Veil , starring Elisabeth Moss — are as enigmatic as their characters.

Our guide to the best TV in April is divided into three sections: the best shows and movies to watch this month, the best shows to watch by streaming service, and a calendar of TV highlights. Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it below. 

• Everything to know about what to watch on TV this spring
• The ultimate guide to what to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, and more in March

The best shows and movies to watch in April

Elisabeth Moss, The Veil

Ripley  (April 4, Netflix)

The true heads have been waiting for this — colloquially known as "the Andrew Scott Ripley show" — for a  while . First announced in 2019 and originally set to air on Showtime,  Ripley  was eventually picked up by Netflix and will finally premiere this April. A limited series adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel  The Talented Mr. Ripley  (which was previously adapted into the 1999 Matt Damon film),  Ripley  stars  Andrew Scott  as the titular conman as he travels from New York to Italy to help convince a wealthy man's layabout son to return from an extended vacation. And, well, you probably know the rest — but if you don't, I won't spoil the dark and twisted web Ripley leaves in his wake here.  Johnny Flynn ,  Dakota Fanning , and  John Malkovich  co-star alongside Scott. - Allison Picurro [ Trailer ]

Girls State (April 5, Apple TV+)

The 2020 Sundance Film Festival Documentary Grand Jury winner Boys State took audiences inside Boys State, a summer leadership program for high schoolers that culminates in a convention where a mock government is set up, complete with candidates creating political parties and running for office. Things got weird! Now it's the girls' turn. This sorta-sequel follows high school girls in the sister program as they get a first-hand look at how government runs and learn what it takes to be a good politician versus what it takes to be a popular politician. Boys State exposed some universally scary truths about our system of elected officials, with the young men sacrificing their beliefs for power; will the girls follow suit? -Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

Click through for the latest on spring TV

Mary & George   (April 5, Starz)

What's better than a deliciously outrageous period piece? The historical series stars Julianne Moore as a desperate countess who, terrified of losing her fortune and social standing, transforms her son ( Nicholas Galitzine ) into the ideal lover for King James I ( Tony Curran ). Together, mother and son scheme, deceive, and murder their way to power. - Allison Picurro   [ Trailer ]

Sugar (April 5, Apple TV+)

Colin Farrell detective show? Colin Farrell detective show! Say less! OK, fine, I'll say a little more: Colin Farrell stars in and executive produces this series about a detective tracking the mysterious disappearance of the beloved granddaughter of a legendary Hollywood producer. Its sounds straightforward, but the stylish direction from Fernando Meirelles and a twist keep things interesting. - Allison Picurro [ Trailer ]

Fallout (April 11, Prime Video)

Bethesda Game Studios' popular franchise looks to follow in the footsteps of  The Last of Us  as game-to-TV adaptations that don't totally suck. This one is partially in the hands of  Westworld 's  Jonathan Nolan  and  Lisa Joy , who are on board to executive produce, and stars  Yellowjackets '  Ella Purnell  and  Justified 's  Walton Goggins  in a story of survival in a post-nuclear apocalypse, in a retrofuturistic, alternate Los Angeles full of mutants, mech suits, and opportunists. Based on the trailer, the games' sly and dark sense of humor looks to be intact, so grab your Pip-Boy and get ready. This looks really good. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Sympathizer  (April 14, HBO)

The adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's 2015 book of the same name follows a conflicted spy for the Communist party in Vietnam over the course of his life and mixes dark humor with espionage thrills during the Cold War. Co-created by Park Chan-wook ( Oldboy ) and Don McKellar , The Sympathizer 's '70s and '80s vibe oozes off the screen with style, thanks in part to a trio of cool directors behind the camera — Park, City of God 's Fernando Meirelles, and Utopia 's Mark Mullen .  Hoa Xuande  stars as the unnamed protagonist, with  Sandra Oh  and  Robert Downey Jr. , in several roles, supporting. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

Under the Bridge  (April 17, Hulu)

