Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio : Raising Standards of Popular Culture

by Steve Allen

As a key player in the creative excellence that made TV's Golden Age so memorable, Steve Allen is disgusted and outraged by what he sees on television today. Whereas talent and quality were the benchmarks of the early years of television and radio, pandering to the lowest common denominator in pursuit of advertising dollars and audience share is the main focus of today's programmers and performers.More disturbing than the issue of artistic quality is the effect that such low cultural standards are having on our children. Every day America's youth is being exposed to hideously inappropiate speech and behavior by role models in TV, film, radio, and the music industry. Concern about this crass promotion of sexuality and violence to children is not just an obsession of the religious right. A growing number of people in the entertainment industry, as well as citizens from all walks of life, are disturbed by the coarsening of American entertainment with its glorification of violence and casual, no-consequences sex.To fight this slide toward Gomorrah a campaign called "The Parents Television Council" has been launched, the goal of which is to improve the quality of television and all other facets of the entertainment industry. As honorary chairman, Steve Allen describes not only what the council is doing to raise our cultural standards, but more importantly what all concerned citizens can do to help. Allen argues against complacency; adults may ignore the content of television programming and other entertainment, but children are certainly paying attention and imbibing the not-so-subtle violent and sexually charged messages.The question, says Allen, What kind of a society will we bequeath to our children, one dominated by media conglomerates that push anything for a quick buck, or one that reflects the highest standards of our heritage? It's up to us to do something about it, to raise a chorus of protest that echoes the words of the TV anchorman from Network, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

Genres: Nonfiction

419 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?

Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Reviews

[Unclebill · Rating 1 out of 5]

BOOOOOOORING!!!

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Steve Allen rightly criticizes the media for its tasteless excesses in violence and sexuality. However, he falls into a few logical traps along the way. He praises the bawdy humor of Benny Hill yet decries Madonna's erotic displays in concerts and videos.

He also makes a point critical of religion that made me raise my eyebrows, on page 344: "Religious believers of the world, you are free to continue to debate the simple, narrow question that divides you from atheists, but you have no right, in so doing, to treat humanists with contempt." Strange, coming from a man whose book seems like it fits a Christian perspective. But, anyhow, there are religious people who daily question their beliefs and are capable of rational, logical thinking. Had it ever occurred to Mr. Allen that perhaps some of the filth coming over the radio, television, and out of Hollywood is the product of humanist thinking? The last time I checked, Hollywood wasn't exactly a Christian stronghold.

Most, if not all, of Hollywood routinely mocks religion, as well as parental authority. There are many humanists like Allen who have strong moral fiber. Then again, there are many humanists who couldn't find the moral high ground, much less occupy it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Allen was a visionary!

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give him 4 stars for his critique of trash tv and raunch radio. But he gets one star for the anti - religious diatribe at the end of the book which has little to do with the rest of his critique.