World Television Day
By Charlie

World Television Day

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Today is World Television Day, and this one is relatively official as it’s sanctioned by the United Nations. It’s not just a day to watch more TV, but a reminder of what television represents which the UN says is a symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world. Quite a mouthful, but there you have it.

Things have changed quite a bit as you don’t even need a television anymore to catch your favorite shows, nor do you have to watch them at a specific time. But there was something magical about an era with appointment viewing and having to wait for your favorite show each week. Back then, televisions had backs on them and required everyone in the family to pitch in just to move it across the room.

When I was a kid the best television night was Saturday night because I got to stay up late with ABC’s one-two punch of Love Boat followed by Fantasy Island . If I was super lucky, I even got to stay up to watch Saturday Night Live , which was always incredibly fun. But the real fun came on Sunday, when one of my favorite shows aired – Murder, She Wrote , starring the amazing Angela Lansbury.

I realize that this show was meant for women over 40, but how could anyone resist the spunky mystery author turned real-life detective, Jessica Fletcher, as she brilliantly solves a myriad of murders. Obviously any sane person would have moved the hell out of Cabot Cove since the odds of getting murdered there were nearly 100%. But at least you could rest easy knowing Jessica would skillfully put your killers in their rightful place after you’re gone.

Jessica would travel frequently and people would also die wherever she was, so one had to wonder why she was ever invited to go anywhere. No matter where Jessica went, she was also recognized by everyone who saw her, which is amazing considering she only wrote books. Much of this was due to the fact that the odds of being related to Jessica Fletcher were also 100%. She had an endless list of relatives that she would always help, even though she never managed to have children of her own.

I was shocked to discover Murder, She Wrote  was also one of Philippe’s favorite shows. Apparently, we were both middle-aged women in a former life, which is equally comforting and disconcerting. Luckily, all of the seasons are on Netflix so we can binge watch whenever we like and see our Jessica’s face wildly smiling in freeze frame at the successful completion of each one.

Even if they were a bit ridiculous, what I liked about these older shows was that they were all attempting to tell you a story. Later, television would move to a million “reality” shows that successfully turned most of the nation into peeping Toms and sent talented writers to the unemployment lines. As for me, I’ll always have a soft spot for shows with a plot.

So today is the day to enjoy some of your favorite television shows and a time to remember those shows you used to love. Television is definitely one of the most influential inventions in history, so it’s nice to see it gets to have its own special day to be celebrated.

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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41 thoughts on “World Television Day”

  1. That TV is awesome! Remember when you actually had to get up and press the buttons? Kids these days with their 90-inch flat screens… they don’t know they’re born.

    Ha, I too loved Murder She Wrote when I was little! Very much in a point-and-laugh fashion. I can even play the theme tune! 😉 My favourite show, though, was/is The Crystal Maze. If there are any Brits here I’m sure they will back me up on that one. There are no words for its excellence (at least until I can find an excuse to write a post about it).

    I don’t really watch a lot of TV on the box or online these days, but I have fond memories of what I now know as ‘appointment TV’ growing up – indeed by the time I’d reached any age it had largely become a thing of the past, with only a few exceptions. I guess the last thing I was hooked on that fell under that umbrella was Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? – at one point, over a third of the country were watching that every night. Seems unbelievable today! Then someone went an won the million and the everyone abandoned it 😛

    Yay for TV, though. So many warm memories.

    Reply

    1. It’s funny how TV is almost just a memory now with all the alternatives today! Hmm…The Crystal Maze, eh? Never heard of it. I’ll have to look that one up! I think we use the TV to play video games more as we often watch shows on our iPads here. Philippe and I usually only have one or two shows that we’re watching as they come, but always on Hulu or Netflix these days.

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  2. From “But at least you could rest easy knowing Jessica would skillfully put your killers in their rightful place after you’re gone.” to “Apparently, we were both middle-aged women in a former life, which is equally comforting and disconcerting.” I just LOLOLed!! You manage to make art even more entertaining than it is! Gosh, yeah, I remember when TVs used to be the size of Smart Cars…and black and white! Watching the moon landing on TV was my biggest thrill (or was it watching Star Trek and having a crush on Mr. Spock?). I think we had a TV in the 70s that looked just like the one you doodlewashed! 😀 BTW, I’m glad you two middle-aged ladies found each other! xo

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    1. Haha! Thanks Teresa!! ❤️😃 I’m pretty happy we found each other as well! 😉 And I’m bummed I just missed the moon landing, but I did have these TVs. My dad was an early adopter so we upgraded things really quickly and were the first people on our block to get cable. So even though I missed the moon landing, I did see the first video ever aired on MTV, so that was something I guess. 😉

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  3. What a delightful television doodlewash Charlie! It took me right back to being about 5 years old and sitting on the living room floor watching it intently!

