We have three major television stations where I live. One is the state-run National TV, which uses the initials MTV (like the infamous music video channel, purely by coincidence). MTV has lost the competition for viewers in recent years, and has consequently lost influence in society. No MTV program really gains popularity today. We have two privately-owned commercial stations – RTL-klub and TV2 – which dominate television sets.

It is hard to say what effect Barátok közt has on Hungarian viewers. To summarize the basic storyline, viewers are shown a Hungary that is like a small village. Its citizens live very close to one another, in many ways. They have literally no private lives; everybody knows everything about everyone else, and people gossip about each other constantly. When one of the characters falls in love, all of the others’ ears perk up and follow every development. And everyone has an opinion, because one’s business is everyone’s business in this village. When one character wants a divorce, the cast loathes him.

Believe it or not, all of the protagonists are orphans, and they not only live in apartments in the same building, but work in offices in what used to be the orphanage. One of the orphans had become a successful businessman and bought to building for his small community. The building has a café, and every member of the cast spends every meal eating and drinking there, including children. The male protagonists are all self-made businessmen, and they often wear black ties even in their own apartments. They hardly seem to work, but spend their time talking to each other on the phone or in their offices – or downstairs in the café. They almost never leave the building.

These Hungarians seem conveniently well-off, and the viewer has the feeling that Hungarians have no practical difficulties at all, financial or otherwise. Their problems remain entirely in the realm of love affairs, marriage and divorce. What a country! But such is life in Hungary, according to its most popular TV show.

Why on earth do so many Hungarians enjoy watching this every weekday evening for half an hour of their time? Probably because it would be nice to believe that the simple, careless picture I summarized could be real. Unfortunately, it is not. But television has never been the art of telling the truth anywhere in the world.

I do take small comfort from the fact that every remote control has an “off” button. Hit it, then go and read a book. Especially during springtime. Happy Easter, everyone.