The second episode of of the new season of South Park (Incidentally about the Shopping Channel) was fabulous. The cultural phenomenon episodes (they usually do about one per season now ever since Guitar Hero) are always my favorites just because of the ridiculous accuracy of how they portray the phenomenon in question.
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| http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/south-park?before=1332141965 |
I was absolutely beside myself watching the Shopping Channel host set the scene in which you would find yourself wearing a 14 karat catseye peridot tanzanite ring as a senior citizen, but thinking about it now, I doubt it anyone else watches as much Shopping Channel as me, enough to understand how hilariously accurate this is.
I love the Shopping channel for two reasons: I love jewelry, and I love live TV. Watching them fumble keys throw to delayed testimonials and bullshit to no tomorrow to fill time at 3 am on a backdrop of glittering jewels? Nothing could bring me greater joy.
My all time favorite part was portrayed with the utmost of accuracy. An unquestionably hideous and/or frivolous piece comes in, and they whip it out and have a little on- air brainstorm about what kind of moods come to mind when they see it.- I'll parallel this with an example- say someone had brought in a Scooby-Doo diamond encrusted pendant- selling it at $300, valued at $500 (making it a "dazzling deal"), with an "Easy Pay" of 10 payments of $30 (unfortunately not uncommon).
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| www.theshoppingchannel.ca |
This is what they would say about the piece:
Oh, now isn't this a beautiful whimsical piece.
Oh definitely (there's always two of them), this is a glittering gem of nostalgia
It conjures up images of mystery and camaraderie. I would feel adventurous wearing this piece.
Perfect if you have a young daughter or perhaps know someone young at heart- maybe a granddaughter who's graduating? This would be the perfect way to remind her to take chances but to stay young at heart.....
Notice how I said granddaughter? The South Park episode specifically advocates that shopping channels take advantage of elderly people.
Is this true? Well, it is impossible to run such a channel without targeting the elderly people for two reasons: One: Nobody else is at home during the day/would not become insanely irritated by the slow pace of the program. Two: Nobody who isn't over 60 would order anything by phone.
I can't speak for how competent or easily taken advantage of elderly people are but one would assume that there is a range- just as there is for people of any other age. I'm also sure a lot of elderly people have trouble leaving the house and the Shopping Channel allows them to buy gifts and feel out and about with a little more ease. Plus the channel has the energy and presence of live TV- which pretty much all other daytime TV lacks.
On the other hand- it's clear that a good most of their showcases and collections are targeting the elderly- and who can blame them, those are the people who are watching (other than me).
So I guess, it's just one of those grey area things. Just like the episode, which featured Trey Parker and Matt Stone's almost formulaic yet hilarious "Stan's going to get to the bottom of who's responsible for all this" blame attribution globe-hop. (Never gets old!).
FINAL THOUGHT: Last night Canada's shopping channel unveiled a big secret live at 10 pm ET, and of all the hilarious coincidences I missed it to watch this recorded episode of South Park.
The announcement was the switch to their beautiful and extravagant new studio that they've been secretly? building for the last two years- and holy crap is it gorgeous- the studio that I as an amateur live TV director-have always dreamed of. Big LCD screens, glass tables, spa brick walls- the works.
Check out my dream studio with a live tour: I can't embed the video but here's the link (it might be a little slow) : http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/go/BehindTheScenes
FINAL FINAL THOUGHT: I love what you do The Shopping Channel- and if you're looking for someone to pull cables in your beautiful studio-----right here.
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