June 9th, 2011
09:41 AM ET
Another (pop culture) France banMerci, France. That country's ban on television and radio news reporters using the words “Facebook” and “Twitter” on-air unless specifically referring to those companies in news stories got me thinking about what I’d like to see banned here in the good old U.S. of A. There are a few things in the world of entertainment that I absolutely could do without, and given that my last name is “France” it seems only fitting that I follow in the footsteps of that nation and get my ban on. To that end, here are some things I think we can do without – at least for the foreseeable future: Performances by Beyonce – I love you Mrs. Jay-Z, I really do, but lately you have been everywhere except on my milk carton. Videos, interviews, the cover of Essence magazine, I just can’t seem to escape you while you “Run the World.” The pièce de résistance was the not one, but two performances on the season finale extravaganza of “American Idol.” Please take a seat and allow your fans to miss you a little bit B. Olivia Munn – I just don’t get the appeal. Do not get me wrong, she’s a doll face and totally deserved to be on the cover of Maxim, but why all the overexposure? The nearest I can tell is that the geeks who shall inherit the earth love her from her time as a co-host on G4’s “Attack of the Show!” and her cleverly titled book “Suck it, Wonder Woman.” I get that she's hot, but so are countless other women in Hollywood who don't get the same breathless, constant attention over who she may or may not be hooking up with (remember the original alleged sexting scandal involving Munn and Justin Timberlake who totally denied it), a prime spot as a correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" or a supposed parody on "30 Rock." Call me a hater if you will, but I'm having Munn of it. Food shows – When it comes to food TV, I am just about stuffed. There was a time when I was super hungry for more “Top Chef” spin-offs and such, but now with Gordon Ramsay’s “MasterChef,” and the coming of “Famous Food” featuring Danielle Staub and Heidi Montag and the Mario Batali hosted “The Chew,” it’s starting to look a little gluttonous. Most times, less is more. Hyperbole in reality shows – How many times can you have “The most dramatic rose ceremony EVER!”? Time to jump on the banned wagon and demand a little truth in advertising with reality shows. And yes, I can hear you griping that there is already not much “reality” in reality television, but a girl can dream, can’t she? Reality show spinoffs – Speaking of dreams: Lord, please deliver us from another “Jersey Shore” or Kardashian spin-off. The TV programming plan appears to be take one successful show and then see how many iterations you can cram down the viewing public’s throat. After awhile, it’s becomes super diluted so enough already. Reality TV period – Now that I think about it, how about we just ban all new reality TV shows period. Is there anything that we haven’t covered with reality shows from little people to pawn shops? The argument can be made that once we get to the point of producing shows about people who clip coupons, it might be time to move on. Besides, does the world really need another “Housewives” franchise or some such? The only thing we haven’t seen so far is a reality show, about how they go about producing reality shows. And now that I’ve put that out in the universe, there is probably just such a show currently in development. *Face palm*
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Beyonce is hot and I will do her anytime anyday. I watched her idol performance and if there was a benefit for watching the entire season of idols, it was watching Beyonce perform. She can sing but I dont really focus on that. What I do love is her body.
Love you
Everyone's hot for a while then they fade away. I resent this attack on Beyonce. She's a great entertainer. She sings "for real". She's beautiful. She dances well. She's the whole package. I don't recall an article about someone like say...Britney when she was hot. I don't recall anything about Britney being overexposed and goodness knows she was. Britney is also pretty to look at and her performances were once quite entertaining but she was most certainly overexposed.
I know you asked us not to call you a hater...but, I'm sorry, I have to call you a hater.
I say we ban all shows about cops, lawyers, and doctors (and nurses). Seriously...when is enough enough?
Other than replacing B with G...aga, I agree!
.American's have an excellent grasp of meaningless things. Any subject that requires logic is beyound their intelligence. Just look at the educational standards of the schools.
Heres an idea. If you dont like somthing dont watch it. Problem solved. Or you could be like a lot of people. Watch crap you dont like just so you can b!tch about it. How about doing somthing you like instead of watching stuff you dont. F***** idiots.
Well, if they stopped watching stuff they don't like, they wouldn't have anything to biatch about. And if they had nothing to biatch about, then they wouldn't be able to feel better about themselves.
