CableFAX 2009 Program Awards: Seek and Thou Shall Find

I hear it regularly at social events of all kinds, big parties, small get-togethers, in casual conversations with friends and relatives. It would be nice to say I hear it mostly from a particular demographic and at a specific time of the year. In fact, I hear it from people of all ages, sexes and throughout the year: "There’s nothing to watch on television."

In a nation where 98.2% of households house at least one television set and TV viewing is higher than ever, this is a curious statement. It’s akin to what Yogi Berra apparently said about a popular restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded."

The variety of shows highlighted in this edition of CableFAX: The Magazine is vast. From Andrew Zimmern eating live bugs on Travel Channel to History’s excellent, narration-free pastiche of a documentary about 9/11 to dramas like AMC’s Mad Men. There’s plenty to see on TV.

My guess is that people who say there’s nothing on TV are bored with themselves. This seeps into their television-viewing habits. They likely are restricting themselves to a dozen channels, as studies indicate. The advice to them is obvious: Sample a channel or a show you’ve rarely visited. As the finalists on the pages of this edition demonstrate, you’re likely to be surprised.

To read more and to see the entire Program Awards Issue click here.