Even the Romans Had Better Taste

I went to Yahoo! earlier to retrieve my email and there was a photo of Paris Hilton on the home page. After nearly coughing up my granny smith at the sight of her, I read the caption that Paris and Nicole Ritchie (who, thankfully, was not pictured) would be doing a fourth season of A Simple Life.

I flashed back to my younger years and the television that was on as I grew up. Images of Alan Alda in M*A*S*H, Bill Cosby on the show named after him, Ted Danson on Cheers and the wonderful cast of Taxi popped through my head.

Now, I am not one for glorifying the old days, but something has truly happened to the American psyche that we get off on two rich dimwits making fun of everyday Americans. And make no mistake about it, the show is about making fun of us, not the rich girls.

Taking it a step further, I realized how large an audience American Idol has. Millions and millions of Americans enjoy the talent show and, many in particular, the acid remarks from T-shirt-wearing Simon Cowell. We love to watch people fail. Look how popular the early shows are, when even Paula Abdul (once a talented performer in her own right) turns into the nasty girl in the playground that makes fun of the other kids by laughing at the contestants.

And it's not just television. One of the great aspects of classic rock was that the music was truly good. The musicianship was fantastic. The songs had meaning. Where has that gone? Sure, Pearl Jam and Black Crowes still tour, as do many of the bands from earlier. But the concerts are more a celebration of what they used to do. Even Velvet Revolver is a band of musicians from a long since-gone era. Years like 1975 (Toys In The Attic, Physical Graffiti, A Night at the Opera, etc.) or 1991 (Use Your Illusion I & II, Metallica, Ten, etc.) are not likely to happen again. New music consists of computer-created percussion and sampling (from artists from 1975 and 1991).

Athletes, thanks to ESPN, are more recognized for their showboating than their abilities. Everyone has a publicist.

And no one makes a difference.

I know I sound exactly like baby boomers about my generation here. But it isn't about the generation. It's about what we are feeding them.

Our entertainment industry lacks substance.

Our politics, our culture, our very way of life, is quickly following suit.