Gephyrophillia | Not An Update #7

Originally Posted on 02/09/2009 by Jeff Harris

This is not an update.

This is . . . well, this is me not caring. A cold, heartless response to the way of the world of cable television, particularly Cartoon Network, children's outlets, and the fate of animation on the American airwaves in general. Maybe it's because I've been doing this for a little over ten years. Maybe it's because I've seen a lot of highs and lows over the past decade. Or maybe I just don't give a damn about the situation anymore.

I'm 31 years old. I'm closer to 40 than I am to 20, so this feeling I'm having may have a lot to do with the natural aging process than the rebel wanting to create change. Change is overrated, and people are naturally scared of change. That's why network lineups are so similar throughout the channelscape. Television is so homogenized that within two years or so, everything will be on every channel with one or two shows exclusively shown on a particular network. Television executives are cowards, which is why you rarely see anything truly revolutionary and something truly original.

Of course when you care more about ratings and hellbent on ruining whatever shred of respect and loyal viewership remaining on your outlet in favor of abandoning the core mission of your network by attracting viewers that aren't going to watch regardless, well, you're going to remain in third or fourth place.

And I don't care.

I'm not questioning WHY I don't care. I've just gotten to the point that I don't give a damn about those networks. I've also gotten to the point that I don't care that animation on American television is at its lowest point in decades. Animation from Warner Bros. Animation not adapted from a DC Comics franchise or revamped by a Canadian company is not on in America. Disney animation made before 1997 is rarely seen in this country, and a huge chunk of the ABC and Saban library they own will never be seen here again. Yes, I am aware that a lot of older animation is online, but considering the amount of households that are without broadband in any of its flavors, it's pointless. The owners of those shows own outlets that could house and air them on a daily basis as well as has the capability to create new ones, particularly utilizing digital television to its fullest, and yet purposely choose not to. You remember, the transition to DTV was delayed largely because of the insistance of the broadcasters who have ZERO plans what to do with the new space. They just don't care.

Why the hell should I? Why should I bother complaining, let alone caring, about what they do and how they run their business? They have bright minds running their companies. They're running them through the ground ('m still curious how the Watertower lost $16 billion in the last quarter), but they're still running them.

Again, maybe I'm just getting older and, instead of becoming the crank telling young whipper-snappers to get off my lawn, I'm mellowing with age. An almost blissful indifference to the world. Yes, I'm aware of the stupidity and glaring arrogance around me, but I don't care. I'm not consumed by it. I'm not fighting it (I've fought many fights, and I retired fighting last year when I pretty much got my butt kicked). I'm not even wishing for their doom and utter collapse. I think that I'm willing to move on. I won't stop dreaming of change, but rather, I'm stopping wishing for change that will never happen or waiting for dead blocks to return when I know they won't.

Hmm. Maybe I do care afterall.

This is not an update. It's me thanking you for your patience these last couple of months. For you six readers remaining, I thank you all for continuing reading the site. And it's also me ready to get creative at The X Bridge in the months ahead, hopefully uninterrupted.

Jeff Harris,
Webmaster, The X Bridge.