THE START OF A NEW SHOW BIZ SEAson encourages us to look beyond momentary glitches and glitzy distractions and focus instead on the far-reaching reforms that are needed to transform the dim and grim entertainment scene.

We?re all in this together, so members of the audience, not just stars, need to do their share to effect the industry?s long-awaited transformation.

Major pitfalls

What are the major pitfalls we all need to overcome? First and foremost, we should stop thinking that entertainment is harmless and irrelevant. As many national developments have proven, entertainment has a key effect on the way we are?and have become.

So, we should give films, TV shows and records greater attention, concern and importance, especially when it comes to the ways they affect our children.

Next, we should remind ourselves of our continuing need to rise above our ?deathless? colonial mentality. It?s been many years since our last colonizers left our shores, but the negative effects of their influence continue to hound and limit our self-image and potential.

Much of our entertainment remains foreign-influenced or subliminally-controlled, hence our lack of confidence and pride in our own identity and unique abilities.

Worse, many of the shows we?re exposed to seduce us to look down on ?local? and prefer the ?imported??in many aspects of our national life and sensibilities.

Third, we should make ourselves much more aware of Viewer Power?and use it creatively and forcefully to achieve the improvements and reforms we need and deserve.

Much too often, we feel helpless because we think it?s the stars and producers who have the power to make key decisions?but, that?s because we don?t act or complain, or do so only individually, so we render our power inutile. It has to be used collectively to be truly potent.

If you like something that you watch or listen to, make sure you communicate your reactions to the people in charge of those productions, to encourage them to do even better.

Conversely, if you dislike any production or find it irresponsible or unprofessional, let the people involved in the production know, so they can?t get away with shoddy work.

Creativity

Fourth, demand original productions, not ?xeroxed? shows or remakes. There are too many ?revival? shows being produced these days, indicating a shockingly low level of genuine creativity. Producers? alibi is that they?re reviving old plots and formats ?for a new generation of viewers,? but it really is just an alibi, to cover up the industry?s pervasive indolence, cupidity and lack of respect for viewers.

To get that respect, we have to demand it?and back up our demands with a forceful use of our collective Viewer Power.