The TV Zone

I suspect Rich Collier is one of those guys we will all be hearing more about in the years to come, and maybe even in the weeks to come. Who is Rich, you ask? A few New Yorkers and aficionados of his late, lamented "Subway Q&A with Rich Collier" on the now-defunct Metro Channel of Cablevision certainly know. It was a funky cult hit that featured Collier interviews with straphangers (as well as an extra twist - he'd pair strangers together, in a unique and no doubt ephemeral effort at subway diplomacy). It got ten local Emmys and was probably the channel's best-known show. Perhaps its only known show.

And now Collier's got another gig. He's put together a website with one of the catchier names to come my way in recent years: "Ihateyoungpeople.com." When you go there, hit the home link, and this is what pops up: "Welcome. We want you to create a video of yourself explaining what you hate the most about young people. It's your chance to rant and rave and vent about the younger generation. The most passionate and creative entries will be a part of a national cable television pilot... and all 'appropriate' submissions will be posted on the I Hate Young People video sharing site. So fire up your webcam and tell us what bugs you the most about young people!"

A YouTube for the anti-youth crowd? Not likely. I hear Collier's gotten feelers from network development types about creating a proposal. Imagine: A show that vents, or jokes, about the generational gulf on a medium that esteems youth and (nightly news programs aside) ignores anyone over fifty. Maybe Collier's onto something.