Suggested Programming For Ewtn

[ACS67]

 My apologies for offending you Lil Red.

 

Have a good day. 

[Lil Red]

:like:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLGhPHzxjc

 

I heart that song!! :) 

[Era Might]

An article semi-related here, about a priest in New York in the 1950s who instituted a feast of San Juan for Puerto Rican immigrants, and the basis of social Catholic culture.

 

http://solidarityhall.org/ivan-illichs-politics-of-carnival/

For Illich, ministry to Puerto Ricans required a complete surrender of one’s own cultural values. He understood this surrender in explicitly Christian terms, equating it with the surrender of the will that precedes the reception of grace in traditional Christian theology. Although he was familiar with modern social theory, Illich nonetheless understood this surrender of cultural assumptions not in terms of objectivity or tolerance, but as “a beatitude of cultural poverty.” Illich spent vacations in Puerto Rico, walking and hitchhiking across the country, performing priestly duties and soaking up the peasant culture of the people; he became convinced that the future vitality of Puerto Rican Catholicism depended on the maintenance of Puerto Rican cultural traditions.

 

One commentator on Illich has claimed that “if he had had his way he would have totally transferred the church of the campesinos, with its unpunctuality, its semi-pagan rituals, its great community feast days, to the streets of New York.” The appeal to tradition provided Illich with a language through which to subvert Spellman’s Americanization goals without appearing subversive.

 

Unable to transfer the culture whole, Illich began with a part. In 1955, he organized a Fiesta de San Juan to serve as a day for Puerto Rican Catholics to celebrate their religious and cultural heritage. Naming the event after the patron saint of Puerto Rico, Illich conceived of the celebration on the model of traditional fiestas patronales, which freely mixed religious processions and a solemn high mass with picnicking, card playing, music, dance, and theatre. If the Irish could have St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Illich reasoned, the Puerto Ricans should have St. John’s Day on June 24. Spellman could hardly argue with that logic, so he agreed to allow the use of the great quadrangle at Fordham University for the event—with himself as the guest of honor. Illich took charge of promotional efforts, placing ads in Spanish-language newspapers and eliciting support from slick Madison Avenue executives.

 

 

EWTN was creating by friars and nuns, and friars and nuns have never lived like "normal Catholics." Friars and nuns have always been a civilizing force in Catholic society, sometimes for good, sometimes not. The kind of culture that the article discusses is more grassroots.

 

For EWTN, Catholic culture is essentially high European culture. The only other Catholic culture I can think of is Latin American culture..."semi-pagan" as the article calls it. I don't think the youth group culture is really "Catholic culture," it's essentially modern culture. Katrina Fernandez says, "Catholics are a riot. We drink, we laugh, we have van loads of babies and every feast day is a mini party." Is van loads of babies "Catholic"? You could just as well say food stamp babies are "Catholic culture." If we take peasant culture as the quintessential Catholic culture, then I'd say food stamp babies are even more Catholic. And "Catholic drinking" of the American sort is hardly the romantic beer sipping of high European culture...it's drunks in Central America or Cuba who can't find jobs and have nothing better to do than drink. That's "real" life. I think what Katrina Fernandez is referring to is just as plastic as anything EWTN produces. It's a fantasy that doesn't exist, a projection of "Catholic culture" onto middle class life.

 

[ACS67]

Very good post Era.  Well thought out and balanced.  Thank you. 

[Era Might]

By the way, check out this Priest, Fr. Steve:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=w2n9A8XHqow

 

I watched that ep the other day, he meets with a guy who was convicted of a sex crime and is having trouble reintegrating into society. The show is meant to be light-hearted and funny (at times), but he seems like a good priest. Not sure who produces this, I think it's BCTV in Boston and he comes across as a real person you'd want to watch.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Era Might

[CrossCuT]

I love this, and I think it's totally spot-on:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thecrescat/2013/07/suggested-programming-for-ewtn.html

 

 

… Speaking of not liking things we are supposed to like just because they are Catholic (like Popes), let’s talk about EWTN. Sam Rocha hates EWTN. As do I. I adore Mother Angelica and the rosary. The televised mass is a delight. The rest of the programming; however, is a bit droll. It’s too serious. Seriously Catholic. So Catholic. Overly serious.

