New Media or just a new TV?

I was talking with my excellent friend Cornelius the other day about the idea of New Media and he made an interesting argument: That it's not really neow media so much as it is a new way of consuming it. Hulu doesn't show anything that isn't on TV, it just shows it on your computer (and now your iPad) and people tweeting jokes is no different from someone telling you a joke, its just quicker to get them out there. We were discussing the absolutely awesome http://twitter.com/shhdontellsteve and were debating whether or not it's just like a regular sitcom, except that you're reading it rather watching it in 30 minute blocks.

While I think my man Cornelius is right about a lot of web media, I also think that argument is unfair to the way a lot of the rules of various social media platforms dictate the way content is designed. The rise of Conan O'Brien on Twitter is fascinating because its a medium he's just starting to use but he absolutely understands how its used to its greatest effect. Gone are the extended metaphors and visual jokes that dominated his television show, Conan utilizes irony and understatement to their full extent with his Twitter account. I'd people like Conant demonstrate the possibilities and limitations of social media platforms as vehicles for comedy. The 140 character limit requires quick delivery and concise statements, pushing users further towards irony and absurdism. I'd liken this type of comedy's relationship to more traditional web media to improv and stand-up: their goals are the same, but the skills that make someone good at it are very different. You can be funny on TV, but you might not be able to hack it in Twitter, or vice versa.

I think the S&!t my Dad says TV show is going be a terrifying demonstration that somethings work in one medium and not the other (then again, I once said that The Black Donnellys was going to be on forever...so I've been wrong before).