Flare Sci-Fi Forums: Boycott Life magazine!

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Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

I was browsing my school library's magazine shelf today, and the cover of Life magazine caught my eyes. It was about 60 years of influential, famous television shows. I flipped through the article, thinking Star Trek had to be one of these. Oh yes, they did list a lot of famous shows chronologically: I Love Lucy, MASH, X-Files, Simpsons, Friends, Seinfeld, (only ones I could remember) etc. Nowhere did I see Star Trek for the 60s section. Nowhere did I see TNG in the 80s/90s section. Star Trek was not mentioned at all. In the 90s section, it listed the three new networks: FOX, WB, UPN. After naming each network, there were parentheses that gave a couple of shows from each, like so: FOX(X-Files, Simpsons), WB(Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek), and for UPN: (a wing, and a prayer).

I slammed the magazine shut and swore I will never read Life magazine again.

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"A fellow's invented see-through film
He calls it 'cellophane!'
Another has built a parachute
For jumping out of an airplane!

Remarkable things flow endlessly
From out the human brain!
Indeed
And what a remarkable age this is!"
--Titanic: the Musical

[This message was edited by Tora Ziyal on March 30, 1999.]

Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :

*HISS*

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"Okay, so I'm not "SANE" so to speak, but uh... I'm the lovable kind of psycho"
http://solareclipse.net/

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

*hookspeak* Bad Form! *smack*

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"That is the exploration that awaits you: Not mapping the stars and studying nebulae, but charting the unknown possiblities of existence." - Q, All Good Things...

Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :

Ziyal is a woman of her convictions at any rate.

I will say that leaving Star Trek off of a discussion of television shows is rather bad form. The show is intelligent and deals with issues in a way that most other TV shows just never will. And it's really cool too.

But a boycott Ziyal??

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My childhood was typical: summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring, we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent, I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds. Pretty standard, really.

Posted by Krenim (Member # 22) on :

*Starts pacing around the Forums holding up a sign that says "Life Stinks"*

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Ah... Now I enter these hallowed halls a conqueror... Yes...

-Megatron, "The Agenda, Part Three"

Posted by Chimaera on :

I am not surprised that this article has left out Star Trek altogether, because I see it has included shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek. Obviously these people don't know what they're talking about (although they did manage to get it right when they listed X-Files

). I'll have to add this to my list of reasons I don't read that magazine.

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"Sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear gets you."
-Commander Riker, USS Enterprise

Posted by Warped1701 (Member # 40) on :

Thing is, all of the shows listed are "pop culture" shows. Star Trek is by no means a part of American "pop culture", therefore it is left out. And what about credit to decent news channels, like CNN, and MSNBC? Up to date news 24 hours a day, and no mention, at least I don't think there was. *Many curses upon Life Magazine*

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"We choose to do this and more. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard."
-- John F. Kennedy

Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :

Actually, its 60 years of NETWORK television. And with the exception of Voyager (which was omitted for obvious reasons), Trek has been primarily syndicated. Now, TOS was on NBC, but produced quite independently by Desilu, which might its explain its absence. (And the fact it really only became a pop-culture icon when off the network in the seventies). So lets not boycott Life until it lists the best shows, network or non-network of the last sixty years, and leaves out Trek.

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"Breen. Try saying it. Bre-een. Rolls nicely off the tongue, doesn't it?"

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Tsk.

Can no-one remember the phrase: Letter to the editor?

I imagine if someone posted Life Magazine's email addy we could send them a lot of opinions.

Mine is that Star Trek, as silly as TOS was, was SERIOUS science fiction. It wasn't aimed at the tykes in elementary school, but their older brothers & sisters.

History question: What nation first instituted regular broadcast television?

Which was the second?

Bonus points: What was the screen resolution?

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CONSUMER NOTICE:
Because of the "Uncertainty Principle," It Is Impossible for the Consumer to Find Out at the Same Time Both Precisely Where This Product Is and How Fast It Is Moving.

[This message was edited by Baloo on April 02, 1999.]

Posted by Jordan on :

I betcha B5 wasn't mentioned either.

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Goodnight my love...the brightest star in my sky...

Goodnight...you have been my sky, my sun and my moon...

Posted by Saltah'na (Member # 33) on :

Obviously, the guyz who made this article don't watch Star Trek at all. Probably sexists who believe in such shows such as Dawsons Creek or Buffy the Vampire Slayer (to which I call awful).

I wonder if Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place or even BABEwatch was mentioned in there........

Trek fans unite, lets slay the LIFE beast....... *do you know of an email address Ziyal?*

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I can resist anything.......
Except Temptation

Posted by The Excalibur (Member # 34) on :

http://www.pathfinder.com/life
Look under features.
I sent them a letter from this page. You don't get the article here, they're just advertiseing it. (I used spell check before sending)

Warped1701: anything that is quoted, missquoted, spunoff, sprouted countless web site, magizine articles, has to be a part of popular culture.
Star Trek has had to much of an impact to be left out.

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Parallax

[This message was edited by The Excalibur on March 31, 1999.]

Posted by The Excalibur (Member # 34) on :

As to the history question, I think it was England, but I don't know the resolution.

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Parallax

Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :

*has now also e-mailed LIFE concerning this*

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"Audaces fortuna juvat."
"Fortune favours the bold."

