Thursday, June 7, 2012

Why I am Divorcing the Today Show


Note: I sent this letter to NBC today. I know they won't care, but it had to be done. Enough is enough.
Sniff. I think I'll miss Al Roker most of all.


Why I am Divorcing the Today Show

Dear Today producers,

I have been a loyal Today Show viewer and defender for more than 20 years. When others decried the "fluff" of morning television, I kept watching, because I understood how your format worked. From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., we got the news we needed for the day. After 8, there was much more "infotainment," and I actually enjoyed the balance.

Soon, however, the newsy hour began shrinking, until it was decidedly only a newsy half-hour. And still, I watched. Every morning, faithfully.

Even after Matt Lauer, a true journalist, asked a skydiving elderly lady about her "brassiere" and then insultingly asked her if she planned to "take up knitting," I was determined to stick with my favorite morning show, even if the tone and the content was smacking me in the face with its silliness.

Perhaps I had abused woman syndrome. I kept coming back for more.

But I am divorcing the Today Show, and in fact, have already made the switch to CBS, where I find actual news and information for a greater portion of the show than I do celebrity "news," and unending commentary on blonde models (no one's EVER heard of) attacked by plane propellers.

I feel badly for this woman, whoever she is, but there must've been 9,000 segments on her over the course of months and months. I understand the pull of "tragedy-befalls-beautiful-blonde" stories, but seriously?? The Today Show just took their love affair with this story to an epic low.
I made the decision yesterday, when your line-up of segments shockingly placed Miley Cyrus' engagement above news about the Wisconsin recall. I stood in front of the television, half-dressed for work, and fairly yelled, "Are you kidding me?!"

Miley Cyrus?? THIS is more important than the recall and all that story's serious and wide-reaching implications?

Are you kidding me?

I am no hard news junkie, but I really can't take it anymore.

I will try my hand with Charlie Rose and CBS, and if that fails, I suppose I will turn the television off altogether and simply listen to NPR in the house, as well as on the drive in to work.

Please bid my farewells to Matt, Ann, Al, etc. -- and let them know that it's not me. It's them.

Good luck from a former faithful viewer,

Tanika Davis

4 comments:

Beth said...

What? Miley Cyrus is engaged? Hold on . . . gotta go turn on NBC.

Beth said...

Ha ha ha. Just kidding. Go you for sending that in! They obviously need to hear MUCH more of that. People in the U.S. disappoint me so, so much. Just turn the TV off altogether!

P.S. Yesterday's picture of Clair slayed me!!!! So freakin' precious. I MUST make plans to see her soon!

Julie said...

LOVE this. They lost me years ago. Well actually when the kids came its pretty much Nick Jr or listen to the whining. Oh and the fact that sensational "news" is freakin scary to the preschool-age set. MIssing children, husbands who kill their wives, house fires, planes crash--good grief. The Today show has gone downhill with the crap news. I could also live without all the screaming fans. I do really like CBS Sunday Morning--its uplifting and informative.

DCAngel said...

Hi, I miss you! I haven't been able to check in because of the shoddy internet access, but I'm so glad I was able to catch this post. Nicely done! I love that you told them that it was them, not you.

Tanika, something is seriously wrong with daytime tv. I had it on in the background while trying to work from my hospital bed yesterday, and I caught a commercial for the "Snap-on Smile." Yes, it is fake teeth. No, it is not a joke. WTH is going on in the world???

xoxo