From a recent interview with Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau:
“Back in the late 70s, I created an animated Doonesbury special for NBC. The network declined to order another because of disappointing ratings. The show had 21 million viewers. On an average night, The Daily Show, a huge hit, pulls 1.5 million viewers. It’s a different world.”
October 10, 2009 by Jay Babcock
Categories: Uncategorized
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About Jay Babcock
I am an independent writer and editor based in Tucson, Arizona. I publish LANDLINE at jaybabcock.substack.com
Previously: I co-founded and edited Arthur Magazine (2002-2008, 2012-13) and curated the three Arthur music festival events (Arthurfest, ArthurBall, and Arthur Nights) (2005-6). Prior to that I was a district office staffer for Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a DJ at Silver Lake pirate radio station KBLT, a copy editor at Larry Flynt Publications, an editor at Mean magazine, and a freelance journalist contributing work to LAWeekly, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Vibe, Rap Pages, Grand Royal and many other print and online outlets. An extended piece I wrote on Fela Kuti was selected for the Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000 anthology. In 2006, I was somehow listed in the Music section of Los Angeles Magazine's annual "Power" issue. In 2007-8, I produced a blog called "Nature Trumps," about the L.A. River. From 2010 to 2021, I lived in rural wilderness in Joshua Tree, Ca.
Arthur Magazine 
What’s unpleasant about this? The loss of the golden age of enlightened TV- the 70s?! The splintering of collective consciousness into cable channels?
I fail to see that any of the things involved (doonesbury, the daily show, TV…) are emblematic of the human experience.
but maybe I’ve missed a bigger point?
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i wondered the same thing as mackey. this seems rather pleasant!
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