high-def

TV critic Matthew Gilbert's editor asked him about the type of television he has, and Gilbert had to confess that he has the same 20" set that he bought 10-15 years ago.

Gilbert is happy with his television, because he doesn't think that the new giant screens and fancy HD sets and all that actually enhance the enjoyment of television. They don't make the writing or the acting or the direction better, and in fact some of the size and clarity of the new sets might be a negative.

I'd have to say I agree with him to a certain extent. Now, my roommate has a 52 inch television, and I've gotten used to that. I particularly like watching sci-fi and sports on such a large screen. But I'm also well aware that I don't need to be blasted out of my living room chair by the stereo surround sound, and I also don't need to watch sitcoms and dramas on a giant screen. And I think a few of us here at TV Squad have talked about how scary HD makes a lot of actors and actresses look.

What do you think? What type and size TV do you have? Why did you buy it? Has it increased your enjoyment of television?

TV Predictions has a regular column where they discuss High-Def. Not just the positive aspects of HD, but also a list of what looks good and what looks bad in HD.

I've noticed this too. Back in the old days of television (and by "old days" I mean two years ago) you would see attractive people on television and not give it a second thought. Or maybe even not so attractive people and not give it a second thought. But now with HD, you see everything oh so clearly, and it's not always a good thing. Guys who had some wrinkles are now revealed to have Grand Canyon-like crevices in their face. Women who you'd look at and say "hmm, she might have had plastic surgery" now leave no doubt that they have. Even soap opera stars, who are almost all uniformly beautiful and/or studly are revealed to be either craggly or wearing so much makeup they look like a wax figure.

Progess isn't all it's cracked up to be. I think Dave said that on NewsRadio once.