Gray Nation Network

I fell in love with a TV series a few years ago called "Harry's Law", which featured one of my favorite actors, Kathy Bates. The show was cancelled because, although it had high ratings, the demographics weren't the 20 something crowd the network was looking for (or should I say the network's advertisers). Kathy was outraged, as were the show's fans.

Last year I fell in love with a show called "Longmire", a modern day western mystery set in Wyoming. A&E cancelled the show, even though it had very high viewership. Why? The majority of the viewers were Elders. Thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support for the show from the fans, Netflix bought the show and the fourth season is now in production. Thank you Netflix!!!!

In between episodes of my favorite cancelled shows, I get to watch countless commercials basically telling us GN citizens how ugly our wrinkles are, that we should be able to perform sexually like we were in our 20s, and that our beautiful namesake hair color should be forever banished! I even saw a magazine with an article on anti-aging tips for folks in there 20s!

Our society is increasing its cultural attack on the Gray Nation. In Lansing, every new development is targeted at the young crowd, "We must attract the young people and boost our economy," touts the Mayor. Multi-colored apartment buildings are displacing beautiful historic brick buildings. The Gray Nation is being pushed aside.

I imagine a time fifty years in the future, where a band of lost young people come upon a village of Elders deep in the woods, people they have only heard about in legends.

I have an idea. Why not create the Gray Nation Network (GNN)? Bring back Harry's Law, Longmire, and all the other shows that rate high with the over 50 demographics? All anti-aging ads would be banned. All little blue pill ads would be banned. Smucker's "Look Who's 100 Years Old Today" segments would run every hour on the hour. People would be competing over who has the most beautiful gray hair, or white hair, or salt-and-pepper hair!  Ads for growing old in the healthiest way possible would replace wrinkle cream chatter. A celebration of Elders. After all, we ARE the wisdom keepers. Although you wouldn't think so with so many of us buying into the cultural message that we are ugly and worthless.

If advertisers won't fund it, then how about a Gray Nation Public Television Network? I'd become a member in a second.

What do you say Ted Turner? And by the way, love the hair!