Planet WTF?
Ever since our television gave birth to a high-definition view from our couch, I've become smitten with the many questionable images fed by the media all over again: Family Guy reruns, fresh episodes of American Idol, Lifetime movies...
One of my biggest televised crazes is, hands-down, Discovery channel's Planet Earth. The imagery-- of hills, trees, plains, skies, waters, plant and animal life and weather patterns-- is just beautiful and colorful and... beautiful. The show is relatively informative. And I can pretty much count fur strands on a polar bear.
Yeah, really-- that's how crisp and clear the program is on our new 40-inch set. But I'm sure that all of you know this since we're among the last handful of Americans to finally purchase a flat-screen (at a really good price I might add).
Anyway, Planet Earth's downfall is its tendency to be overly dramatic. I mean, one minute I'll watch a perfectly happy population of caribou prancing along a tundra during migration. They swim. They leap. They play.
Calves excitedly suck on momma-caribou's nipples... while walking?
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a wolf appears. It is one of a rather large pack of wolves, apparently looking for the great caribou weak spot so that it can devour fresh meat. But all of the caribou, sensing danger, make a big, loud run for it.
A stampede ensues.
Unfortunately, one helluva cute, unsuspecting, innocent calf becomes separated from its family during the stampede. Fear sets in. The tempo picks up. And, slowly, the camera begins to inch in on the little forsaken fellow... as does the wolf.
At the same time, at the same rate, my eyes veer away from the screen and onto the remote. I can't stand any of the... earthly "beauty" any longer. "Circle of life" or not, I quickly proceed to change the channel... while simultaneously blindfolding my eyes with a free hand.
Sorry. As stunning as Planet Earth can be, I don't need to witness a highly-defined version of shredded caribou.
Posted by Deb Steinberg at 3/31/2009 7:32 PM 
Categories: TV
Tags: HD TV Planet Earth Discovery channel wolves horrible death calves cute fuzzy-wuzzy animals imagery caribou tundra migration
Categories: TV
Tags: HD TV Planet Earth Discovery channel wolves horrible death calves cute fuzzy-wuzzy animals imagery caribou tundra migration
I just watched Planet Earth on an older, crappy HDTV and was blown away. I'd love to watch it again on a good set. It really is incredible.
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Planet Earth on HD kicks ass. So do the travel shows (gotta love those)! Our set was definitely among the cheaper models available. But the reviews on it were stellar.
It's funny-- I joked with my husband about the possibility of having a new television party, complete with pizza and a good movie!
Eh-heh.
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