The omnipotence of television is so taken for granted these days that viewers are no longer amazed when a crackdown in Beijing or a hostage crisis in Beirut magically materializes in their living room. Far more surprising, and a bit unnerving, was the eerie sensation Tuesday night: the tidy coherence and instant packaging that normally make television such a reassuring national touchstone were replaced by the unusual experience of watching as the medium was forced to grope in the dark. "When you're used to being able to flick switches and have things pop up on satellites, it's frustrating and even terrifying...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