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

B5 was syndicated, except for season 5. (wasn't it) If it was, it harldy deserves to get in for season 5.

BTW, Trek is SOOOOO much a part of American pop culture. Hell, it was referenced in WAYNE'S WORLD. AT LEAST TWICE.

I love that champagne/white wine quote: 'Ah yes. In many ways it's a lot like Star Trek: The Next Generation. Although in many ways superiour to the original, it will never quite attain the same impact.' (or something, been a while)

And Buffy is one of the best shows on TV. Leave it alone. Qitty, funny, sexy, and clever in a way thaat Xena and Hercules NEVER are.

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'It's okay to only know three chords but God, put them in the right order'
-Hank Hill

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

Baloo: Would the first nation be Germany? *Remembers the movie Contact*

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"I have come to the conclusion that one man is called a disgrace, that two are called a law firm, and that three on the law become a congress! And by God I have had this Congress!"
--John Adams, "1776"

Posted by Curry Monster (Member # 12) on :

And here I was thinking you were boycotting due to unacceptbale images.....

Now....I hear the Russians have a few spare. ICBM's.......anyone care to give me to co-ordicates of the aforementioned magazine?

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I drink therefore I am.

-Descartes

Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :

I admit I had to look it up: 180 lines at 25 frames/sec (interlaced?).

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I know engineers - they love to change things. (McCoy, STTMP)
www.uni-siegen.de/~ihe/bs/startrek/

Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :

The Germany transmission was just the first TV signal broadcast into space, actually.

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http://frankg.dgne.com/
Rodimus Prime: "Don't panic. Stay calm until we know what's going on. Then we'll panic."

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

["The envelope please..."]

...And the winner is:

A tie! Tora Ziyal and Bernd each got part of the answer. As far as the year is concerned, I think it was 1936 (I'll have to go look it up).

Germany was the first nation to have regularly-scheduled television programming. Just how regular the schedules were, I don't know.

The resolution was 180 lines at 25 frames/second.

Your trophy:

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READ THIS BEFORE OPENING PACKAGE:
According to Certain Suggested Versions of the Grand Unified Theory, the Primary Particles Constituting this Product May Decay to Nothingness Within the Next Four Hundred Million Years.

Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :

Thank you so much. I can't find the right words to express my gratitude. I'd like to thank all the people who *sob* supported me, who believed in me, my family *weep* and my mother *cry*.

Posted by Montgomery (Member # 23) on :

I too get angry when Trek is slighted.

Take the endless "TV Awards" they run out every year. And the nominees, as presented to the voting plebs in the public, for best drama: List all soap operas.
For best actor: List "Grant from Eastenders" and one of the McGanns for something on BBC2 which nobody knew was on.

Most of UK TV isn't fit to clean Trek's shoes in terms of quality. But then true genius is never appreciated in its own lifetime. And never by the ignorant masses.

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"I'm sorry I'm late....
I've been irrigating the desert...
Which isn't easy on your own."
- M&W

Posted by Jubilee (Member # 99) on :

AUGH! TOTALLY distastfull .. That's just not on. How can they neglect something that so obviously has had an impact on America and other nations Worldwide? ... Right, that's it. I'm off to Life Magazine to see if I can't "fix" this problem with the cheif editor.
*Loads up her bag o' fun with a few whips, some handcuffs, and a gun*

Oh and BTW.. Don't knock Buffy!.. That show is awesome! I mean, the subject matter they deal with first off is very interesting....and who can ignore Sarah Michelle Gellar when the INSIST on dressing her in those tight pants and skimply clothes? Hmm? ... Not to mention that she's just SO damn good at kicking butt......

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If Galileo had lied to save his life, would America, or the West, or Space have been discovered?
And if Columbus had never set sail, would the Earth still be flat?

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

Actually, I can. *L*

Posted by deadcujo (Member # 13) on :

I prefer Drusilla

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The Unknown Vulcan

Posted by Cargile (Member # 45) on :

Sheesh, I thought this was gonna be a parody off of Boys Life Magazine.

And wait! I don't even buy Life anyway! So f*ck 'em.
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What do you mean I'm not kind. Just not you're kind.
--Dave Mustaine
"Peace Sells"
MEGADETH

[This message was edited by Cargile on April 10, 1999.]

Posted by The Excalibur (Member # 34) on :

I got an e-mail from a life editor today, looks like they are going to print my letter.
(letter)
"It has come to the attention of some of us in the Star Trek community, that "Star Trek" was ignored in your article "The Shows that Changed America". Four series and nine movies alone make "Star Trek" in influential in changing America. The first interacial kiss on television was done in the sixties on "Star Trek". Creator Gene Roddenberry set out to show that we can have a better future, that we can over come most of the problems faceing the world today.
Most people don't take Sci-Fi seriously, but it deals with the same issues that we live with today. No list of Television shows that "changed America" could be complete without a nod to "Star Trek" (/letter)

Should I send her a note and tell her that the kiss was faked.

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We'rree Baaaccckkk

Posted by Diane (Member # 53) on :

Woohoo! You go Excalibur!

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"I have come to the conclusion that one man is called a disgrace, that two are called a law firm, and that three or more become a congress! And by God I have had this Congress!"
--John Adams, "1776"