New Primetime TV Website Works to Alleviate Epidemic Boredom and Re-introduce Morality to the American Public

Pointing out that "in conjunction with television, the Internet offers the public a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves deeper into the fantasy lives of their favorite Dawson's Creek characters," Elizabeth Larkin, self-professed Alias junkie and Guide to About.com's new Primetime Television site, announced Monday the site's launch and her plans to serve up the antidote to abject boredom and waning moral values.

(PRWEB) March 20, 2002 - Pointing out that "in conjunction with television, the Internet offers the public a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves deeper into the fantasy lives of their favorite Dawson's Creek characters," Elizabeth Larkin, self-professed Alias junkie and Guide to About.com's new Primetime Television site, announced Monday the site's launch and her plans to serve up the antidote to abject boredom and waning moral values.

Ms. Larkin and a carefully selected group of television aesthetes will evaluate the degree to which such shows as Gilmore Girls, Survivor and Scrubs can help eradicate the oppressive ennui that currently grips the country. Larkin states, "This site will help us to determine the feasibility of using pop-culture television and television commentary as a boredom-buster. Now, when the happy half-hour of Friends is over, zealots can turn to the site for links to Chandler crossword puzzles, Joey Jokes, Rachel rumors and Monica Madlibs.

While Larkin is quick to tout the "no-holds-barred" pleasure-factor of the site, she insists that there is more to be acquired than a one-night laugh.    

In an effort to point out the moral gifts one might gain by indulging in the lives of "TV" people, Larkin references the consistently popular reality romp, Survivor: "People no longer operate under a code of principles. We are happy to sit back, answer our polls and cruise alongside public opinion. Survivor not only teaches us to develop our own set of principles, it teaches us that there are obvious benefits and detriments to following them. Audience members need to decide: Am I Machiavelli or Quayle?
Larkin then points to a section of the site dedicated to Survivor Philosophy.

Nichole Youtz, a staff writer adds: "Recognizing the role that television shows could play in educating Americans is one that should not be overlooked. Let's face it: (1) People watch a lot of television. (2) People hate to feel like they are being educated. So, If we can sneak in a few bits of educational content under the guise of sexy twenty-something couples cheating on each other, than why not?. Gone will be the dry days of talking about Sylvia Plath or the latest Milan Kundera novel."

The comprehensive site will include gossip, spoilers, reviews and in some cases links to the appropriate self-help groups for those whose new addiction progresses to advance stages of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Site-goers will also have one-click access to network links, celebrity fan pages and a forum for the chatter-minded.

The site will also review TV-related products such as remote controls, special DVD editions of shows, video compilations, books, Tivo systems and any other have-to-have items for couch potatoes.

Ms. Larkin made sure that we mentioned that traditional post-show depression can now easily be alleviated by logging on to the site for hours and hours of additional TV-related fun,
Primetime TV is available through About.com's homepage at http://about.com/or directly at http://primetimetv.about.com/