There has already been a reality show about producing a reality show, Lisa Kudrow did one a few years back and it was so hard to watch that it went off very quickly. I have the DVD of that show and it's awful. So let's not have any more of those, please.
Ever notice – they NEVER watch reality shows on reality shows? PBS has better comedy, and programs, than the trash we get today from our American writers and producers. Why have we lost the creative edge? "The Office" was copied from a Brit Com, and they didn't do a very good job in the copy. Since it is an award winning program I believe it shows how far down we have come.
i am not black so these do not apply to me.
First of all, she is white. And second of all, she would look a lot better with her legs in the air and a big tuurrd coming out of her buttt..
Finally! Someone who is immune to whatever spell Olivia Munn apparently casts. When my boyfriend and I first saw her was her first piece on TDS. When it ended, we looked at each other and said she sucked. Certainly not up to the standards of The Daily Show. Imagine my dread/glee when I had to yell into his office, "guess who's getting her own show!" it boggles the mind.
Ban "literally" and "right", right.
I got another one for ya... let's ban impossibly boring articles on things to ban!... serisously, that's the very definition of popular culture in America = overexposure.
I would love to fire off both barrels in that hot broad
I don't believe that about B. You are the fool to clean it up. There is probably bed bugs all over the bed anyway. You gotta mean B from the nursing home. Sounds like a Republican to me.
This article was so terrible that the author didn't even put their name on it. I think this articles like this one need to be banned.
Actually, the byline clearly identifies the author as Lisa Respers France. She also identifies her last name as "France".
Tell that to Lady GAGA and all the others whom want to be seem next to B so they can be noticed in a room. Right now in entertainment that's all we got. Gaga can't even make it on a stage without falling over her own feet. I thought it was the shoes until I remembered who she reminds me of.
Take a guess.
But that's what some call entertainment. She's goth nothing on Madonna or Anna for that matter.
I'm sick and tired of celebrities.
I do believe its true what the writter of this article.There have been an over kill of reality shows.Its like having an over kill of sequils in movies.
Sorry it didn't work for you Wendy
Sheep!
VOTE NEMO IN 2012
"its time for the new world order"
this article is so pathetic
I would still do her. She may be a bit big and round but at least it not the soft kind of fat. It's not like a soft cushion. One can still slap it.
Everybody n here who agree with this is a hater Yall juss mad cuz these people out here making money if Yall dnt like it quit watching it
The less Beeitchsay in this world the better!!
She is white. I want to see a long brown tuurrd dangle from her buthoole
Soooooooo, I ate ramen last night.....yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah. Oriental is great, but so is shrimp. those are my personal favorites.... add a little soy sauce to the oriental, green onion and mushroom makes delicious ramen.
or puppies will sufice
"Reality TV period – Now that I think about it, how about we just ban all new reality TV shows period."
You have in Bold "Reality TV period". But then say only new reality show
You cant have em both. Either you want reality tv period gone, or only the new reality shows.
Im guessing its the "new shows" cause if it was all reality tv you wouldnt have anything to write about when American Idol was on, or the X Factor or The Voice
Would you even still be writing here if them shows werent around?
"Reality TV period – Now that I think about it, how about we just ban all new reality TV shows period."
You have in Bold "Reality TV period". But then say only new reality show
You cant have em both. Either you want reality tv period gone, or only the new reality shows.
Im guessing its the "new shows" cause if it was all reality tv you wouldnt have anything to write about when American Idol was on, or the X Factor or The Voice
Would you even still be writing for this place if them shows werent around?
To all those folks griping this is not 'news' etc: Ofcourse not, this is NOT news. It shows under Entertainment and as a blog. Lighten Up people! I for one, found it quite amusing and that bit about Beyonce being 'everywhere except on my milk carton', quite clever & more importantly funny. Nice going Mme. France!
i shall sacrifice children to the gods of the necronomicon for the destruction of france
Can u say "Blog?" Its opinion, that's the point. And if you can't rant on a blog, or the subsequent comments that follow, then the internet has become a sad, sad place.
Blog i said it! Two points griffindor...wrong blog? Very sad indeed. I ban my comment and all the rest of them.
