Many studies have shown that the average person watches about six hours of TV each day. Most would never admit to that but TV ratings pretty well bare that out.

Even if you’re not a member of the six hour TV club you might appreciate some of the following facts and trivia about the television industry.

Fun Facts and TV Trivia

  • Desi Arnez, producer of “I Love Lucy,” was a sitcom pioneer. He created the live studio audience, adjacent sets, and the three-camera method of filming or taping TV shows. All three revolutionized television for home audiences and made “I Love Lucy” a TV legend.
  • “I Love Lucy” was a pioneer in other fields as well. Lucile Ball was the first actress to be shown on TV while pregnant. And the birth of “Little Rickie” was a television milestone. To be safe, producers checked with pastors, priests and rabbis to make sure no one had any objection — no one did.
  • “Dr. Phil” is a television psychologist who solves problems for viewers and audience members each week. However, he let his psychology license lapse. In 2002 The California Board of Psychology determined that since his show is more entertainment than psychology he didn’t need a license to do his show.
  •  TV sitcom “Seinfeld” lasted for nine seasons. During that time Jerry’s neurotic, best friend, George Costanza, played by Jason Alexander, managed to go through 43 girlfriends. No girlfriend at the end either.
  • The MTV reality family, “The Osbournes,” featuring Ozzie, Sharon, and the two kids, Kelly and Jack. But what you may not know is the eldest daughter, Aimee, refused to be a part of the show because she thought it would show her family in a negative light. Very perceptive Aimee. The jury is in on that one.
  • Think being a man of steel is easy? Children frequently assaulted George Reeves, who played “Superman” in the 1950s TV series, because as we all know Superman was invulnerable. George unfortunately was not invulnerable and died of a gunshot wound to the head. Was it suicide or murder? The case was never satisfactorily solved.
  • Seth MacFarlane is best known as the creator of “The Family Guy” animated TV show. MacFarlane was to fly back to LA from Boston but was hung over from a night on the town and showed up late for his flight and couldn’t get on the plane. Fifteen minutes after the plane took off on September 11, 2001 it was hijacked and at 8:46 AM flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. That will sober you up quick.
  • Which medical TV show is considered most medically accurate? No, it’s not E.R., House, or Grey’s Anatomy. “Scrubs” is most accurate according to doctors and nurses because it most closely reflects real life in the day-to-day hospital setting.

Some Final Thoughts

Television has come a long way and some think it still has a long way to go. Does TV reflect life or create life? I guess a good case could be made for both. More and more shows seem to be an infomercial for whatever social topic is hot at the time. But the really nice thing about TV is — if you don’t like what you see there are 499 other options.

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