 

*Yawn*

 

Catholics are a riot. We drink, we laugh, we have van loads of babies and every feast day is a mini party. Catholics are lovers of life and connoisseurs of beauty. We need to be showing the world that side of Catholicism. The joyous every day side of the faith and Her very real and relatable followers.

 

So what’s with all the seriousness? How about a reality series following around large Catholic families? People were fascinated with the Duggars but Catholics are the hispters of the big family. I recommend Simcha Fisher and Clan Donaldson for the job. Comedy gold right there, folks.

 

Might I also suggest a show called What Not To Wear To Mass hosted by Hallie Lord. She can take your trashy teenage daughter and slovenly son for a wardrobe intervention. If you run into copyright issues with the phrase “What Not To Wear”, I think Yaweh or the Highway has a nice sound to it.

 

Or even better, at Matthew Alderman‘s suggestion, a clerical version entitled “How Not to Vest,” where a wisecracking deacon and nun throw out Fr. Polyester’s hideous chasubles?

 

OOoooo. And a Catholic redecorating show. Where a team of decorators goes into the home of a new convert and adds the obligatory, yet tasteful (or not), Catholic tchotkes. Projects could also include building a family altar or Prie-dieu. Dwija would be perfect for the job!

 

How about a gardening show, called Mary’s Garden. Where the host turns your ugly yard into a lovely garden accentuated with statues while providing educational background and the spiritual significance of various flowers. Terry Nelson was made for a show like that.

 

And why hasn’t this been done yet… a Catholic home brewing show? Or a show touring monastery breweries and vineyards. Visit local pubs owned and operated by Catholics. I’m sure you could twist the Catholic Drinkie’s arm to host a show like this.

 

How about a travel show visiting parishes as they celebrate their patron’s day with parties and processions. A cultural guide to Catholic parties, if you will. I’ll gladly host that show.

 

Just give us something more entertaining and representative of our faith than series after series of guest speakers sitting around a coffee table. And stop with the poorly produced, cheesy movies. Every time there is a low budget production on the life a saint an angel loses it’s wings and a kitten dies.

 

EWTN… there I fixed it.

I think all these ideas are epic!

I really like the idea for a show touring the different Catholic breweries!!! 

 

I might actually watch EWTN!

It is pretty clear that the station does not cater to a very young crowd...maybe that is their purpose I dont know.

I think its a really good idea for Catholics to reach out to the everyday person and say "Hey, we arent these strange, dull, average church-going grandma's and grandpa's! We have spirit and flare!" 

 

While I am a lover of Tradition, I do believe the Church needs to do a better job to cater to a new generation who have different ideals than those who came before them. We dont want to  lose the youngins...not saying it WILL happen, but we should make an effort to embrace technology and alternate ways of thinking about and approaching the secular world. 

[homeschoolmom]

Our cable system is very weird. We have the smallest cable package available to us-- up to channel 23. One day my husband was board and started punching in the higher numbers to see if we happened to get anything else (we used to get 69-71 for some unknown reason, but didn't after they converted to digital)... He discovered that we get channels in the 80s (C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, etc.) and.... 180-182. 180 is EWTN. It was very exciting to discover that because we found it when our daughter was in Rome during the pontifical changes and it was fun to see what she was seeing. Since then, however, we haven't watched it all that much. The only show we tend to enjoy is "The Journey Home" and that's hit or miss.

 

Now... channel 181 is INSP which plays lots of westerns and family dramas (The Waltons, Dr. Quinn, Little House on the Prairie, etc)  and Matlock (Not exactly a "family" drama, but certainly fairly family friendly for older kids) and we have that on a lot.

 

If EWTN could just take a cue from INSP and run Fr. Dowling Mysteries or something... I'd watch that. :)

 

 

 

[Socrates]

If you don't like EWTN, shut up, stop beeshing, and make your own darn Catholic TV network.

