It's not a criticism, it's an observation.
A must read!!!! A hugely fascinating stimulating article
Mike Cox

Kiefer Sutherland, an incredibly gifted actor, brings us to the edge of our seats each week in another adrenalin rush episode of 24. Carrie Underwood has the supremely perfect voice of the legendary singers. Her latest CD unquestionably places her with the legends. The latest struggle in the Middle East threateningly hovers over our future like a menacing albatross.

We are also being hyped to death. You can't escape the screaming adjective anymore. The adverb is required to complete a sentence. Exclamation points are an endangered species. A recent night of National Geographic Presents featured three successive episodes; Most Amazing Moments , Most Daring Moments , and Most Astonishing Moments . We will soon be astoundingly bored with the whole mess.

Adding an LY has become this generation's contribution to the world of literature. Reading has been replaced by video, investigation lost out to sound bites, and hyperbole and overstatement now satisfy our need for fact-based proof. It's as if every event is a pro wrestling pay- for- view happening.

Back in ancient times, when Fran Tarkenton was young and Cathy Lee Crosby was hot, ABC featured a show called That's Incredible . Few of the features on the program were, but three B- list celebrities got work for a couple of seasons, and the carnival barker became a television staple.

Now, every episode of every lame TV show is either excruciatingly suspenseful, unforgettably dynamic, or side- splittingly hilarious. Either way, you are subjected to a night of must- see TV that will leave you breathless. Oh, and each offering is a can't miss show with an ending you could never imagine. The only thing I can't imagine is how most of the people who work in entertainment are able to earn a living. Now that's mind- blowing.

I know there were adjectives in my youth. We studied them in Mrs. Green's English class. I sat next to Johnnie Sue Golightly. Now there was someone who deserved a few superlatives. In those days, astounding really was astounding.

Come to think of it, I remember girls in high school class deadpanning expressions like " I can't control " and "unbelievable." Maybe their descendants are the ones who dream up movie promos.

Currently, every close ball game is one for the ages, every scary movie is heart- stopping, every new tv show is already legendary, and every news story is ominously important. Film at eleven.

The idea of overblown praise is bad enough, but now the actual words are getting to be more irritating. Hugely has become the adverb of choice for newscasters and celebrities who want to cast their latest cause or story in an important light. Isn't huge sufficient without adding letters?

I realize as someone who appreciates words, I am prejudiced. I also know this 2.5 second attention span, text messaging world, doesn't care I hate hugely. But can't we compromise?

If we ignore hype and only praise the truly impressive, the system will adjust. If you don't know what that is, call me. I still have a picture of Johnnie Sue somewhere.