{"id":40083,"date":"2024-06-20T09:24:34","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T13:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/?p=40083"},"modified":"2024-06-20T09:24:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T13:24:34","slug":"great-american-media-ceo-bill-abbott-on-the-value-of-creating-positive-tv-content-the-5-greatest-tv-series-finales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithmediaandculture\/2024\/06\/great-american-media-ceo-bill-abbott-on-the-value-of-creating-positive-tv-content-the-5-greatest-tv-series-finales.html","title":{"rendered":"Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott on the value of creating positive TV content + The 5 greatest TV series finales"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 06\/20\/24<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unhappiness is trending.<\/strong> As VideoAge<\/strong> reports<\/a> the recent SXSW Conference<\/strong> on the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture drew particular attention for a panel called Building Brands in the Unhappiness Era<\/strong><\/em>. The discussion came as the United States fell out of the list of 20 happiest countries as compiled by the World Happiness Report<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

VideoAge quotes Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott<\/strong> as saying \u201cEach of us (TV content providers and broadcasters) must be intentional in choosing (content) positively. Media literacy and controlling what comes into our home is as much viewer responsibility as it is media responsibility. Yes, we, as an industry, should reflect on and be conscious of, the content we are creating.\u201d He noted this his own company’s growing ratings is an indication that the audience is, in fact, seeking out positive content and that \u201cMost blue-chip advertisers want to invest in content that reflects the positivity of their brands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abbott (who has\u00a0 had previous success building the Hallmark Channel<\/strong> brand) understands that creating programming positive content is a path to financial success for savvy program providers. I think he would also agree that it can be a moral calling. Our country is thirsty for an antidote to the current cultural onslaught of negativity, fear, entitlement and division. Putting forth programming that reflects the universal and eternal values of faith, family, optimism, discipline, forgiveness, tolerance, gratitude, good humor and sense of positive God-given purpose is a moral good.\u00a0 If television creators would\u00a0 put for those values it would be a significant step toward getting back on that top 20 list of happiest nations.
\n_____
\nSticking the landing. <\/strong>TVLine<\/strong> just put out its choices for the 30 best TV series finales of all time<\/a>. A lot of them I can agree with. Some I think are overrated. Some I didn’t catch because I never got into the shows that led up to them. I do know that, as a TV fan, I enjoy few things more than a great show that nails the ending. ‘<\/p>\n

Here’s my list of five TV series finales that sent their shows out in style. These shows, I believe, also artfully present the values I write about above in a non-preachy and compelling way.<\/p>\n

The Big Bang Theory<\/em> (2019)
\n<\/strong>When Amy and Sheldon win the Nobel Prize in Physics<\/strong><\/a>, Sheldon’s growth as a person is revealed.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n