Topic: American Culture
"Dude, What's Up With These Cop and Spy Shows?" Seriously, there's over 20 current TV shows... what's up with them?by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution
(libertarian)
Friday, April 10, 2009
I recently resigned my job in Shanghai, China and repatriated to Pennsylvania. It has been a bit of a reverse culture shock, and I keep most of my posts on message, but this is a little weird.
I don't watch TV, but my family does. Recently, I was trying to read while this cop show "The Mentalist" was on. Someone wanted to switch channels and lo and behold it was just another cop show. I got curious and started asking how many cop shows there were, and was surprised to hear a list of over 10 rattled off. Here's the results of a 2-minute brainstorm... geez.
24 (FOX) – A Federal Agent can't afford to always play by the rules. As a member of a counter terrorist unit, he must stop bombs, viruses, assassination attempts, etc.
NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigation Service (USA) – Team operates outside of the military chain of command under a highly skilled investigator and interrogator who is smart, tough and willing to bend the rules to get the job done.
Law & Order (TNT) - The show follows a crime, usually adapted from current headlines, from two separate vantage points police fieldwork and in the courtroom. (Fascinating.)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (USA) - The crimes they deal with are painful, emotional, disturbing, horrific and scarring - and every day there's more of the same... (Sounds pretty boring)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA) – Stars a detective hellbent on getting inside the minds of the city's worst criminals in order to bring them to justice. (Booooring!)
Southland (NBC) – Stars a rookie cop intent on solving crime and adapting to life as a cop. (Ooo, drama!)
Bones (FOX) - A cynical and lonely forensic anthropologist and a cocky FBI agent partner up to solve long-ago murders. (Now this sounds fun!)
Monk (USA/NBC) – A "defective detective" with a obsessive-compulsive disorder who investigates cases the police can't solve to pay the bills with a single mom.
Castle (ABC) - A famous mystery novelist who is initially called in to help the police solve a copy-cat murder based on his novels teams up to solve murder cases with a young, attractive female detective.
The Shield (SPIKE) - The story of an inner-city police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact.
Psych (USA) - A young crime consultant for a police department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts allow him to convince people that he is psychic.
The Mentalist (CBS) - A mentalist turned private investigator uses his skills to help the police.
Life (NBC) - A former police officer returns to the force after having been wrongly imprisoned for years.
In Plain Sight (USA) – US Marshals keep people in the Witness Protection Program alive.
Burn Notice (USA) - A spy recently disavowed by the US Government uses his Special Ops training to help others in trouble.
Chuck (NBC) - When a twenty-something computer geek inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain, his former college friend turned CIA recruits him as a secret agent, all while keeping him out of evil hands.
Medium (NBC) – A wife and mother of three works at the District Attorney's office and uses her psychic abilities to help crack criminal cases.
Saving Grace (TNT) - An angel offers a jaded Oklahoma City police detective the chance to redeem her life.
The Closer (TNT) – A female police chief runs a homicide division with an unorthodox style and obtains confessions helps her and her team solve the city's toughest, most sensitive cases.
Cops (TRUTV) - Follows real-life law enforcement officers from various regions and departments.
I thought I would ask to see if any brave souls will tell me why there are at least 23 spy/cop TV shows on? Is the viewing public supposed to be fearing for their collective safety? Is this a result of content meeting consumer demand, or the mainstream media setting the tone for the population?
At least it's still an improvement over China. There are only a few state channels but no matter what time of day it is, at the gym they always had on a pro-Communist military soap opera. Usually the "valiant" forces of Mao overcoming the mighty Japanese "bastards" type of deal. What was a bit shocking was one day at a friend's home they turned on some scenes of trench warfare to occupy their 3-year-old son. Geez.
The views expressed in this
article are those of Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution is
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employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Seriously, I think it's all about presenting a benevolent view of the govt to the people. They're not a bunch of corrupt & lazy MFs whose job is to control you, no, they're there to help you. :-s
I was working in Iraq for 4 1/2 years, and when I finaly came home, I noticed the same thing. Anytime, day or night, there are a minimum of 2 police shows running. Often there are four or more on, in any given "prime time" hour.
I do know propaganda when I see it, and this looks exactly like it. The State shouveling the glory and virtue of our police down our collective throats.
I really don't think it's propaganda in the sense of an organized disinformation campaign. But the obsession exists - with any form of violence or conspiracy, duplicity and lies, cruelty and self-absorbed behavior.
I'm afraid stories about mentally healthy, mostly-law-abiding citizens are just boring. I think that's called "jaded".
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