Riley Keough stars in this adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey's true-crime novel about the 1997 murder of teenage girl Reena Virk in British Columbia, Canada. As Godfrey (Keough) investigates the case, she exposes a hidden underworld of teenagers, mob mentality, and unheard cries for help. Lily Gladstone also stars as Cam Bentland, one of the only women of color on the B.C. police force. - Tim Surette   [ Trailer ]

The Jinx - Part Two (April 21, HBO)

I don't know what's more unbelievable: that The Jinx , a monumental moment in true-crime television that investigated real estate mogul Robert Durst and his possible involvement in the murder of three people, came out over nine years ago, or that we haven't been given another season, more episodes, or some way to capitalize on the fervor around the show until now. Almost a decade after we heard Durst's bizarre confession at a urinal, filmmaker Andrew Jarecki uncovers more details on the murder cases and interviews new witnesses. It's hard to think this could have the impact that the first did — in a timely coincidence, Durst was arrested for the murder of Susan Berman the day before The Jinx finale aired — given that Durst died in 2022 before he could go to trial, but for those feeling that the case is incomplete, these six episode should suffice. - Tim Surette [ Trailer ]

The Big Door Prize Season 2 (April 24, Apple TV+)

Few shows can claim to be as cosmic and cozy as Apple TV+'s The Big Door Prize , a delightful small-town relationship comedy with a sci-fi mystery at its center. When the town of Deerfield discovers a mysterious machine in a local market that supposedly tells users their life potentials, the citizens see their lives turned upside down as unspoken desires take over, jealousies emerge, and people break out of their shells with new confidence. Season 1 left plenty of questions unanswered — where did this machine come from, anyway? — but that was by design, as the wacky townspeople come first in this character-driven dramedy that stars Chris O'Dowd , Gabrielle Dennis , Josh Segarra , and Crystal Fox . - Tim Surette

The Veil (April 30, Hulu)

Elisabeth Moss  and  Yumna Marwan  star in this thriller series about a pair of women engaged in a globe-trotting game of cat and mouse. FX's official synopsis is just enigmatic enough to be intriguing: "One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost." A recent  Vanity Fair  preview  revealed a little more, with creator  Steven Knight  ( Peaky Blinders ) comparing the leads' dynamic to  Thelma & Louise .  Josh Charles  and  Dali Benssalah  also star. - Allison Picurro [ Trailer ]

What's on Netflix, Max, Hulu, Amazon, and more in April

Andrew Scott, Ripley

Netflix's best new shows and movies in April

April is the month of fools, and Netflix is starting the month off with a man who is looking to take advantage of all of them. Ripley , the newest adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley , stars Andrew Scott as the titular grifter, sent to Italy to convince a rich guy's son to return home to the United States. It's our top pick for what to watch on Netflix in the month. Also coming in April is Season 2 of Heartbreak High , the Australian high school drama that's a mix of Sex Education and Euphoria but actually appropriate for teens. An adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Dead Boy Detectives and Yeon Sang-ho's Parasyte: The Grey  should fill your supernatural/horror needs, but if you're just here for some good-natured pranking, check out The Magic Prank Show , starring Magic for Humans ' Justin Willman. Here's our list of  the best shows and movies on Netflix in April, plus everything coming to and leaving Netflix in April .

More on Netflix :

• The best shows on Netflix right now
• The best movies on Netflix right now
• The new TV shows and movies on Netflix in March

Hoa Xuande, The Sympathizer

HBO and Max's best new shows and movies in April

April is a pretty busy month for HBO and Max. Things start off with this year's Academy Award winner for Best International Feature, The Zone of Interest , on April 5, and end with The Jinx - Part Two , the true crime docuseries that's a follow-up to the 2015 miniseries that rocked the world. But for quality HBO entertainment, pay special attention to The Sympathizer (April 14), a groovy spy dramedy starring Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., and Sandra Oh. Here's our list of  the best shows and movies on HBO and Max in April, plus everything coming to HBO and Max in April .

