The document lists various genres of television programs such as science fiction, paranormal, drama, crime, sitcoms, talk shows, medical dramas, cartoons, documentaries, news, mini-series and reality TV. It also defines television related terms like commercial, couch potato, prime-time, broadcast, episode, anchorman, talk show host and leading actors. The document raises questions about television viewing habits, the educational value of TV, effects of excessive TV watching and television's role in discovering new talents.

1. TV or not TV

2. Genres:
• Science fiction – Star Trek, The Next Generation
• · Paranormal – X-Files
• · Hidden camera
• · Drama - serious TV movies about real problems in life
• · Crime – Sopranos
• · Cops and Robbers (policemen and criminals) – Hill
Street Blues, Cagney and Lacy, SWAT,
• · Fantasy – Dungeons and Dragons
• · Sports – Football, Basketball; Super Bowl, Sunday
Night Football

3. •
· Situation comedy "sitcom" - Frasier,
Cheers, Friends; Malcolm in the Middle
• · (Tabloid) talk show, Interview – Oprah Winfrey, Jay
Leno, David Letterman (Br. Chat show)
• · Medical drama - Dr. House, Grey’s anatomy
• · Superhero – Heroes, Hulk
• · Reality TV - Big Brother, The Fly on The Wall
• · Soap opera – Dallas, Gossip Girl, General Hospital
• · Variety show – Saturday Night Live, i.e. A theatrical
entertainment consisting of successive unrelated acts, such as
songs, dances, and comedy skits.

4. • Serial drama - Lost
• · Cartoons – Tom & Jerry, Mickey Mouse
• · Documentary – National Geographic, History
• · News – CNN, BBC World, Voice of America
• · mini-series - A televised dramatic production, as of
a novel or film, shown in a short number of episodes.
• Travel or holiday programmes
• Makeover
• Cookery ·
• Fishing and hunting

5. Other vocabulary
words:
• ·A commercial - an advertisement on TV
• · A couch potato - a person who watches TV all day on the sofa.
• · Flip through the channels, channel hop – to change channels frequently
• · prime-time – the best time to watch TV, between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM every
night
• · to broadcast - To transmit (a radio or television program) for public or general
use.
• · Episode - A separate program that is part of a television or radio series.
• · Anchorman> news presenter (also known as newsreader, newscaster,
anchorman or ... a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio
or the Internet.
• · Talk show host - A person, such as Jay Leno, David Letterman or Oprah
Winfrey, who is the main speaker of a talk show.
• · Leading actors - The main actors in a TV series.

6. Speaking
• How many types of TV programmes can you
name in English?
• Which type do you like best?
• What is one of your favourite TV shows?
• What do you usually watch on TV?
• What kind of TV shows do you not like? Why?
• Do you think TV is educational?

7. • Do you think we spend too much time watching TV?
• What do you think of TV shows that are designed to "discover
new talents?
• Does TV make a person passive? Does TV take away a
person's ability to think for himself or herself?
• Do you think it is good for children to watch TV?
• Could you live without TV for a week?
• If you couldn't watch TV at home but had to stay there, what
would you do?
• What TV commercials do you like? Why?
A presentation by Dulce Rosales
SOURCE: http://www.madridteacher.com/English/television-speaking.htm