ABSTRACT
One of the more curious aspects of our attitude toward television (TV) is that most of us feel far more able to comment on the merits of TV fiction than on news or current affairs. TV has become increasingly adept at using the language of association rather than the language of persuasion and argument. An alien researching life on Earth would certainly learn a great deal by scrutinizing satellite broadcasts of TV from the United States. The fact that the contradictory responses are more common suggests that our attitudes toward TV are complex and ambiguous. The very title of The Cosby Show encourages viewers to assume it has a real-life identity. Group members would begin by praising The Cosby Show for its "realistic," "true-to-life," and "everyday" representation of a "typical" family. An alien researching life on Earth would certainly learn a great deal by scrutinizing satellite broadcasts of TV from the United States.