Satan is better than jesus
Loved it! Written with great wit and humor something the writer's namesake doesn't have!
I love it! Great article by someone though named France , actually has wit and humor ! Unlike his or her namesakes!
Arabs throw acid in womens faces for not wearing a veil
back-up dancers are hotter, B has an enormous kiester that is getting bigger, and needs to drop about 50 pounds.
It is sad how objective and balanced journalism has been replaced by opinionated rants.
So any idiot with an axe to grind can be hired. Throwing away spill-xkeck and syntax is the icing on the cake.
Triv
Yeah, agree on most of these, except for Beyonce. I don't give two lefties about her singing, but I sure do love that pic. Joe Camel–er, Jay-Z is one lucky b@stich.
Where the Hell are Justin Bieber, the Twilight series and Lady Gaga on this list? They're much more of a problem, I can't watch TV or walk through my own home without hearing about them.
Ban the kardashians please.
Here's a challenge: Take any modern movie. Delete all special effects (CGI, choreographed car chases, explosions, simulated gore, etc.). Follow only the dialogue and the actual action. Does it still interest you? Is there an actual plot, or at least continuity? Sadly, most films today would flop dismally. TV is pretty much the same – a lot of flash and not much substance. There are supposedly some good shows out there, but they're getting fewer and farther between. Now, I'm not saying that all the bells and whistles are junk; I love a movie or show with great effects as much as anyone. But it seems like the vast majority of "entertainment" nowadays has become the "vast wasteland" Newton Minow complained about in the 60s. Hundreds of channels, and nothing worth watching... pretty pathetic.
You can add Justin Beiber and all those teen stars to the list. Today's music sucks. It has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with gimmicks.
Is this news? It's editorial ENTERTAINMENT BLOG news. if you don't wanna read it, don't, but for the love of Pete, at least pay attention of what section your reading.
No, don't want to pay attention!
Don't worry, geeks hate Olivia Munn, too. She's not a real geek anyway.
Who's Olivia Munn? Really....I don't know who she is.
How about a journalist talking about "banning" anything in the US while enjoying his free speech by posting useless opinion articles like this? How about you try your hand at some real reporting and make some positive change in the world?
How about you first.
Amen! To reality shows. They are all terrible. It's lazy tv. I will only watch sitcoms or animated comedies like south park.
B is a wino. When we clean her room there are empty wine bottles tossed all over. Plus after she passes out she doookies and take a pee all in the beds and on the furniture. Its just a smelly foul mess. She is very nasty person.
Way to go CNN!!!! very cleverly written and extremely entertaining!
It's all crap!
Did somebody say Weiner?
I couldn't agree more. Our "culture" sucks right now. We are losing touch with the arts. Our culture has become a commodity. (Like fatty fast food) Nicely packaged and sold to all the sheep out there. Everyone wants to be a sellout. (Like Beyonce) Sure there are many great things out there if you look outside the mainstream – but that takes effort to find these things. If you grow up inundated with bad pop music, cookie cutter movies and mindless reality television (as most are today) you are going to grow up with a bad taste of the arts in general. The stuff today is made for the lowest common denominator – and you wonder why America is getting dumber by the second? Sad thing is in capiatism it's all about what sells and makes money – culture and intellect be damned so I don't see this ever getting better.
What's capiatism?
Opinions like this should be for the gossip column or TMZ not CNN, I agree with some statements but stay professional
As much as I generally despise pop culture and all it portrays, stands for, and encourages...I think I have to agree with you.
This is news???
nope, it is entertainment
Yes...this is the USA so this is news here...you want real news, go to France...but don't mention FB or Twitter on the air.
All are addictions. None are being treated. Onwards to oblivion.
No wonder CNN is getting their butts kicked. They are letting idiots like this write for their websites
YOU SUCK CNN!
What did I ever do to you?
WOW...photoshop works wonders on Bs hips and tree trunk thighs.
Dumbest article of all time....until tomorrow's CNN Sarah Palin article.
This should be more about the counter culture laws of France and not her personal opinion. CNN sucka
Never heard of Olivia Munn (at least not the name). If you stop reading those crappy magazines, then you won't see too much of these people.