December 12 of last year saw me pass the top-end barrier of that most desired of demographics, 18-34 year olds. Amazing, but in the less than three months since, I’m reminded pretty much constantly of how poorly I meet that demographic now.
Last night, for instance, I spent far more time watching the number on the door of the departure taxi on The Apprentice than I did actually paying attention to the show, much less looking at those fancy “murals” that were created. Incidentally, for the first time that I’ve noticed, the number on the taxi door was the same throughout the closing credits. I think it was 30L9 or something very close to that.
I still believe this is one of those magnetic signs that they stick over the door each week to produce a different taxi, and that all the walkouts were done at one time, prior to shooting. The confessional at the end could be done after each week’s show is finalized, as that shot is nothing like the inside of any taxi I’ve ever used.
Back to the murals – I thought the losing mural was much nicer than the winning one, even if I didn’t necessarily agree with the designers. Was it me, or did anyone else notice that the winning mural was never really shown up-close in its entirety? Mostly a bunch of little shots, showing a piece here and a piece there. Makes you even more aware that this is a TV show.
So, I have successfully wandered way away from the topic by focusing on several of the points that illustrate just how far I am out of this demographic. I mentioned the other day how I didn’t see how a NASCAR radio show could be big business. Apparently I was proven wrong yet again, finding out that not only was it popular, it was so popular that they launched a second channel!
Not only this, but the NFL Network is apparently broadcasting parts of this year’s scouting combine, apparently including two hours of workouts each night. I don’t get it. Other channels show fishing tournaments. Others golf. Some even show college drafts. I don’t get any of them. I’m definitely nowhere near their target audience.
Chad,
I agree entirely with your comments. While I’m not in that age group, rest assure that not everyone is a ’sports nut’. I have people at work that live and die football. Take off the day after a home game. Go to the training camps. Tape every game on TV, plus all of the football related talk shows.
Others are like that with basketball – a sport I see no ’sport’ in when these guys approach 7 feet tall.
I do like ice hockey (good year for me with the season being cancelled, right?), but not to any extreme.
My wife and I prefer to watch the more Olympic type sports – ice skating, gymnastics, etc. I enjoy watching the downhill skiing and also swimming and diving.
Most pro atheletes really turn me off. They feel they are above the law and ’special’. The amount of money these clowns make is inconceivable to the average fan who pays their salary. They talk about their ‘career’. Sorry, a career is something you spend a lifetime at. Sports are for a limited time span; a period during which they make multi-millions; yet cry over contract disputes like their indigent. ‘Oh, I had to settle for 8.4 million a year rather than 9 million’. My heart bleeds.