    Can you believe I never saw even one episode of Murder, She Wrote??!! I don’t even have a clue about anything you said about it, LOL!, but I think it is adorable that you and Philippe were both young fans! Too funny!

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  4. I remember as a kid when we got to move the TV so we could watch it while we ate dinner. It was such a special treat! Lol! My have times changed! 😉 I was a big fan of Murder She Wrote! Your humor cracked me up! 😃 I like the movies on the Hallmark Chanel – call me old fashioned but I like stories with plots and happy endings. ❤️ I’m not much of a TV watcher like most people. I’d rather do art. 🎨 Fantastic Doodlewash today, Charlie!!! 🌟🌟🌟

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    1. See?! Plots and happy endings are the best! The sequel to the Hallmark Channel movie I worked on called Northpole airs tonight! Lol But I don’t have cable and don’t watch much TV either these days 😊 Glad you liked my doodlewash!! ❤️😃 It was fun to do as it brought back so many memories! (And so happy to hear you’re a Murder, She Wrote fan! Yay! 💕😃)

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  5. Oh, my! This brings back memories from the deep dark archives. 1956, Australia, TV is launched, sets like your doodle, black + white, sitting on the couch, very close to it as it was a small-ish screen. Not watched every day, more as a special treat. My fave was the Mickey Mouse Club and I too can remember the theme…and, in that group, my all-time favourite Mouser was Annette Funicello, remember her in those beach movies that were so popular, way back then, in the ’60s? There used to be the Saturday night Drama Theatre and, of course, European movies, which my mother loved, along with British dramas, which I enjoyed. Eventually, Australian-made shows were all about sport and entertainment (what’s changed?). I could talk forever about them. Yet, I enjoyed all the shows you’ve mentioned here, but thought Survivor was a dreadful show, teaching us how to be nasty to each other; is that really how you survive, I doubt it! Today, as stated in one of your earlier post’s comments, it’s about Food — because these days they are also travelogues, which I adore, as I know I’ll never get to those wonderful places, although I can eat the food, here. And Lifestyle shows, and documentaries and David Attenborough and the Discovery Channel. Well, I’ve just written a post too! LOL. 🙂

    Reply

    1. I love that you wrote a post too Janina! Doodlewash is all about collaboration!! Hehe! ❤️😃👍🏻 And I’m a huge Mickey Mouse fan… It was actually his birthday on Apple Cider Day but I don’t really do fan art so I skipped it. Hehe And I think all reality shows tend to teach some horrible lessons, so I’m with you there!! Give me something nice like Annette Funicello I say! 👍🏻😃

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  6. Thanks for the walk down TV memory lane, Charlie. My first memory of TV is watching Miss Francis on Ding Dong School, 1953 or 54. Our family had a large blond wood console with a very small screen.
    I still watch Murder She Wrote. I love the old shows. Love your narrative.

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  8. Oh I never thought to look up old episodes of Murder She Wrote, dang, I loved that show too. Happy endings always get me and I found here so comforting…but more importantly I love your TV! I remember out first color TV, it took up about half of the family room. The family cat would lay on top of it and become over headed…and you know the rest (blah down the back of it). Those were the days. I dont even own a TV any more…gasp I know but somehow I see plenty shows!

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  9. Your retro TV is so cool, love it! Not a big TV watcher but I do get hooked on box sets, I’m currently working my way through Orange is the New Black, it’s seriously addictive 😊

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  10. Love your painting. Such great detail. Awesome shine and reflective quality to wooden cabinet, (looks a lot like my uncle’s old tv). So funny about “Murder, She Wrote”…I wanted to move to Cabot Cove, seemed like a nice place, wondered too how
    Mrs. Fletcher got invited anywhere and wished I could grow up to be just like Mr. Spock. Fun post, fond memories…what a distance technology has taken us just with television alone. 😎

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  12. Charlie, you can always make me crack up! I have an equal fascination with british cozy murder shows. you would think the people would flee that part of the country, but they just stay and get blackmailed, run over, killed and maimed with abandon.

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