MM 140: Mass Media and Society

Chapter 6: Television

Participation Points

Television has had a profound social and cultural impact on Americans. Traditionally, television has given us “common ground” and until the last 20 years, it had not been as specialized as other media. Historically, there have been moments when most Americans are watching the same thing at the same time — some examples: immediate coverage of the Kennedy assassination, O.J. Simpson chase, Immediate coverage of 9/11, Beginning of the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, Super Bowl.

We also have many times where households around the nation are all viewing different TV programming. For this activity, you are asked to compare and contrast three different TV programs (from the list below). To do so, create a chart that shows the TV program on one column and the list of the topics (i.e., list below) across the top. You can then fill in the information of the chart and start seeing comparisons between the selected programming. To create a table on Microsoft word click “tables” and then click “new” and choose the number of squares you want. As always, you can also Google “how to create a table in Microsoft Word” to find more specific how-to guides. I have also attached a sample table on page 2 of this prompt. Feel free to use.

Programming to Choose from:

Big Bang Theory / The Walking Dead / Sunday Night Football / Dancing with the Stars / America’s Got Talent
Modern Family / Blue Bloods / The Blacklist / Scandal / The Voice
Castle / Madam Secretary / The Bachelor / Big Brother / Downton Abbey

Include the following information for each of your selected three programs. (Again, Google will be best to find this information):

  1. Network the program is shown on
  2. Note whether the program has ever switched networks
  3. Number of weekly viewers
  4. Dates of airing (calculate how many years it has been on the air)
  5. Genre of program (drama, reality, comedy, etc.)
  6. Brief overview of reception by viewers (did people like it right off the bat?)
  7. Prime audience demographic
  8. Primary viewing medium (TV, Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

Your answers do not need to be long. You are essentially creating a snapshot of information about three popular TV shows in an effort to find similarities and differences.

Once you have completed your chart, reflect on what you have found. Write a short 6-8 sentence paragraph answering all of the following questions. Place this paragraph below your chart (do not put this on a separate page as Moodle only allows you to submit one document). Both need to be included in the same document.

  1. What similarities do you see between your three chosen programs?
  2. How are the shows related (find at least two ways to argue they are related or similar)?
  3. What was most shocking piece of information (something that you weren’t prepared to find)?
  4. What impact does television programming have on our society?
  5. This question is purposefully broad – it can go in any direction, but show how your answer connects to Chapter 6

Once your chart and paragraph are complete, please upload the document to Moodle by the due date.

Name: ______

Sample Table for Analysis

Feel free to use and add your information.

TV Choice #1 / TV Choice #2 / TV Choice #3
Network the program is shown on
Note whether the program has ever switched networks
Number of weekly viewers
Dates of airing (calculate how many years it has been on the air)
Genre of program (drama, reality, comedy, etc.)
Brief overview of reception by viewers (did people like it right off the bat?)
Prime audience demographic
Primary viewing medium (TV, Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

Paragraph that explains the similarities and differences of your research should go here. Be sure to answer all three questions listed in the prompt.