Remember the Evening News?

Despite all the kitsch and furniture I have, I am not a nostalgic person. I realize that the 1950’s and 60’s were not all a joyride in the Buick. Prejudice and sexism were rampant, polluters went unmolested (I love using that word) and a lot of social conventions and opinions were not what we would find acceptable these days – at least those of us who aren’t morons.

Plus, let’s face it – I’m not getting any younger, and who wants to be one of those weird, cranky, middle-aged men who grumble about the “good old days”?

I do admit that I think it would be nice if people dressed nicer, but that would mean that I’d have to dress nicer too, and I don’t want to do that. I wish that TV wouldn’t be so constantly vulgar and lowbrow, but then we’d be stuck with 150 channels all showing “The Waltons” and “Little House on the Prairie” All in all, it’s better these days.

But one thing I do miss, and unabashedly so, is real TV news.

The old news. The stuff that was on three channels that you got for 30 minutes. The boring middle-aged guy who droned on with minimum graphics and perhaps a film shot on location. The kind of news where they talked about world events: wars, treaties, medical and science news, you know the drill. If there was any editorial, it was always labeled EDITORIAL on the graphic. No mention of celebrities. No mention of sports (Unless it was something big, like the Stanley Cup). No mention of weird weather or cute kids or Virgin Mary’s appearing anywhere.

And the local news: Another somber 30 minutes with another middle-aged guy. Coverage of city council meetings and water department rate proposals. No talk about lurid crimes or car chases or sprightly old people or tiny tots. Minimal weather, minimal sports, Just news.

I have been thinking a lot about this because I get so tired of the crap that passes for news. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care that Tom Cruise proposed to somebody (on this morning’s new) or that there was a horrible fire in Philadelphia that killed four children (on yesterday’s news) or that the Runaway Bride even exists (the only news for about two weeks)

Even today’s pseudo news wouldn’t be that annoying if it weren’t for the cast of “journalists” that deliver it. Blonde, vapid, seemingly picked for how stupid they are, the women are enough to drive you crazy. And the men? Don’t even get me started on that bunch of himbos.

Even the role of the middle-aged man has morphed into Limbaugh, O’Reilly and Hannity. They aren’t journalists: They’re commentators, but no one understands the difference anymore. Their grim, fatalistic pronouncements and occasional sophomoric humor appeals only to the intensely stupid in our society.

So yes, if there is one thing I am nostalgic for in the “good old days” is the grown-ups: The Cronkites, Huntleys, Brinkleys, Murrows, etc that made watching the news make you feel like a grown up.