More on HBO and Max :

• The best movies on Max right now
• The best shows on Max right now
• The new TV shows and movies on HBO and Max in March
• HBO Max review: Everything to know about the streaming service

Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge

Hulu's best new shows and movies in April

The end of Oscars season brings the start of a new season: the one where Oscar and Emmy nominees (and winners) star in limited series that air right before the Emmy voting window closes. Hulu has a pair of them this April. First up is Under the Bridge , a true crime drama about the investigation into the 1997 murder of a teenage girl in British Columbia, starring Emmy nominee Riley Keough and Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone. And at the end of the month, Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss leads the FX-produced limited series The Veil , an enigmatic, globe-trotting spy thriller. Here's our list of  the best shows and movies on Hulu in April, plus everything coming to Hulu in April .

More on Hulu : 

• The best TV shows on Hulu right now
• The best movies on Hulu right now
• The new TV shows and movies on Hulu in March
• How much does Hulu cost? Plans, pricing, channels, and more

Aaron Moten, Fallout

Amazon Prime Video's best new shows and movies in April

When looking at what's new on Amazon Prime Video for the month, would you rather have four or five shows that look decent or one show that looks totally frickin' awesome? If you're in the latter crowd, good news! Fallout , the adaptation of the Bethesda Game Studios video game series, comes out in the middle of the month, and we cannot wait. Sarcastic robots, angry mutants, Walton Goggins with no nose... what more could you ask for? As for the rest of Prime Video's lineup... did we mention Fallout ? Here's our list of  the best shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video in April, plus everything coming to Prime Video in April .

More on Amazon:

• The best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now
• The best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now
• The new TV shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video in March
• Amazon Prime Video pricing, channels, and deals

Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine, Mary & George

The best new shows and movies everywhere else in April

Looking to welcome the first full month of spring with a costume drama about a mother and son scheming their way into power and influence? Good news! Mary & George , starring Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine, premieres April 5 on Starz. April 5 also marks the debut of Apple TV+'s Sugar , a detective series starring Colin Farrell. Later in the month, Apple TV+ has the second season of charming comedy The Big Door Prize (April 24). Peacock has the British comedy series Hapless (April 10), while Disney+ has the second season of Monsters Inc . series Monsters at Work (April 5). And on Paramount+, the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery kicks off April 4.

More on Apple TV+, Peacock, Disney+, and Paramount+ :

• The best shows and movies on Apple TV+ right now
• The best shows on Peacock right now
• The best movies on Peacock right now
• The best shows on Paramount+ right now
• The best shows on Disney+ right now
• The best movies on Disney+ right now
• How to get a Paramount+ free trial and deals

April TV calendar highlights

Monday, April 1 All American (Season 6, The CW) Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal (Documentary, Peacock) The Synanon Fix (Docuseries, HBO) Vanderpump Villa (Season 1, Hulu)

Tuesday, April 2 Demetri Martin: Demetri Deconstructed (Special, Netflix) Lopez vs Lopez (Season 2, NBC) Together: Treble Winners (Docuseries, Netflix) Weakest Link (Season 3 Part 2, NBC)

Wednesday, April 3 American Horror Story (Season 12 Part 2, FX) Files of the Unexplained (Docuseries, Netflix) Loot (Season 2, Apple TV+) Sight Unseen (Season 1, The CW) Walker (Season 4, The CW)

Thursday, April 4 Hop (Season 1, Max) Ripley (Limited Series, Netflix) Star Trek: Discovery (Season 5, Paramount+)

Friday, April 5 Alex Rider (Season 3, Freevee) The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem (Documentary, Netflix) Dinosaur (Season 1, Hulu) Girls State (Documentary, Apple TV+) How to Date Billy Walsh (Film, Prime Video) Mary & George (Limited Series, Starz) Monsters at Work (Season 2, Disney+) Parasyte: The Grey (Season 1, Netflix) Scoop (Film, Netflix) Sugar (Season 1, Apple TV+)

