Some TV shows were more equal than the others
Uncle Benny was a TV junkie such that he could watch movies on cable. I thought he would know what was happening behind the camera; "Star Trek" achieved a cult following, even becoming a popular series. I would base it on the number of sequels, movie remakes (and sequels), and reboots. But the show didn't have an Emmy Award to its name. My uncle had three guesses. First, it was a science-fiction show that didn't appeal to viewers during its initial release. The trend would feature aliens with a hidden agenda, if not humongous creatures bringing havoc in American soil. Only an idiot wouldn't figure out the political undertone, he pointed out. Second, the majority of viewers have a short attention span. Most science-fiction films ran more than an hour, with a running time of an hour and a half being too long. (And viewers weren't accustomed to an hour-long series ever week.) Last but not the least, the American television industry wasn't different from the Academy voters. In other words, their preference wasn't the same as the people's choice. Time would vindicate Gene Roddenberry, who created the franchise.
My uncle was amused when I told him that I didn't see the film remakes and sequels, but he turned serious when I asked him about his favorite TV shows. He named the ones that became the guilty pleasure of the viewing public. Primetime soap operas featuring catfights. Spinoffs of some sitcoms. And some episodes of "Saturday Night Live" (SNL). He swore that curiosity prompted him to see a few episodes, and that was it. The other side of the spectrum wasn't too rosy at all; he didn't understand the critical acclaim behind "China Beach". If white actors would make up the cast of "The Cosby Show", then the show could have been cancelled after a season or two. And political incorrectness didn't turn some sitcoms into good shows.
He wasn't surprised that the shows that garnered the most attention would feature women in the lead roles. And some were groundbreaking of a sort. He would cite the following:
Roseanne. This sitcom failed to win an Emmy for Best Comedy Series, and Uncle Benny thought this would reflect the demographics of the Emmy voters. Furthermore, Roseanne Barr was larger than life. He believed it affected the show's appeal to viewers.
In Living Colors. It seemed to be a taboo for black actors poking fun at their kind until a group of talented (black) siblings thought that racial segregation was a thing of the past. True enough, many won't giggle at the romantic undertone of "Driving Miss Daisy."
Prison Break. My uncle was saddened at how this series turned out after an intriguing first season. But the first was good enough for an Emmy (or so he thought).
On the other hand, Uncle Benny laughed out loud at the SNL parodies of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, but he didn't fancy Donald Trump making fun of himself in the show. He was also thrilled that "Veep" was getting the accolades it deserved, but he knew the show would wrap up very soon. He believed some good shows must not run for many years. Then again, some turned out to be better after a so-so first. He couldn't recall which ones, though.
