‘TV or Not TV?’ Is the Question; Here Are Answers

After killing plenty of trees wallowing in television’s minutiae, last week I came across a topic that truly generated enthusiasm among readers: namely, people who don’t watch much TV. Go figure.

The column was inspired by Dr. Daniel Fink, who, in essence, had written to say he has virtually no use for TV and wonders about others who share his viewing habits.

Like-minded people (fellow Fink folk, as it were) chimed in, clearly annoyed by presumptions that the world hangs on whether the “Friends” cast signs for another year or if Bobby and Lindsay tie the knot on “The Practice.” A small minority rallied to defend TV, while a few simply felt obliged to point out that I am an idiot, which is always nice around the holidays.

Most of the responses were thoughtful and quite personal. Here, then--before we get back to important stuff, such as pondering the cultural significance of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”--is a limited and excerpted sampling:

I have had no cable--and thus no reception--for more than three years, and I love it! Some of my friends give me grief: “You’re missing so much, Discovery Channel, PBS, ‘The Sopranos,’ ” and I simply could not care less. The clincher for me was the snail-like “pursuit” of O.J. Simpson’s white Bronco by the LAPD. . . . I spent three precious hours staring at an utter nonevent, mesmerized by meaningless pictures and voice-overs. I’m convinced that many people watch TV in precisely the same way.

MARGO KLINE

Santa Barbara

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I was thrilled to see a TV writer acknowledge that there are people in the world that (gasp!) don’t watch TV. My 16-year-old son finds it amazing that my wife and I don’t watch it, and in fact we do not have cable. I can’t imagine why I would want to pay to get more stations showing things that I don’t want to see.

GEORGE KAHN

Culver City

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On a long flight from Costa Rica to L.A., I decided I’d write down what television had taught me about life. The thoughts were scary. What makes for interesting television doesn’t make for an interesting and enjoyable life.

I encourage you to write further on the strange phenomenon known as the real world rather than “The Real World.” It’s a fascinating place, messy and scary at times but far more satisfying.

SALVADOR PANIAGUA JR.

Port Hueneme

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My chief complaints regarding TV are the violence and the disrespect characters show for each other. I believe TV desensitizes people to violence. And broadcast news is entertainment versus news. I do watch PBS on a somewhat regular basis.

SUE GIBLER

Atascadero

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I sold my television and VCR almost exactly five years ago. . . . I was haunted by the image of too many people tuning out and turning away--from conversation, from their families, from other, arguably more valuable, pastimes.

Our friends howled and said it wouldn’t last, but truth be told, we don’t miss it. Despite our friends’ teasing, we’re no 1990s Luddites. We have an office crammed with computer equipment, and I’d have a tough time getting through a single workday without e-mail and fax machines for communication and the Internet for research purposes. But we manage very well without TV.

CATHERINE STRINGER

Los Angeles

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There are some of us who are not morons and still have time to watch a selective program or two that we find interesting, such as the Learning Channel, the Animal Planet, Nova, anything good on KCET and A&E;’s “Biography.”

There are hosts of informative and educational programming out there. Don’t belittle the people who pay handsomely every month for the privilege of sitting on our couches and eating our bonbons and just being entertained. By the way, we still do have time for gardening, grocery shopping, an occasional dinner out, a movie and the theater. So keep your snooty opinions to yourself.

TONI JACOBSON

Monterey Park

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I’m not ambivalent; I love TV. My particular approach is much like Annie Savoy’s in “Bull Durham,” wherein she targets a ballplayer worthy of her affections and then nurtures him during the season. This year’s entry is CBS’ “Now and Again.” Virtually all of the others I have ignored without ever giving them a chance. This approach is more in the interest of balancing TV with my family time and other interests rather than my disdain for the 98% of the programming I’ve never seen. It’s my 2% solution.

ROB CARROLL

Lake Forest

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What a relief! Finally an article is written acknowledging those with more intelligent things to do than to compare notes on what It’s-Like-You-Know-Jack-and-Jill-and-Dawson-and-Felicity are doing.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that Fink “represents the kind of educated, upper-income viewer who makes advertisers salivate.” I am a graduate student at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and have very little time to eat or sleep, much less “veg” in front of the tube. Other than utilized as a 10-minute brain distraction during finals or means to catch the State of the Union address, my television is just another space-occupying knickknack in my living room.

PAMELA GALAMBOS

Whittier

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Just the other day I realized living out God’s plan is too exciting to waste it watching other people live life poorly on TV. Now, I’m committed to reading even more. I’m encouraged to know that not everyone in the U.S. is glued to the tube.

KATHY COLLARD MILLER

Placentia

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The only shows I watch are “The X-Files,” alone, and “The Simpsons” and “That ‘70s Show,” with my kids. Another interesting TV-related issue is its impact on marriage. My ex-husband’s major consumption of it, and my disinterest, played a major role in my divorce. You might be able to guess who got the big-screen TV in the settlement. As a consequence, one of my dating criteria is the amount of TV a guy watches.

SUSAN WEST

Downey

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In 1993, we fired the television. By the time we made the ultimate decision we were pretty much watching only sporting events that involved a round ball, other than round balls struck by fat people in plaid pants.

While watching the 1993 World Series with my daughter--remember Joe Carter’s home run?--she and I were subjected to a never-ending barrage of tasteless, violent, gory ads for whatever trash the network was going to show right after the game. My daughter was 7 at the time. During what amounts to a holy event in the U.S., the network perpetrated a sacrilege.

When there is a fire out here, the TV doesn’t work anyway. My daughter is now 13 and seems to have plenty to do without the box. We are glad not to have it.

BILL SAMPSON

Malibu

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Is it any wonder that people like Daniel Fink don’t bother with television anymore? Almost every facet of television, from the networks to the cable stations, is hostile toward the viewer and holds the audience in contempt. I used to be a regular viewer of a number of shows. Now, however, I don’t watch any programs regularly. Sure, I’m still a masochist and I’ll watch the Chargers play whenever they’re on, and I’m always a sucker for nature and historical documentaries.

But network programming? Sitcoms? Forget about it. Most programs today are so inane as to not be worth the time it takes to view them. A half-hour of potty jokes, obvious sexual innuendo and (worst of all) a laugh track can be better spent in, oh, sorting laundry. This inanity is even evident in the news. I feel that television has turned its back on viewers like me. Why should I stay where I’m not wanted?

TIM MELNARIK

Burbank

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These people always come off as arrogant and almost jealous to me, because they can’t manage their time enough to watch TV. I am a 44-year-old woman, and I work 40 hours a week. I have to make three deadlines a week (pressure), I’m enrolled in college full time at night (pressure), I have a husband (pressure) and I live in South-Central Los Angeles (big-time pressure). I love my escapism TV, and yes, I am one of those people who cares whether Mulder and Scully get together. I do a lot of taping and enjoy my TV time!

CHRISTINE LEWIS

Los Angeles

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It’s good to know that Daniel Fink has more important things to do with his time than watch television. Apparently one of those things is to write to a TV columnist about how there are more important things to do than watch television. I have to go now. I’m not a sports fan, but I’m going to write to as many sports columnists as I can to point out that there are better things to do with your time than sit around watching sports.

DOUG BENSON

Hollywood

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Brian Lowry’s column appears on Tuesdays. He can be reached by e-mail at brian.lowry@latimes.com.