Saturday, April 6 Alex Edelman: Just for Us (Special, HBO) Two for One (Limited Series, TCM)

Sunday, April 7 2024 CMT Music Awards (Special, CBS) Beacon 23 (Season 2, MGM+) Mr. Bates vs The Post Office (Limited Series, PBS) Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight (Docuseries, CNN) When Calls the Heart (Season 11, Hallmark)

Monday, April 8 30 for 30: 26.2 to Life (Documentary, ESPN) NCISVerse: The First 1,000 (Special, CBS)

Tuesday, April 9 Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion (Documentary, HBO) Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise (Season 1, Freeform) Neal Brennan: Crazy Good (Special, Netflix)

Wednesday, April 10 The Challenge: All Stars (Season 4, Paramount+) Chucky (Season 3 Part 2, Syfy) Hapless (Seasons 1-2, Peacock) Unlocked: A Jail Experiment (Season 1, Netflix) What Jennifer Did (Documentary, Netflix)

Thursday, April 11 Baby Reindeer (Season 1, Netflix) Fallout (Season 1, Prime Video) Heartbreak High (Season 2, Netflix) Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker (Season 1, The CW)

Friday, April 12 Franklin (Limited Series, Apple TV+) Good Times (Season 1, Netflix) The Greatest Hits (Film, Hulu)

Sunday, April 14 The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden (Special, CBS) Bluey: The Sign (Special, Disney) The Sympathizer (Limited Series, HBO)

Tuesday, April 16 An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (Documentary, HBO) CTRL+ALT+DESIRE (Docuseries, Paramount+)

Wednesday, April 17 The Circle (Season 6, Netflix) Our Living World (Season 1, Netflix) Under the Bridge (Limited Series, Hulu)

Thursday, April 18 Conan O'Brien Must Go (Season 1, Max) Dinner With the Parents (Season 1, Freevee) Going Home With Tyler Cameron (Season 1, Prime Video) Orlando Bloom: To the Edge (Limited Series, Peacock) The Upshaws (Season 5, Netflix)

Friday, April 19 The Never Ever Mets (Season 1, OWN) Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver (Film, Netflix) The Spiderwick Chronicles (Limited Series, The Roku Channel)

Saturday, April 20 High Hopes (Season 1, Hulu) Predator v Prey (Docuseries, BBC America)

Sunday, April 21 The Jinx - Part 2 (Limited Series, HBO)

Monday, April 22 Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen (Special, Netflix) Hip-Hop and the White House (Documentary, Hulu)

Tuesday, April 23 The Express Way with Dulé Hill (Docuseries, PBS)

Wednesday, April 24 The Big Door Prize (Season 2, Apple TV+)

Thursday, April 25 Dead Boy Detectives (Season 1, Netflix) Them: The Scare (Season 2, Prime Video)

Friday, April 26 Knuckles (Limited Series, Paramount+) The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses (Documentary, FX) Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Docuseries, Hulu) We're Here (Season 4, HBO)

Tuesday, April 30 The Veil (Limited Series, Hulu)

Here's the cast of Amazon's 'Fallout' and the shows and movies where you've probably seen the actors before

Posted: March 29, 2024 | Last updated: March 29, 2024

• Amazon's "Fallout" is based on Bethesda Softworks' post-apocalyptic video game series.
• It takes place in an alternate world, where nuclear technology is used for everything.
• The cast include actors from "Yellowjackets" and "The Hateful Eight."

The " Fallout " video games have gripped players since the late '90s and the franchise is finally getting the live-action treatment from Amazon. The show starts streaming on Prime Video on April 12, and fleshes out the post-apocalyptic wasteland from the games.

Bethesda Softworks bought the franchise from Interplay in 2007 for $5.75 million, and the four games it has published since then have sold 45.4 million copies in total.

The most recent entry, "Fallout 76," pushed the single-player franchise online. Per Bethesda Softworks, since 2018, 17 million players have explored the multiplayer game, which the studio has frequently updated with new storylines, missions, and loot.

