STRAWS As far as I know, the meaning of the old saying that had to do with "grabbing at straws" has not been modified. It declared a feature or fact of life to have become obsolete or modernized to get rid of the old horse and buggy era term "straw".
The old, established meaning, for me a least for me, has always been that when a person in distress feels all is about lost and that a deluge is overdue which may strip away all that their wealth - even their lives - such persons will reach out for any kind of support. They, in desperation, will grasp at straws.
Recently, as successful series of television program have reached that
point a when those in charge making them start thinking "this is enough" patterns. Unspoken reason behind such moves will prove to be money and the ability to make additional funds available from reruns and other uses of TV properties.
"Raymond" was the last to go." And, production people - and writers in particular - very wisely avoided trying do a show that was supposed tool outdo everything they had done. Instead they used snippets, clips, whole chunks and routines from various "Raymond" shows to exhibit the breadth of talent the people possessed and used with such wisdom. Maybe you have a feeling, as I did , that they were parading more others than of Raymond himself ...which the show itself did when it was really rolling. His brother, his parents across the street, his co-workers, his wife - they were all featured. People like that in a hero to worship and Raymond has a loyal following of viewer's who see him always as a modest, unassuming , smart and and street-smart as well. Always humorous, too rather than comical; an individual somehow above just a comedian in their definitions and yet not a stuffy thespian, either.
The best shows are dying off. That's not an elegant way to say it, but that's the way TV viewers are saying it. Count 'em, yourself - from "M A.S.H.", if you like. Your favorites - dropping off one by one like ripened fruit. It is to be expected. It is natural. That's the way the crumpet crumbles.
Now, the grasping at straws...
It is being done by TV production people all the way up and down the complicated chain in and out of agencies, individuals with their whims and wishes, groups, schools, labs, arty enclaves of experimental education, labs as well as slob-centered groups who feel they alone are aware of just what tomorrow's TV shows must be. The people now charged with replacements of the departing shows have had a dismal record.
Each group feels it to be incumbent upon them that they must issue bulletins concerning fined show which will replace the departing favorite.
Thus far, they seem to have trouble keeping viewers away from watching reruns on "those other channels." You may also have noticed that "those others" always mentioned the final Raymond show was in the offing. I
am sure scores of viewers think they saw the final "Raymond" show.
Seeing a worthy replacement is a long way down the TV production road.
A.L.M . May 18, 2005 [c537wds]
