| I was channel surfing the other day, trying to pass time, | | | | remember sitting in geometry class when the first |
| when something strange happened. I started to get | | | | tower fell on September 11 just as my mother |
| teary eyed. | | | | remembers being in the college cafeteria when Walter |
| I know what your thinking and the answer is no, I did | | | | Cronkite announced the death of John F. Kennedy. |
| not come across the ending of "Thelma and Louise" or | | | | Because of the infinite channel options, people are now |
| "Titanic" - although I will admit that the ending of "E.T." | | | | able to relive their once lost nostalgic moments, the |
| always gets me going a little bit. | | | | "good old days" if you will. They now have a point of |
| No, to tell you the truth I came across "American | | | | reference, a way to travel back to specific moments, |
| Gladiators," not the new Hulk Hogan one but the old | | | | just for a little bit, to remember what life used to be |
| 1990s version with the bright colors and awesome | | | | like. |
| spandex. | | | | Sports are more affected by cable and satellite TV |
| And it wasn't Mike Adamle's voice or seeing Diamond | | | | than any other type of programming these days. The |
| or Turbo take on the contestants that got me going, it | | | | same channel that played "American Gladiators" |
| was an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. The second | | | | broadcasted the Denver Broncos overthrowing the |
| I saw Nitro tear the contestant off the climbing wall, I | | | | Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. It was over |
| instantly relived the countless Saturday afternoons that | | | | a 10-year-old game - and my favorite, nonetheless - |
| I spent watching "American Gladiators" and eating | | | | and it was in high definition. I could literally feel the |
| Spaghetti-Os with my father. It was our Saturday | | | | happiness in John Elway's eyes through my HD |
| morning tradition when I first began elementary school. | | | | television as the clock counted down the final seconds. |
| The same thing happened a week later. I channel | | | | Yet with all this new technology, I wonder what the |
| surfed and discovered a Halloween episode of "Family | | | | future will be like. When I am another 10 years older |
| Matters," and immediately recalled my 6-year-old | | | | and channel surfing, will I stop and watch the episode |
| Friday nights watching TGIF. Once the episode ended, I | | | | of the "Wonder Years" when Kevin tries to hide the |
| was shocked to not have "Step by Step" immediately | | | | pimple on his face from Winnie or will I watch |
| follow. | | | | something more current? Perhaps I will watch reruns |
| It is obvious that Television has played a very influential | | | | of "South Park" or "Two and a Half Men?" With the |
| role in the lives of American's since its initial conception. | | | | speed of technology innovation, I may not even be |
| From cartoons, sitcoms and sporting events, people | | | | watching on a television screen; I may just have to |
| spent a lot of time watching "the tube." They grew up | | | | plug my finger into a socket, enter a code and simply |
| with it, just like they did with their pets of their favorite | | | | shut my eyes to view my favorite reruns. |
| blanket. In some aspects it is a part of the family. | | | | For now, all I can do is sit and ponder. But while I am at |
| Anyone can even reference their exact location when | | | | it, I'll at least see if Danny Tanner and the "Full House" |
| the television informed them of specific events. I | | | | gang can keep my company. |