 

 

Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh, but you get the point.

 

I'll admit that I don't watch much TV, Catholic or otherwise, and don't follow EWTN, but from what I saw of EWTN a few years ago, it seemed like it had a lot of good solid Catholic programming.  I also sometimes enjoy listening to their radio station.  EWTN may not be perfect, but I'd say overall, they've done more to use modern mass media to spread a solid Catholic message than anyone else - and I know for a fact the station's been instrumental in the conversion of persons to the Faith, and has helped strengthen the faith of others.  I'd say it's something of a miracle in itself that a little old nun could get an orthodox Catholic network on most cable and satellite packages in the country.

Thus, I find the snarky griping about EWTN rather uncalled for.

 

 

It's extremely easy to sit behind a pc and whine in your blog about how EWTN sux, or isn't sufficiently cool and entertaining, or toss out suggestions for really cool shows that other people should make.  While I realize the suggestions may have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek, many of them personally made me cringe, but some sounded like they might have potential.

 

Maybe Mr. Rocha and this blogger can get together with some talented buddies, and actually shoot some programs, put them on a demo disk, and seriously pitch them to EWTN.  Or if that fails, maybe they can find like-minded Catholic investors to pool their resources together and start their own Catholic network, maybe with a somewhat different programming emphasis and target market.  How cool would it be to have two (or more) orthodox Catholic networks on the air competing for Catholic talent!

 

Of course that would take a major investment of time, energy, and money, but nothing worthwhile came easy.

 

Or, at the very least, maybe they could put up some good Catholic series on YouTube.  If these were good enough and became popular enough, who knows, they might even attract the attention of EWTN executives.

 

Of course, all that would take a lot more effort than sitting around complaining how EWTN bores them, but would be a much better use of time.  (Also, many people are unaware of the amount of talent and work necessary to make even a mediocre TV show or movie - much less a great one.)

 

I've known Catholics working in film and other media, with varying degrees of success.  But at least they - and the folks at EWTN - are actually doing something real and proactive, which is what is needed.

 

Complaining and negativity about EWTN and other Catholics accomplishes nothing.

 

And the whole thing smacks of the passive  "entertain me!" mentality that is too typical of our generation.

Edited July 18, 2013 by Socrates

[qfnol31]

I normally turn on EWTN only when I can watch myself on there. I'm a bit narcissistic in that way. Otherwise I think I've watched a whole five hours of the station outside of their televised Masses throughout my entire life. I've just remained uninterested and don't really have much need for it, but these are some interesting ideas.

[CrossCuT]

Im not trying to be snarky, EWTN just isnt my cup of tea. :|

 

Im also allowed to express my opinion in how cool of an idea it is to make the suggested shows in LilReds original post. 

[Roamin Catholic]

Complaining and negativity about ............other Catholics accomplishes nothing.

That's rich coming from you.

Honestly, that is what frustrates me most about traditional leaning catholics (not tlm lovers, just more traditional catholics in general) is how time they spend, arguing about who us more Catholic, which easy is the best to receive the eucharist, which mass/pope/swimsuit is better/best rather than actually spending their energy trying to bring the word to the people, living a good Christian life, pro-life causes, and just making the world a better place in general.

I'm sure I'll be told I'm not Catholic enough; that's cool, I have better things to spend my energy on than to argue.

Maybe I'm spoiled that my neighborhood is full of people who openly share Christ with others and aren't busy arguing about trivial matters..


Ok incoherent rant over

[Socrates]

Im not trying to be snarky, EWTN just isnt my cup of tea. :|

 

Im also allowed to express my opinion in how cool of an idea it is to make the suggested shows in LilReds original post. 

 

I haven't read the entire thread, and my comments actually weren't directed at you, but more at the original posted blog.

 

My point is, it's very easy to sit around and criticize others, but it would be much better to do something positive and pro-active.

 

I think any programs that were made would not be somebody's cup of tea, and that's fine.  You'll never be able to please everybody.  I would have zero interest in watching most of the  shows proposed on that blog (just as I have zero interest in most of what's on the tube now), but if somebody actually wants to make them, and they are popular and actually draw people to the Faith, more power to them.

