ABSTRACT
Radio comedian Fred Allen once observed, “Imitation is the sincerest form of television.”
Allen never made the successful transition to television, so his remark may have been
seen as sour grapes. But, as with many jokes, the humor in the statement comes from its
ring of truth. Television has borrowed its visual and aural style from other entertainment
forms. Where necessary, it co-opted and transformed these other media to produce the
look and sound of the television we see.
