DO NOT TOUCH THAT REMOTE CONTROL

UNEDITED SAMPLE FEATURE ARTICLE
By Samantha Grace Ignacio Cruz
II- Robert Hooke


Constantly talked about nowadays are the popular TV series that dominate our TV screens and boggle our eyes and minds. We often hear words like “O my god, did you SEE last night’s episode?? I can’t BELIEVE he died!” and other words and conversations of the like. Watching TV series are just as addicting for some as online games are for teenage boys. But to think of it, what interests us that much about them? What makes people so crazy over them?

Looking closely, successful TV shows have similarities that pave the way for their success. Basically, gorgeous and famous actors plus a dramatic, funny and emotional story equals a successful TV series.

One local TV series is “Pangako Sa’Yo” which was very popular during its time. Directed by Jerry Lopez-Sineneng and starred by the very famous Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales, as well as Eula Valdez, the show raised to fame almost the minute it was aired. It had 480 episodes, which aired during 2000-2002 in the Philippines. In fact, it also aired in other countries.

Another series, which is actually a reality TV show, is the famous “Pinoy Big Brother”. It is all about twelve housemates who live together in the same house for one hundred days, and week after week a housemate is eliminated through the viewers’ votes. There is also this unknown character, referred to as “kuya” who serves as the boss of the house. It started airing 2005, and as soon as the first edition ended, another started, and so on. Until now, people are excited about it, and constantly talk about it. It’s a bit amazing to know that watching the lives of twelve people inside the same house for 100 days can attract so many fans.

Nowadays, people indulge not only on local teleseryes, but also on internationally known shows. Desperate Housewives, for one, is watched and known by some. It did, however, lose its impact on the Filipino people when the show discriminated our country, and much worse, wrote an insufficient apology afterwards. It was a big slap on the face for the Philippines.

There are much more international shows known and loved by Filipinos. Some include Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill of CW, Heroes, CSI, House and The OC. Shows like these are what takes up most of our vacant times, watching it from that entertainment box in our living rooms.

Honestly, I have yet to meet a person who does not watch TV at all. The shows on our TV screens that we watch everyday is the source of our entertainment. TV isn’t all that bad, like some people think, because not all shows give bad messages. In fact, some TV series are very educational, and we can learn so much from them.

Addiction to TV shows, on the other hand, is a bit unhealthy. We should learn to know our limits. Watching shows can be fun, but not when its all we breathe, eat and sleep. So let us push that ON button on our remotes, and enjoy the show, but let us also know how to push the OFF button sometime too.