Loretta Swit reveals surprising opinion on TV's decline: "I don't blame the networks"

The executives aren't at fault, according to "Hot Lips" herself.

Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution

They just don't make 'em like they used to, right gang? 

It seems like everywhere you look, there are people bemoaning the quality of TV. Those people aren't necessarily wrong, either.

The landscape has shifted considerably over the past few decades. There has been an increasing emphasis on reality-based "unscripted" programming. Whether or not this truly the downfall of civilization, the way some would have you believe, it's undeniably different from what was once the norm. 

There are definitely great shows on television today, but a key difference is presentation. You have to search for quality now, sifting through a glut of thousands of shows. Gone are the days of ABC, NBC, and CBS dominating the landscape. Back in the day, those networks had to produce top-notch stuff to compete for ratings. Now, as tastes have changed, the Big 3 produces more gameshows, song and dance competitions, and reality programming to viy for viewers. But it used to be the case that those same channels gave us engaging stories in hopes that we'd tune in again the following week.

Somebody who had a front-row view of TV's best and biggest was Loretta Swit, who starred as Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H. She saw exactly how audiences reacted to emotionally-resonant, carefully-written programming. M*A*S*H was never again duplicated, but it was indicative of a time when America was yearning for story worth investing time into. 

"America was healing from Vietnam and almost needed a M*A*S*H as a release to go through," Swit said in a 2003 interview with The news and Observer.

"We had producers who were such purists, who cared so much about honesty and integrity. Most of the stories were based on fact. They would continue to research, continue to hear from people in M*A*S*H units. All of those things coming together at that particular time is what accounted for the explosion that it became. it almost belied the expression 'sitcom' because it wasn't It was M*A*S*H, and M*A*S*H was the star. It was as tragic and sad as it was funny. It just was one of a kind."

M*A*S*H has become kind of a high-water mark for television. While there will always be good shows, there will never again be a show that was that popular and that critically acclaimed at the same time. Audiences are fragmented into hundreds of subdivisions, and networks struggle to serve all these different viewership. But while some might lay fault at the feet of executives, Loretta Swit saw things differently.

"I don't blame the networks, I blame the audience," she said.

"If you don't like what's on television, write to the networks. Say 'Give us something better. We're looking for this, that or the other thing.' If they give you 60 Minutes, they can give you quality. So it's up to the audience to write and say, 'I want shows that challenge my mind, that teach me something. I want to see something where the humor is intelligent. I want to see something my kids can watch with me.' Whatever. But if you're going to sit there and complain about what's on, then, it's your fault. You should be doing something about it. Believe it or not, you are in control. Use your power."

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22 Comments

sagafrat69 1 month ago
There are many great shows on t.v. but there are also some ( word starts with a "C" and ends with "Y") shows that should not be airing. The problem is too many networks and channels with some really bad content that frankly should not be in business. I personally watch about fifty channels but I am financially supporting about six hundred channels I don't watch. Very frustrating. I believe that's possibly one of the reasons for a decline in quality programming. Way too much content over quality. Also, Swit got robbed not being able to do " Cagney". Producers didn't give her character much to do after Linville's departure and Margaret's marriage and divorce. Hot Lips could've stayed in Korea. Shipped her off to another MASH unit and Swit could've returned for the horrifically unfunny finale. What a wasted opportunity for her as an actress.
bmoore4026 1 month ago
[image=https://weigel-comments.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Xh8no-1724023806-nomoremash.jpg]
top_cat_james_1 1 month ago
Kind of odd to see Swit heap praise on the M*A*S*H* producers as she made a big stink in the press when they wouldn't release her from her contract so she could star in the "Cagney & Lacey" series (She did appear in the introductory TV movie). Guess Hawkeye was right--Time wounds all heels.

Oh, "MeTV Staff", I know spelling isn't your strong suit (along with fact-checking), but it's 'VIE'. Sheesh.
justjeff 1 month ago
Interesting story.. but it's "vye"... NOT "viy"...

That said... One of the reasons that the networks unload so many "reality", game and contest shows on us is that they're cheaper to produce than episodic or series-based television.

Add to this, the younger generation(s) seem to eat up this kind of fodder and if it makes money - it's bound to be repeated and repeated.

Gone are the days when networks had "something for everyone". Remember when dramas were aired on Playhouse 90, Camera 1 and Four Star Playhouse? How about a concert series like The Bell Telephone Hour? You also had variety shows like Ed Sullivan, Kraft Music Hall, Carol Burnett and Danny Kaye...

TV dabbled in a long spate of Westerns, police procedurals, medical-themed shows and comedies. No need to list all of the real "classics" of years gone by...we all know them - but here's some else to note...

In the 1950s and 1960s, sponsors helped develop, produce and promote those shows. There were (generally) few if any outside commercials. Remember Fred MacMurray saying "Welcome to our show for Hunt's Ketchup"? How about Milton Berle appearing on "Texaco Star Theater".

While sponsor-owned or controlled shows could also become a detriment, I think it offered the viewing public a better level of programming choices.


Speaking of commercials, here in South Florida, Catchy TV is inundated by repeat block-booking of ads for Mando and Lumie deodorant by annoying doctor-turned-huckster Shannon Klingon - er - Klingman, Laura Geller cosmetics with a creepy woman with overly-thick eyeliner, vitamins and supplements guaranteed to cure everything from top-to-bottom, Harry's Shaving and the usual assortment of ambulance chasers and "As Scammed on TV" garbage.

