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I wonder who the target audiance is for most of the shows Traister describes?
From my own group of 30 something friends only the wives/girlfriends are plugged into standard pop culture. We guys just check out of the whole debate, by finding other entertainment options. The few television shows that are mentioned from time to time are mostly on Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, or Discovery.
It doesn't surprise me that few (any?) of the TV week articals are writen by men. Network television is not even on the radar for all the guys I personally know.
So to the (mostly) women who are busy teasing out the BIG MEANING behind all this, enjoy. Have at it. Meanwhile I'd rather discover how humans figured out that the Universe is 13.7 billion years old by watching the history channel.