Television has undergone immense changes in recent years, with streaming services dominating the industry. Yet, amidst the rise of on-demand content, there is a growing sentiment among viewers that the quality of programming on network television has declined. The days of beloved shows like The Office, Friends, and Modern Family seem like a distant memory, indicating a shift in audience preferences.
The decline in network television can be attributed to several factors, including the rise of streaming platforms. However, there is another significant aspect that often goes unnoticed or disregarded – the introduction of forced diversity, virtue signaling, and “wokeness” in programming. Instead of offering authentic comedy and drama, networks have turned to overly contrived skits that feel like acting exercises from a California university. The lackluster response from viewers speaks volumes about the disconnect between networks and their audience.
Recent data from Nielsen confirms what many viewers have been vocal about – American audiences are no longer interested in politically biased and woke programming. Instead, they are flocking to old and nostalgic shows that remind them of a better time in American television. While it’s true that the most watched shows are now on streaming services, they are not original programming.
Streaming originals like “Succession” and “The Last of Us” have achieved success, but they still fall short of the most viewed show on streaming platforms. Surprisingly, that title goes to the legal drama “Suits,” which premiered over a decade ago and ended in 2019. Although it was not a network program, having aired on the USA network, it has found new life in the streaming era, possibly due to the curiosity surrounding Meghan Markle, who appeared in the series. This unexpected resurgence of an old show from a relatively obscure cable network is a stark contrast to the struggles faced by woke programming on streamers like Disney and others.
The recently released top streaming list for 2023 reveals some unexpected results. The majority of the top 10 shows, including “Suits,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Friends,” and “Supernatural,” have been off the air for years. Additionally, two of the top 10 are children’s programs, and the remaining shows premiered in the 2000s but have managed to retain their popularity.
Apologists for Hollywood’s decline in viewership point to the writer’s strike and the lack of new content as the main culprits. However, there seems to be more at play than just a lack of fresh programming. The current state of divisiveness and restlessness in American society, with culture wars raging since around 2016, has made older television programs a refuge for many. Nostalgia has become a powerful selling point, and in 2023, television viewers have embraced it wholeheartedly.
Despite criticism from the far-left for its lack of diversity, the show Friends continues to be in high demand, even though it went off the air in 2004. Similarly, Gilmore Girls, which features a predominantly straight, white cast, holds the seventh spot on the list of most streamed shows in 2023. The New York Times aptly described it as “an endless buffet of TV comfort food.”
It is evident that nostalgia resonates with viewers, who are weary of forced diversity and woke themes. Network television may be on life support, and even the original content on streaming services pales in comparison to the streaming numbers of shows from the “good old days.” While Hollywood should take note of this shift in viewer preferences, it is unlikely they will change their ways. Thankfully, comfortable and familiar programming from the past will always be readily available at our fingertips.