You know, I actually miss the old commercials... "Be sociable... have a Pepsi"..."It's so easy when you use Lestoil"... "Charlie says - "love that Good 'n' Plenty'"... "Candy-coated popcorn, peanuts and a prize - that's what you get with Cracker Jack"... "Yo-ho-ho for an Oreo"... "Chunky - what a chunk of chocolate!"...
MrsPhilHarris justjeff 1 month ago
I see that Laura Geller ad on METV out of Seattle. Started a month or so ago and is on daily.
justjeff MrsPhilHarris 1 month ago
We also have the "wife" sitting in the car talking about her husband's toenail fungus, and the Aquafina commercials with the little girl espousing "fish live in lakes and fish don't have toilets" - as if real cities don't have water treatment plants.... Sheesh!
Coldnorth justjeff 1 month ago
Those commercials must be regional. Here Aquafina comes from the Detroit River and fish do-do is the least of their problems. My husband watches sports and I watch other stuff. We don’t get the same ads. They target the most likely audience I guess
KawiVulc justjeff 1 month ago
Yeah those fill a non existent need then create the need commercials suck. Failed doctor says what?
WilliamJorns justjeff 1 month ago
First of all, it's spelled "VIE," not "vye." Second, I think the commercials are getting just too numerous on television these days. One of the DVDs in my collection is a compilation of all four episodes of "The Ed Sullivan Show" with the Beatles' first TV appearances in the US. It doesn't hold just the Beatles' segments, either. Each episode is presented in its entirety - all the musical, comedy, and variety acts. They even included the commercials! There were four (4) 1-minute commercial breaks in each episode: one at the opening of the show; one at the 15-minute point; one at the half-hour mark; and the last at 45 minutes. There were two (2) 30-second ads in each commercial break, then back to the program! Now, 60 minutes minus 4 equals 56 minutes of programming. Contrast that with today, where you get 42 minutes of programming, and 18 minutes of commercials! And I think it's only going to get worse before it gets better. So I have to agree with Loretta Swit - if you want the programming to get better, you have to write to the networks (broadcast, cable, streaming, etc.) and tell them what you want. If enough people write them about this, they'll sit up and take notice - and perhaps even do something about it. But we must make our voices heard!
justjeff WilliamJorns 1 month ago
I agree with most of your comments, but I stand by "vya" - it's the *older* version of "vie"...

Verb
vye (third-person singular simple present vyes, present participle vying, simple past and past participle vyed)

Obsolete form of vie.
McGillahooala 1 month ago
“There are definitely great shows on today.” Does anyone have any examples? I’m not saying there are none but it is unfortunate that none come to mind. As far as telling the networks what you want, that’s not going to work. They have all become too political. Wildly unpopular shows continue despite poor ratings because someone outside of the networks has said that better be the case. Some shows do well in the ratings but are canceled because of the demographics of the cast and other nonsensical factors. We are living in troubled and unentertaining times.
Coldnorth McGillahooala 1 month ago
That’s why I have 2 large bookcases filled with the classic shows on dvd and have a couple of dvd players in case one dies.
justjeff Coldnorth 1 month ago
I've got a petty extensive collection myself, but I'm starting to feel the need to downsize it a bit... Too many DVDs (and CDs)... not enough time for them all...
Coldnorth justjeff 1 month ago
And I also found out that the streaming channels have many of my favorite old shows. Man from U.N.C.L.E is one of my favorites. So the dvd complete series is worth a lot for me
WilliamJorns Coldnorth 1 month ago
If worse comes to worse, you can always buy a Blu-Ray player. They're designed to play DVDs as well as Blu-Ray discs, so you won't have to duplicate your entire video collection in a new format (like when VHS replaced Beta tapes, or compact discs replaced vinyl records).
DocForbin 1 month ago
I think people should have seen the handwriting on the wall when "The Real World" began to become popular (and that among other things began to mark the beginning of the end of MTV being a music video channel, though I did like their animated series "Daria"). I also have to blame the rise of cable TV itself then the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Max. "Un-reality" TV as I call it is nothing but crap. This is why for the most part I'm sticking with MeTV, Catchy Comedy, Antenna TV, Cozi TV and FETV. Give me the classics over "un-reality" crap ANY day!
Coldnorth DocForbin 1 month ago
Remember one of the seasons featured a gay man who had HIV, And he died. I will never forget that. I believe his story that was shown really was reality
Adamtwelvia DocForbin 1 month ago
Me too! Thst's why I can never get rod of cable, I love those channrls too much! Looking forward to the Labor Day Barney Miller Marathon! (Hey, ME TV, when are ya gonna get that?!)
Adamtwelvia Adamtwelvia 1 month ago
That marathon is on Antenna Tv. I wish ME TV would get rid of one of the MASHs and put that on (sorry, Loretta)
musicman37 DocForbin 1 month ago
I would watch those networks but for the unconscionable practice of EDITING THE SHOWS FOR MORE COMMERCIALS. All the best jokes go down the drain with this practice, so that the shows are not even worth watching there. I'll stick with my DVD collection and not give any of these networks the ratings I would be contributing if I did watch them. I've written to Cozi many times, to no avail.
Runeshaper 1 month ago
It's true! TV shows and movies are made with the supposed content that viewers want to see. If there is something that you'd like to see, there is no harm in letting the appropriate parties aware.
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