Skip to content
By using Twitter’s services you agree to our Cookies Use. We and our partners operate globally and use cookies, including for analytics, personalisation, and ads.

This is the legacy version of twitter.com. We will be shutting it down on June 1, 2020. Please switch to a supported browser, or disable the extension which masks your browser. You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center.

  • Home Home Home, current page.
  • About

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Language: English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • Bahasa Melayu
    • Català
    • Čeština
    • Dansk
    • Deutsch
    • English UK
    • Español
    • Filipino
    • Français
    • Hrvatski
    • Italiano
    • Magyar
    • Nederlands
    • Norsk
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Română
    • Slovenčina
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Türkçe
    • Ελληνικά
    • Български език
    • Русский
    • Српски
    • Українська мова
    • עִבְרִית
    • العربية
    • فارسی
    • मराठी
    • हिन्दी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • தமிழ்
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
    • ภาษาไทย
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
  • Have an account? Log in
    Have an account?
    · Forgot password?

    New to Twitter?
    Sign up
vgr's profile
Venkatesh Rao
Venkatesh Rao
Venkatesh Rao
@vgr

Tweets

Venkatesh Rao

@vgr

This is my conversational account. For my work follow @ribbonfarm, @breaking_smart, @artofgig. Tweets are 90% vacuous views, apathetically held. Mediocritopian.

Los Angeles, CA
venkateshrao.com
Joined August 2007

Tweets

  • © 2020 Twitter
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Imprint
  • Cookies
  • Ads info
Dismiss
Previous
Next

Go to a person's profile

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @

Promote this Tweet

Block

  • Tweet with a location

    You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

    Your lists

    Create a new list


    Under 100 characters, optional

    Privacy

    Copy link to Tweet

    Embed this Tweet

    Embed this Video

    Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Hmm, there was a problem reaching the server.

    By embedding Twitter content in your website or app, you are agreeing to the Twitter Developer Agreement and Developer Policy.

    Preview

    Why you're seeing this ad

    Log in to Twitter

    · Forgot password?
    Don't have an account? Sign up »

    Sign up for Twitter

    Not on Twitter? Sign up, tune into the things you care about, and get updates as they happen.

    Sign up
    Have an account? Log in »

    Two-way (sending and receiving) short codes:

    Country Code For customers of
    United States 40404 (any)
    Canada 21212 (any)
    United Kingdom 86444 Vodafone, Orange, 3, O2
    Brazil 40404 Nextel, TIM
    Haiti 40404 Digicel, Voila
    Ireland 51210 Vodafone, O2
    India 53000 Bharti Airtel, Videocon, Reliance
    Indonesia 89887 AXIS, 3, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL Axiata
    Italy 4880804 Wind
    3424486444 Vodafone
    » See SMS short codes for other countries

    Confirmation

     

    Welcome home!

    This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

    Tweets not working for you?

    Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

    Say a lot with a little

    When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

    Spread the word

    The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

    Join the conversation

    Add your thoughts about any Tweet with a Reply. Find a topic you’re passionate about, and jump right in.

    Learn the latest

    Get instant insight into what people are talking about now.

    Get more of what you love

    Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.

    Find what's happening

    See the latest conversations about any topic instantly.

    Never miss a Moment

    Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.

    1. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      Middlebrow “Blue Sky” USA Network shows ~2006-14 are an Age of Innocence preceding the Great Weirding. Psych (2006-14), White Collar (2009-14), Burn Notice (2007-13). Charming recession escapism. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Network# …"Characters_Welcome",_the_"blue_sky"_era_(2005–2016)

      2 replies 6 retweets 66 likes
      Show this thread
    2. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      Also Monk, Royal Pains. What is fascinating is that all these shows were very popular but were kinda ignored between the stale network fare post 90s (Raymond, Two and a Half Men) on one hand, and premium mediocre HBO-grade “golden age” TV.

      1 reply 1 retweet 28 likes
      Show this thread
    3. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      When I look back at this period, it strikes me that this basic cable genre was the soul of pre-Weirding American culture before being basic/normie became impossible due to Weirding, culture wars.

      1 reply 1 retweet 16 likes
      Show this thread
    4. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      Obviously I really enjoy this stuff and have rewatched all of these shows a couple of times. They are post 9/11 and recession and have cellphones (transitioning to iPhones halfway through), so they’re modern in almost every way, except for that innocence that was lost after.

      2 replies 2 retweets 20 likes
      Show this thread
    5. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      Something liminal about this little chapter of mediocre but very satisfying television. The last attempt at universal appeal before TV turned into some mix of reboot hell, self-consciously quirky non-basic subcultural shows, and shows clearly targeting narrower demographics.

      2 replies 3 retweets 31 likes
      Show this thread
    6. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      The aughts were generally a zombie decade for network television module random bright spots like The Office. I think everybody agrees with that. The contest was basic vs premium cable. A bit like Android vs iOS. USA was Android, HBO was iOS.

      1 reply 1 retweet 17 likes
      Show this thread
    7. Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 23 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation

      Makes me sad to think the start of this era is already over a decade ago. Somehow it seems like a forgotten era. I think because they were not very meme-worthy shows. It was basic entertaining storytelling, without gif-able shots or iconic lines. Now TV/movies aim for the meme.

      3 replies 1 retweet 19 likes
      Show this thread
    8. Jeffrey Mansell‏ @jeffreymansell 24 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation
      Replying to @vgr

      pic.twitter.com/xEuwGECf97

      1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      Venkatesh Rao‏ @vgr 24 Jul 2019
      • Report Tweet
      • Report NetzDG Violation
      Replying to @jeffreymansell

      You just made my case, that’s not meme-level memorable. Just a fun shot.

      12:22 AM - 24 Jul 2019
      • 1 Like
      • Jeffrey Mansell
      2 replies 0 retweets 1 like
        1. ⌘‏ @PeterorjustP 24 Jul 2019
          • Report Tweet
          • Report NetzDG Violation
          Replying to @vgr @jeffreymansell

          And the other shows aren't even bad-memeable. Good lines, but there are better versions of every "meme". GIF search for "come on son", "I've heard it both ways", or "you know that's right", and that's whole giving Psych the advantage of matching the exact phrase.pic.twitter.com/yYhifPaMqS

          0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
          Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
          Undo
        1. Jeffrey Mansell‏ @jeffreymansell 24 Jul 2019
          • Report Tweet
          • Report NetzDG Violation
          Replying to @vgr

          1. This thread is maybe my favorite take of yours ever. I think some of the FX shows of the same time would fit here too, à la Justified and SOA. 2. In the Pantheon of tv episodes, the Tim Curry appearence on Psych is in there somewhere.

          0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
          Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
          Undo

      Loading seems to be taking a while.

      Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

        Promoted Tweet

        false

        • © 2020 Twitter
        • About
        • Help Center
        • Terms
        • Privacy policy
        • Imprint
        • Cookies
        • Ads info