--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Network television has been attempting to…" description: "\"Network television has been attempting to lure viewers for years with its low-interest programming only to have those viewers discover later that their..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/p-j-o-rourke-184_attempting_network-television-has-been-attempting-t_2590038.png" --- # Network television has been attempting to lure viewers for… ![“Network television has been attempting to lure viewers for years with its low-interest programming only to have those viewers discover later that their brains are bankrupt.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/p-j-o-rourke-184_attempting_network-television-has-been-attempting-t_2590038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/p-j-o-rourke-184_attempting_network-television-has-been-attempting-t_2590038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f59/p-j-o-rourke-184_attempting_network-television-has-been-attempting-t_2590038.png) > “Network television has been attempting to lure viewers for years with its low-interest programming only to have those viewers discover later that their brains are bankrupt.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mass‑media often offers shallow content that leaves audiences mentally depleted. **In simple terms:** TV can make viewers feel empty. Key Takeaway Seek deeper, enriching media. Themes media criticism culture mindfulness Mood cynical reflective Type commentary satirical When to use this quote - choosing documentaries - limiting screen time - curating playlists Key Concepts cognitive overload entertainment value Questions to Reflect On - What shows make you feel mentally richer? - How can you balance entertainment and enrichment? A Different Perspective Not all low‑interest shows are harmful; some provide needed relaxation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) [Bankrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankrupt/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains/) [Brains Bankrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-bankrupt-1852793/) [Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discover/) [Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later/) [Lure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lure/) [Lure Viewers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lure-viewers-1852795/) [Network](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/network/) [Network television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/network-television/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Programming Viewers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming-viewers-1852796/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Attempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-attempting-1852794/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Viewers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewers/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I don't control the schedule of the networks. We have three of our debates that are on network television, and those are on Saturday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-control-the-schedule-of-the-networks-we-have-three-of-our/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The fact 'Twin Peaks' had a life at all took most of us in the cast by surprise. We thought it would be too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/the-fact-twin-peaks-had-a-life-at-all-took-most-of-us-in-the-cast-by/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [Nothing better than a reality show where everyone's speaking English yet they still need subtitles to be understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-better-than-a-reality-show-where-everyone-s-speaking-english/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the 'M' of MTV was for music & not for maternity...Those were the days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-m-of-mtv-was-for-music-not-for-maternity-those-were-the-days/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nicki Minaj being a judge on American Idol is like Taylor Swift giving relationship advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-mccormick/nicki-minaj-being-a-judge-on-american-idol-is-like-taylor-swift/) [Miley McCormick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-mccormick/) > [It's funny - I was a big fan of 'The Sopranos.' It became kind of a threat to 'The X-Files' in a way because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/it-s-funny-i-was-a-big-fan-of-the-sopranos-it-became-kind-of-a-threat/) [Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/) > [Gay marriage needs to be legalized, cause I would watch the shit out of some gay divorce court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gay-marriage-needs-to-be-legalized-cause-i-would-watch-the-shit-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dear MTV, I'm gonna start my own TV network called RealityTV; RTV and play nothing but music videos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-mtv-i-m-gonna-start-my-own-tv-network-called-realitytv-rtv-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Network television is all talk. I think there should be visuals on a show, some sense of mystery to it, connections that don't add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/network-television-is-all-talk-i-think-there-should-be-visuals-on-a/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [With the rise of cable, network is clearly floundering because the characters on cable are far more fascinating than they are on network. Network…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/with-the-rise-of-cable-network-is-clearly-floundering-because-the/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Being on a major network television show is like long-distance running: You have to pace yourself and maintain your energy level and your morale.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erbe/being-on-a-major-network-television-show-is-like-long-distance/) [Kathryn Erbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erbe/) > [The one thing that I'm really obsessed with is multi-camera comedy. It is a form that is unique to network television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-one-thing-that-i-m-really-obsessed-with-is-multi-camera-comedy-it/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [Most of the time people are aiming so low on television. They're trying to reach that common denominator, especially on network television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/most-of-the-time-people-are-aiming-so-low-on-television-they-re/) [Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/) > [Certainly, network television in general relies a little bit too much on keeping people focused and emotional and scared and pushing the envelope by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/certainly-network-television-in-general-relies-a-little-bit-too-much/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [I should watch network television, or daytime television, because I'm not sure who all these people are who keep getting referred to in blogs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-should-watch-network-television-or-daytime-television-because-i-m/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. 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O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [To attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-attempt-to-be-religious-without-practicing-a-specific-religion-is/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Ewan McGregor stars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, again doing a fine Alec Guinness impersonation but otherwise seeming lost and alone in the galaxy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zacharek/ewan-mcgregor-stars-as-jedi-obi-wan-kenobi-again-doing-a-fine-alec/) [Stephanie Zacharek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zacharek/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" 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(Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-am-not-attempting-to-preserve-culture-or-record-actual-events-or/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Browse all 513 Attempting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Network television has been attempting to lure viewers for years with its low-interest programming only to have those viewers discover later that their brains are bankrupt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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