• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, July 8, 2016

How different is one fireworks show from another? Apparently, not that much, according to one PBS TV producer.

Certain segments of the network’s recent fireworks broadcast were reruns -- all due to weather issues while televising a July 4 event in Washington DC. Fog and clouds are big enemies of fireworks. So PBS spliced fireworks footage of previous years into its current live broadcast -- all to make the pictures look better.

So much for reality TV.  Or do you want real-time TV with all its bumps, wrinkles and imperfections? Perhaps it’s patriotism that is more important on this day, not a shabby video of fireworks?

Many will shrug shoulders. We have all seen stories about the hyper-editing of reality TV shows. Additionally, we continue to have ever-so-slight tape delays of live sporting events. Do you feel cheated then?

How about a live, high-speed car chase when police corner a suspect who is about to do something terribly wrong -- with a gun, or other weapon -- to himself or others? Want to see that? Should cameras turn away -- or perhaps give you that “reality”?

Perhaps live TV of U.S. soldiers in action aren’t for average U.S. TV consumption. No bombs bursting in air here.

PBS said in a statement: “Because this year’s fireworks were difficult to see due to the weather, we made the decision to intercut fireworks footage from previous ‘A Capitol Fourth’ concerts for the best possible television viewing experience.” Emphasis added here.

In other words, you should have been there -- if you really wanted to see what was going on. Perhaps really close, to avoid the fog and clouds.

If not -- and you were planning a happy, careful and minimally intellectually challenging bit of celebratory TV content -- some artificial live TV content should be enough to satisfy your pretty-lights-in-the-sky cravings.