Date Approved

2013

Date Posted

4-17-2013

Degree Type

Open Access Senior Honors Thesis

Department or School

English Language and Literature

First Advisor

Regina Luttrell, PhD

Second Advisor

Lolita Cummings-Carson, MA

Abstract

Television is considered America's No. 1 pastime, occupying an average of four hours and 39 minutes of a person's time every day (Stelter, 2008). A majority of viewers are tuned in during prime time to live vicariously through their favorite fictional characters who reflect friends, family or even themselves. However, is prime-time television really representing everyone? The purpose of this study is to discover whether a media format as influential as TV reflects the people of the United States. This will be accomplished through coding the prime-time programing on major broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and the CW.

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