[Socrates]

That's rich coming from you.

Honestly, that is what frustrates me most about traditional leaning catholics (not Traditional Latin Mass lovers, just more traditional catholics in general) is how time they spend, arguing about who us more Catholic, which easy is the best to receive the eucharist, which mass/pope/swimsuit is better/best rather than actually spending their energy trying to bring the word to the people, living a good Christian life, pro-life causes, and just making the world a better place in general.

I'm sure I'll be told I'm not Catholic enough; that's cool, I have better things to spend my energy on than to argue.

Maybe I'm spoiled that my neighborhood is full of people who openly share Christ with others and aren't busy arguing about trivial matters..


Ok incoherent rant over

 

On this particular site, at least, I personally see a lot more criticism of traditional-leaning Catholics than the other way around.  Lots of threads and posts attacking or criticizing more conservative, traditional-minded, or otherwise insufficiently-hip-and trendy Catholics. It really goes both ways.

 

And you'll also note I spend very little time on swimsuit or "which pope is best?" threads and the like, as I find them a boring waste of time.

 

But thanks for the incoherent rant.

[Gabriela]

That's rich coming from you.

Honestly, that is what frustrates me most about traditional leaning catholics (not Traditional Latin Mass lovers, just more traditional catholics in general) is how time they spend, arguing about who us more Catholic, which easy is the best to receive the eucharist, which mass/pope/swimsuit is better/best rather than actually spending their energy trying to bring the word to the people, living a good Christian life, pro-life causes, and just making the world a better place in general.

 

Tu quoque, anyone?

 

Seriously (sorry, Lil Red), I understand why this is an interesting topic to debate, but I think we should all just be happy we have any Catholic TV at all. There are people who don't even get Mass but once a month. Really.

[Basilisa Marie]

The funny thing is--- the author of that article is strict and serious about certain trivial things. ( Stop trippin' about them red shoes and get over yourself already!!) So I start to shut her off. But you seem different so I will listen to you. What are some of the shows, besides the youth and young adult programming, that should be chucked out, in your opinion? And why?

 

Yeah, I know what you mean about being strict about certain things but not about others - it's a weird inconsistency that doesn't seem logical.  

 

Honestly, I don't watch a whole lot of EWTN, so maybe it's not fair of me to call for some shows to be chucked out.  Heck, they could keep all the ones they have now, just add new ones.  If a show is reaching people and benefiting them in some way, then there's a good reason to keep it around.  I just get the impression that a lot of their shows are pretty similar.  At the heart of what I'm calling for is more variety, shows that are more than televised prayer or coffee around the table.  It seems like the channel really only caters to a certain kind of Catholic, and they have such a great opportunity to reach all kinds of Catholics because it already has the reputation as THE Catholic TV channel (it already has name-recognition).  Why not show old Catholic movies (are the rights too expensive?)?  Why not have a cooking show, or a home/garden show?  It's just seems to me like they might be squandering an opportunity.   The channel gives lots of people the impression that to be into the rosary and daily mass means that you're boring and serious never get excited about anything, or that you only care about explicitly Catholic things.  Maybe they just don't have the money to do it.  But I know I'd donate if they were asking for money to fund a new, creative, different show that was also solidly Catholic.  
 

 

 All I know is that Fr. Barron certainly does not advocate a “Catholic ghetto mentality." And most of the people who listen to him, I would think, do not hold  that kind of mentality.

 

I'm not so sure.  I know a lot of parishes use Fr. Barron's series for adult faith formation.  But I also know a lot of people who definitely advocate for a kind of return to the Catholic Ghetto culture, people who despise anything that has to do with secular society (even if it isn't sinful).  I wouldn't say these people are always the same people as those who like Fr. Barron (it's probably a casual connection, at best).  I think the author isn't necessarily saying that Catholic Ghetto people are the same as Fr. Barron fans, but that Fr. Barron is one of those things that isn't allowed to be disliked by a lot of Catholic Ghetto people.