Teleparody: Predicting/preventing the TV Discourse of Tomorrow - Tapa dura

Umberto Eco once observed that parody "must never be afraid of going too far. If its aim is true, it simply heralds what others will later produce, unblushing, with impassive and assertive gravity." In a cautionary attempt to dissuade those who may be tempted,Teleparody fearlessly does go too far in its compilation of reviews of

not-yet-existing, but all-too-possible contributions to television studies. In the tradition ofMad Magazine and the online humor newspaper The Onion, the contributors bring all their critical skills to bear examining the hypothetical scholarship surrounding such TV texts asThe Beverly Hillbillies, South Park, the Weather Channel, Mister Rogers and Mister Ed,The Teletubbies, Max Headroom, Sally Field, and reality TV.

Angela Hague and David Lavery are professors of English at Middle Tennessee State University.