Has anyone else noticed this?

[porphyrian]

For a number of reasons, I've taken to channel surfing randomly during the day just to see what simple minds consume these days, and I've detected a pattern I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed. There seem to be an increasing number of cheesy ghost/haunting shows ala Unsolved Mysteries which invariably involve the church, usually Catholic, coming in to save the day with an exorcism. Now, is it that I just don't watch TV enough to realize that this has always been the structure of TV programming? Or is this an attempt by cable networks to promote and/or capitalize on the resurgence of the horror movie genre (with sequels/remakes of The Exorcist and Amityville Horror recently at the box office)? Or is this a programming decision based on the apparent rise in public interest in religion-related material? Or, most disturbingly, is this an attempt by the church to justify its existence and prove its claims in a back-handed fear-tactic meme-propagating sort of way?

What do you think?

[bryant69]

1. I don't know - could be a combination of all of those

I don't know if it's a cynical ploy on the part of the "church" whatever that means. I'm also not sure how much of an upswing it is - it strikes me we've seen these types of shows since the success of The X-Files and the Torched by an Angel.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Democracy White]

2. I haven't noticed

I have noticed alot of shows featuring "psychics" come on tv. "Profiler" was one and "medium" also alot of crime-themed shows.
My favorite is the 4400 which comes on Sunday on USA.

I dunno about the religiously themed shows other than the miniseries "Revelations" which I thought was really stupid. I couldn't even watch halfway into it without laughing. My mom thought it was good. (Well she should, she believes in the end times.)

Dee

[emcguffie]

3. You are right about the pattern --

-- including that new program, hmm, "Revelations"? I think that's the name.

I think they're capitalizing on the Christian thing, responding to trends that those in control like. Not necessarily what people like. Corporate control.

"Revelation" is truly vapid.

Also (sorry I'm having trouble articulating today), the "Left Behind" series, and all the Rapture business. Playing to those folks.

It is weirdly weird. I become afraid that someone in control would like to see "the end of the world" as we know it, and so might go so far as to provoke it. I know that's extreme. That's just one of my extreme fears right now.