Despite observations that we are currently experiencing the ‘death of TV’, television shows no sign of giving up the ghost to newer media. The ubiquitous presence of TV—in our living rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens—demands critical attention. This class will use a variety of approaches to assess the material, rhetorical, and cultural impact of a medium that many people seem eager to dismiss. But is it? Why do people continue to tune in? How has television adapted to the new media environment? What does the future of TV look like? This blog will consider all these questions and more.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Somebody…..Please Lie To Me

Finally a new episode of Lie To Me airs tonight, June 7, on FOX. After a long gloomy period of fear and deception Dr. Cal Lightman will return to right America and uncover nothing short of the truth, allowing law enforcement and government agencies to once again precede in their criminal investigations. On Lie To Me, Dr. Cal Lightman is the world’s leading deception expert and can spot somebody lying from across the street using nothing more than their body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Dr. Gillian Foster and Eli Locker aid Dr. Lightman in his incredible race against the clock to resolve society’s perils. White middle and upper class Americans can now feel safe in their homes and know their families are protected. The dark period has ended by Dr. Lightman shining light of justice.


Why do I and the rest of America desperately need Dr Lightman? Because today's society is on the verge of hysteria stemmed from 9/11 and numerous other acts of terrorism around the world , the threat of nuclear war with North Korea, and the continuing violence in Africa, the Middle East, and Israel. It’s inescapable; fear and deception have become a part of American life. We like to believe that everybody is intrinsically good and our neighbors could never committ horrendous acts of violence, but Lie To Me delivers a different message as seemingly ordinary citizens dressed in designer clothes prove to be a source of terror. I don’t know about you, but after watching this show I realize that nobody is safe. Last episode of Lie To Me ended season 2 with a bomb threat that could potentially kill hundreds of unsuspecting bystanders. An American farmer delivered the threat and this man appeared as a normal loving family man. Thankfully Dr. Lightman and his team pulled their unique skills together and stopped the mad farmer. This is an important example of how our law enforcement and government protection agencies are rendered helpless without the cast of the show because without the cast of the show the mad farmer would have succeed in his awful plan. Dr. Lightman and his posse continually resolve our nation’s high tension scenarios, not the cops or the mighty American government. One crazy person and one episode at a time Dr. Lightman cleanses America of the radicals who seem hell bent on bringing death and destruction to innocent lives.

Lie to Me awards television with a modern form of propaganda and a sense that big brother is always in control. You or I are helpless against acts of terror by ourselves, yet somehow this invisible force of justice sweeps and keeps us safe. If you lie, then peace be with you because Dr. Cal Lightman will know and he will summon the American government and law enforcement agencies to pounce upon you like lions in the jungle. In cities like New York and Los Angeles where thousands of people move freely every day we should be scared because ordinary working people are capable destroying entire buildings and committing acts of extreme horror. Today in American society we desperately need Dr. Lightman and the American government to protect us against what we ourselves cannot detect. With new episodes of Lie To Me only hours away my anxiety has already begun to calm because I know Dr. Lightman is out there protecting and serving our beloved nation.


2 comments:

  1. It's comforting to know that there are people like Dr. Lightman in the world to make sure people know that there's really no way to lie and get away with it. To a certain extent its comforting to know that these people exist, but im glad there aren't too many of them. If everyone knew how to detect lies that way, the world would be in a state of paranoia.

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  2. Is the name Cal Lightman ridiculously hyperbolic, or is it just me? The last time I heard Cal used in fiction was in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie. And 'Light-man' speaks for itself. It seems like every primetime show has undercurrents of fear crisis etc. these days, but maybe its naive to say that things haven't always been this way. I feel like your right to say people just want a sense of security and certainty, but why do they need such a contrived fictional tv character to provide it?

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