I thought this was a joke at first, but TNN (formerly The Nashville Network and current The National Network) is officially changing its name later this month to “Spike TV.” Apparently, they want to focus exclusively on “men’s programming” and picked the name “Spike” because it sounds both manly and irreverent.
Now, I don’t care what they call it, but do we really need an entire network devoted to such “men’s programming” as “Stripperella” (an animated series starring Pamela Anderson as a stripper who fights crime in her off-hours)?
I mean, yeah, I’ll admit to having watched “The Man Show” on Comedy Central a couple of times, and I certainly don’t begrudge anybody who finds it entertaining, but a whole network devoted to lowbrow, sexually demeaning programming? Sounds like another sign of the impending collapse of Western civilization, if you ask me.
Besides, we already have a network devoted entirely to “men’s programming” – It’s called The Speed Channel.
On behalf of the entire American male population, I just want to apologize to all the women out there…
No one really knows where the name came from (We all know Mr. Lee thinks he does). Albie Hecht, the network’s president, claims it comes from a number of sources, including a cartoon about a mild-mannered man who wanted to be called “Spike,” and the fact that’s it’s a common name for a dog, who is “man’s best friend.”
They don’t have to change much (WWE, Star Trek: TNG, Bond films…), and John K. gets his favorite creations Ren and Stimpy back.
I like it. I find I watch that channel often enough, whether it be wrestling, ST:NG, or whatever. I’m curious to see what other kinds of things they will add, besides a bunch of new cartoons.
And I thought this was going to be about a Buffy spinoff with Spike as the main character. Oh, well.
Anyway, I can’t say I’d watch a channel like that. Even if I had a TV. Even if I lived in the US. The sexually demeaning humour is coming quite strongly enough through in “normal” movies and tv shows as is, without distilling it and serving it as the only drink in the bar.
They have in no way insinuated it is going to be all low-brow comedy. It’s just going to be stuff for guys. I don’t think they’re actually going to be changing all that much, just changing their name and maybe adjusting a little bit of programming.
After all, Lifetime has two channels, and theres also Oxygen. (I always tease my mom when she’s watching Lifetime Movie Network. “Is this the one about the woman who married a seemingly normal guy only to have him be a crazy, drunken wife beater? No? Oh, I know! This is the one about the woman who married a seemingly normal guy only to have him be a crazy, drunken wife beater? How come they always turn into drunks after they’re married?” heh)
I do know that TNN has been having problems finding an identity that people can latch onto. Too many people identify them as a country network… so I think they are just trying to start from scratch, and completely get rid of the country label, because obviously the first name change was too subtle.
I posted about that and no one responded! Total extreme elimination challenge, I think. It’s way too funny.
Though the stupid “Spike TV” commercials are annoying. Oh, no, women are repressing me cause they get three channels out of my 120! Boo-frickin’-hoo. The one with the guy dancing around going “WOOHOO! SPIKE TV! A COUNTER-REVOLUTION” etc. And some of the shows just look dumb.
I find that confusing, since there are already several channels mainly aimed at men- the sports ones. Sure, some women watch them, but probably an equal number of men watch WE and Lifetime as well (I mean, really, who doesn’t love the Golden Girls?) I don’t get the whole “let’s have a channel for gender X or Y” anyway, since there are only 3 or 4 programs across both women-centered channels I watch. If they’re not going to focus on attractive men wearing no shirts, what’s even the point?
It’s a dopey name and it’s a dopey concept – so dopey that you can be forgiven for assuming it’s going to be dick and fart jokes 24/7 (and this isn’t helped by the advertising campaign). But that impression would be incorrect. “Spike” will be broadcasting things like Star Trek: TNG and DS9, which, while they certainly have a predominantly male audience, don’t fit the stereotype.
I don’t like sports. Or shows about cars. Or COPS or any of that other macho shit that’s aimed for MEN. And I don’t like the sterotype about men watching sports all the time and that ESPN should keep them happy.
Yeah, well, I don’t like shows about fashion, dating, remodeling houses, cooking, or sappy “women in peril” movies. But what do you think they show primarily on the women’s networks? If networks are going to pander to one gender they are going to be stereotypical.
Hell yeah I watch Oxygen! Where else am I gonna get my Xena fix?
Frankly, I find the idea of a channel aimed at men as retarded and obnoxious as I do channels aimed at women.
Indeed, I find most highly specialized channels and their lame attempts at appealing to their chosen audience by playing into idiot stereotypres and generalities obnoxious. For example, as a fan of Science Fiction I find it annoying that some people believe the Sci-Fi Channel actually represents anything I would ever care to watch.
