As I sat watching the Thanksgiving parade, waiting for The Hampton University Band, I was becoming frustrated by the frequent interruptions for the numerous long commercials. To top it all was when the commercials were over the hosts would talk and talk, mostly about nothing. I just want to see the parade, not listen to hosts and commercials. I guess the number of minutes allotted to the parade versus the amount of time allotted to the hosts and commercials, the commercials will be first in minutes allotted, hosts will come in second and the parade a very poor last. But that is just my thinking.

               I remember that back in the day it was much different than it is today. My wife would say ‘things change…stop thinking about yesterday’. I cannot because I then thought about my military assignment to Germany. I watched a lot of German television and one of the German’s favorite programs was the western program named Bonanza. This was the 1970s and even then, commercials were long although I didn’t know it. German television had their commercials either before or after a program. A program was never interrupted for a commercial or two or three. Watching German television made me realize that Bonanza was twenty-five or thirty-five minutes long with the rest of the hour left for commercials. While watching German television you could tell where a commercial was to be placed in the program.

               Anyone that is old enough to remember the good old days remember the college and pro football games halftime shows. Most of the time the halftime shows were better that the games. The entire halftime show was aired without commercials and not many commercials were shown during the game. Watching a football game was great without a lot of talking experts and commercials.

               I guess I am selfish, want my cake and eat it too. I know the television companies must, as they say, pay the rent but I think it is too much. I also know the hosts get very good pay checks and they must talk, tout, and set themselves up for better positions. All of it, in my opinion is at the expense of me watching what I pay the cable company to see. It is great when I record a program and, as I watch the program, I fast forward past the commercials.

               Yes, I miss the good old days when I can watch the marching bands doing their intricate formations, seeing a very short commercial, and rarely see the announcer/host. I enjoyed watching the parades (like the Rose Parade for one) and see each part, every float and marching band. I didn’t know it then but those were good days. Now it’s all about the money and I must suffer through the things they think make their money. I just hate the program interruptions especially when my mind gets into a program, and it’s jerked out for a commercial or I miss parts of a parade because of the same thing. Give me the good old days.