Mainstream television rules (for the most part)

It's hard to call TV "mush." There's always something of interest that can be extracted from any popular television show, whether the script seems to be the work of a binge-drinking frat guy, or the Coen Brothers. 

The OC is a prime example. Sure the script sucked for the most part, the acting blew (for the most part) and the plot called for unashamedly vain characters (always), but if you can look past the downside, the upside shines brilliantly. First of all, the music on the show was phenomenal. With the show's popularity, and most popular character, Seth, they were able to bring independent and unheard of talents to the forefront. Artists like Matt Pond PA, Alexi Murdoch and Jem benefitted  from The OC's music supervisor, Alexandra Patsavas, unique approach to teen-show scoring. She brought in the not so popular, nor hip, and gave them credibility. 

Not only was the musical selection respectable, but Seth Coen made being non-jock actually cool. A concept a lot of Star Wars lovers can appreciate.

These shows, whether they are inherently crappy or brilliant, define the character of the generation that follows them. This is why these shows are important, they become ingrained into our being. Chuck Klosterman asserts that people who followed the Real World are able to typecast their friends as characters on the show. They adhere and soak in so much of the Real World, that instead of claiming that characters on the show remind them of their friends, they invert the claim, placing the fake people from the show above the real people in their lives. The same phenomenon can be observed in fans of the show Friends. I tend to look at life through the eyes of the show Seinfeld, it's applicable to how I view the world. 

So, these people in our TV shows may be petty, but they help develop mainstream consciousness, so I hesitate to label shows like The Hills and movies like Twilight "mush," even though that is exactly what they are.

The Derelicts may be going to Vegas. Hookers and liquor stores beware . . .