Friday 5 for November 22: BORING

1. What’s the most boring television show?

You see that above? This is what you call a test pattern. TV stations used to show this back in the 1950s through the 1960s and maybe even into the early 1970s. Why? Back in the day most TV stations started their broadcast day at around 6:00 in the morning and ended around midnight or some time after. They  would then go into sign off mode and broadcast a test pattern on most days.

As a kid I would sometime wake up early in the morning to catch weekday cartoons such as "Space Angel" and "Clutch Cargo". Before the shows would start broadcasting, the TV station test pattern such as this would show. Shortly before the scheduled program, the TV ID would show and then some stations would play the "Stars Spangled Banner" or some other patriotic song with images of America. You always knew that would be the start of the day or even end, as the pattern would begin in reverse at the end of the night.

As a child, I was rarely up for those late night sign-offs.

Boring TV? Yes. A TV show? Not really. As a kid my Mom used to watch this soap opera which I found to be utterly boring.




2. What’s a really boring movie?

I know it is based on a classic Ernest Hemingway story, but hell, a guy all alone in a rowboat trying to catch and hold on to a fish???? Boring for "The Old Man and the Sea". Just found out they spent $5 million producing this film in 1958 (what is that in 2013 dollars) and Spencer Tracey was nominated for a best actor Oscar. Still boring as I recall. He spends most of the time talking to the fish.

Duh? Give me Tom Hanks and "Splash!".



3. Whose music is really boring?

Musical artists who contribute greatly to my "yawn factor" include Barry Manilow, Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Whitney Houston and for some reason, Radiohead. The thing is, I have at least one or two recordings by all of them. What's up with that?

And while I love Enya, and the layered, sonic beauty of many of her songs, they can be boring too. That could be because I keep on listening to the same albums over and over and the fact that there are long spells of nothing between her recording more, new, boring music.



4. What used to be interesting but is now boring?

Keeping up with some of my blogs.

5. Who’s the most boring person you know?

I'm kind of boring myself.