Compare Contrast Essay Essay

Natasha Humphreys
Hasting
Comp 1010
8 March, 2012
Breaking Down the Boob Tube
We are all way too familiar with the box in the living room called a TV. What most people do not pay attention to is the variety of shows on this television.   Most people are creatures of habit and watch the same show, the same channel or the same genre of shows.   Television programs differ in many ways and the best way to compare them is by genre.   For those of us that seek adventure, TV shows offer programs that vary from actors to themes to genres and have one of two purposes: to entertain or to inform.   While informative shows are regularly watched, most of television viewers prefer entertaining shows.
Comedies are the most familiar TV shows watched and are purely entertaining.   The only thing that might be learned is some common sense.   Everyone has seen a standup comedian or a hilarious movie and everyone enjoys good laugh.   Standup comedians base many of their jokes on real life situations whether it be their own or someone else’s, while comedy shows or movies have writers that have more freedom to add in crazy situations and conversations.   Standup comedians also have to perform many nights a week in front of live audiences, but actors have chances to retake a scene if they are not satisfied with the performance.   If a comedian messed up in front of an audience or the particular audience does not find the comedian amusing, they do not get a second chance to impress the crowd.   With shows and movies, however, the only copy seen is the final draft where everything is perfect and none of the actors have any mistakes.   Deciding between what types of comedy to watch is not difficult, raw, uncut, silly, real life situations told by usually a funny character or well thought out planned and hopefully funny movies or shows.
If the funny bone is on hiatus maybe a good drama is in order.   There are two basic types of dramas.   Based on true story shows, like the ones played on the...