TV Networks With Identity Disorder

[REPOST from my MySpace blog on Mar. 14, 2009]

I'm for real about this... I thought I was mildly annoyed the first time I saw the show "Dog Whisperer" on National Geographic. Then, yesterday, a customer called asking where they can find a channel that focuses on wildlife, safari documentaries and the like. Well, of course I directed him to National Geographic Channel, because, after all, it's a publication and channel I grew up watching and reading for that very subject matter. Then, I began having to explain why National Geographic Channel actually isn't carrying so much of that content anymore, and mixing it up with other sh*t that has no reason to be showing on that channel.

Today, as I was trying to figure out what channel "Golden Girls" reruns were on, I found myself within our online TV channel program listings and couldn't believe my freakin' eyes.

The Shining on the Biography Channel. W... T... F. Following that? Paranormal State. What!?

Now I'm more than mildly annoyed.

Dog Whisperer and DogTown and ANIMAL shows should be on ANIMAL PLANET. Am I wrong?

Biographical documentaries of past and present people of interest/importance should be on BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL!

Epic documentaries of amazing things/places on this planet should be in National Geographic Channel - echoing the kind of content they'd publish in their magazines and books.

Travel Channel should be a fun channel dedicated to adventures in traveling and discovering new places to TRAVEL to on vacations.

Now, there are a FEW channels out there that stick to their format. Investigation Discovery and Crime & Investigation HD show programs such as anything revolving around law enforcement, investigative work. Hell, you might as well even throw in Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters International and Ghost Hunters into Investigation Discovery, also, since it's about "investigations" -- doesn't have to be of the law enforcement kind.

My beef is that so many of these channels that claim to have a particular format... end up muddling it up with all kinds of shows that have NOTHING to do with the network's title.

Is it to add variety to lift ratings and viewership? Probably. But it's still stupid.

I want to tune to a channel and know exactly what category of entertainment I can find in it. I wouldn't expect to find soft porn on ABC Family, but nowadays, I probably wouldn't be surprised if I did!

I challenge you readers to pull up your TV program guide and sift through the stations and what's playing on them... and then tell me if you find anything strange or ridiculous. Humor me. Or yourself, I don't care.

I've said my peace.

Oh, and Golden Girls reruns are on Hallmark. FYI.