So You Think America's Dancing with Glee?

For a few years now I have been trying to understand the appeal of shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "American Idol." I just don’t see the point. I will however admit to occasionally glancing at "Idol" during the first few episodes of the season... but they're always on DVR and I always fast forward through the singing part. I just want to watch Paula slam Simon. So much for that guilty pleasure... THANKS A LOT ELLEN! But, I digress.

Being a television producer I completely understand the purpose of shows like “Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” They cost next to nothing to produce, rake in beaucoup (that's French for boat-load) bucks, and enchant millions of set of eyeballs to shoot out of their respective heads and fly into the plasma screen like bugs on a windshield. Classy, huh?

I have been doing some VERY informal polling (friends and family) and I can't seem to find any consistent reason why people are enthralled with these shows. So I had to look at the ratings. Here are some interesting tidbits (this is for the United States only):

• The Finale of "M*A*S*H*" is still the big winner (50MM/70 share). I have no idea why. For me it was all about Henry Blake... "More wine my dear? But of course I know why, it's because of that 70 share. There was very little cable television and "M*A*S*H*" was king... fine. But of course, that was then (20th Century), and this is now (well... you know).
  
  
• If you really dig into the numbers (and I won't bore you with all of them) what you find is that since 2000 only 1, Uno, Un, that's right, ONE scripted prime time telecast has been in the top 20 (and it's #12) and that was the "Friend's" finale (52.5MM/43 share).
  

Anyone care to take a guess at the top ten telecasts since 2000? Yah... all Super Bowls. But there is some trickery here. Those are just broadcasts. So where am I going with all of this?

It hasn't been since 2003 that we've seen a scripted prime time drama hold the top spot, and that was "C.S.I." Now don't get me wrong I love my William Peterson too, but the show isn't exactly "All in the Family." Since 2004? "American Idol" has been the top dawg (shout out to Randy). Part of me is really bummed out about this fact. How come more people aren't watching "Dexter" or "Mad Men" or "30 Rock" -- these are great shows with high production values and fantastic performances. My first instinct is to run right to the fact that we, as a country, have somehow "dummied" ourselves down. But then I look at my Mom and she's got 2 Master's degrees (one of them from Harvard) and she can't get enough of "Dancing with the Stars."

So then I think back to being a kid and you know what? We've always been obsessed with these types of shows. Can anyone say "Battle of the Network Stars?" Mr. Peabody, set the way back machine to February 1977:

• ABC team: Gabe Kaplan (captain), LeVar Burton, Darleen Carr, Richard Hatch, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Ron Howard, Hal Linden, Kristy McNichol, Penny Marshall, Jaclyn Smith
  
  
• CBS team: Telly Savalas (captain), Sonny Bono, Kevin Dobson, Mike Farrell, David Groh, Linda Lavin, Lee Meriwether, Rob Reiner, Loretta Swit, Marcia Wallace
  
  
• NBC team: Robert Conrad (captain), Elizabeth Allen, Lynda Day George, Carl Franklin, Karen Grassle, Dan Haggerty, Art Hindle, Kurt Russell, Jane Seymour, W. K. Stratton

Oh but to see Jane Seymour and Gabe Kaplan battle it out on "Simon Says." So maybe this is nothing new. Maybe I'm just being an old fuddy-duddy but I just wish more of us would watch the real challenging programming that is being offered to us. "NOVA" anyone?

I have no idea. I am lost. Oh hey... speaking of "Lost", can anyone PLEASE DEAR GOD tell me what that show is about?

More to come...

M