The franchise imagines a world inspired by 1950s futurism where society relies on technology that is more advanced than our own, from chunky wearable computers, to floating robots, and giant suits of armor. But all that technology didn't stop a nuclear war from breaking out.

Some people survived the apocalypse thanks to huge underground bunkers, called Vaults, which were built by a nefarious company called Vault-Tec.

When the "Fallout" TV series kicks off, one of these Vault Dwellers leaves the safety of the bunker to find her father.

Here's who's in the cast of "Fallout."

Ella Purnell plays Lucy MacLean

"Fallout" mainly follows Lucy MacLean, a vault dweller born and raised in Vault 33 after the apocalypse, played by Ella Purnell.

Purnell previously played Jackie, a high school soccer team player who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, in " Yellowjackets ."

She also appeared opposite Dave Bautista and Hiroyuki Sanada in Zack Snyder's " Army of the Dead " as Kate Ward.

In "Fallout," Lucy has spent her entire life inside Vault 33 with her father and brother. She has an idealistic view of the world because she was educated by the company behind the underground bunker, Vault-Tec .

So, she's forced to adapt quickly when she leaves the safety of the Vault to find her father in the outside world.

Walton Goggins plays The Ghoul

During Lucy's quest to find her missing father, she crosses paths with an irradiated bounty hunter called The Ghoul, and actor Walton Goggins is the star under all that makeup.

He previously played career criminal Boyd Crowder in "Justified," as well as Captain Mannix in Quentin Tarantino's " The Hateful Eight ."

As players of the games will know, most ghouls are creatures who were once human but have been turned into mindless creatures by exposure to radiation. But The Ghoul has retained his humanity and has been alive for hundreds of years by the time "Fallout" starts.

Goggins' character used to be a normal man called Cooper Howard, and he shows up in a Vault-Tec commercial in the trailer.

Aaron Moten plays Maximus

The third protagonist of the series is Maximus, a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, played by Aaron Moten. The star played Ben in the Fox TV series "Next," as well as Petey in HBO's " The Night Of. "

Maximus was raised in the wasteland but adopted by the militaristic Brotherhood of Steel when he was a child. When "Fallout" starts, he's a squire who serves one of the knights in the hulking suits of Power Armor that are synonymous with the franchise.

In Vanity Fair 's lengthy first-look at the series, executive producer Jonathan Nolan said that Maximus' role in the Brotherhood of Steel was inspired by medieval legends.

"This is a drawing on the classic Arthurian Knight legends where life was cheap, and you had a squire as long as they were useful," he explained. "They had to prove their worth, they had to prove their valor and their strength, and if they didn't, they were kind of cast aside."

Kyle MacLachlan as Overseer Hank MacLean

Lucy's journey in "Fallout" revolves around finding her father, Hank MacLean, after he goes missing from Vault 33.

He's played by Kyle MacLachlan , who fans might recognize as Agent Dale Cooper from David Lynch's "Twin Peaks," as well as The Captain in "How I Met Your Mother," and villain Calvin Johnson in "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Hank is the Overseer of Vault 33, and he's respected among the vault dwellers, which is why Lucy bravely decides to leave the safety of Vault 33 to find him.

Fans of the "Fallout" games will know that aside from saving some of the population, Vault-Tec used the vaults to experiment on their inhabitants. So it'll be interesting to see whether Hank has also been tasked with experimenting on the people he's in charge of.

Michael Emerson plays Wilzig

The wasteland is filled with colorful characters, some more mysterious than others. One of those intriguing individuals is Wilzig, played by Michael Emerson. Little is known about the character, but the Vanity Fair feature describes him as an "enigmatic researcher."

Wilzig may be a Vault-Tec employee or a member of the sinister Enclave, which experiments with radiation in the games. He can briefly be seen in the trailer warning Lucy about the dangers of post-apocalyptic America.

Emerson is best known for his role as the scheming villain-turned-ally, Benjamin Linus, in " Lost ." He also played genius billionaire scientist Harold Finch in "Person of Interest."

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