televidiot

English

Etymology

Blend of television +‎ idiot.

Noun

televidiot (plural televidiots)

1. (slang, derogatory) A person who is obsessed with watching television.
   • 1954, The Classical Journal, volumes 49–50, page 344:

     Into the high-school classrooms troop the future engineers, scientists, lawyers, and intellectuals: but along with them shuffles a lackluster motley crew of hopeless nincompoops and televidiots.

   • 1974, Sally Banes, Sheldon Frank, Tem Horwitz, Sweet Home Chicago: The Real City Guide, Chicago Review Press, page 83:

     If music on the radio is the stepchild of commercial considerations, on the other electronic medium—television—it's an absolute orphan. But if you're a confirmed televidiot, you should check in two places: WTTW (channel 11) carries NET programming, including some good (though very intermittent) classical music concerts; […]

   • 2002, Lily Splane, The Book Book: A Complete Guide to Creating a Book on Your Computer, San Diego, CA: Anaphase II Publishing, →ISBN, page 124:

     Radio interviews are the best and most productive publicity you can get. People who listen to radio listen to learn something, rather than be passively amused as televidiots do. Radio listeners buy books.

2. (slang, derogatory) A television personality.
   • 1988, Keyboard, volume 14, numbers 7–12, page 24:

     The event is Remote Control, a year-old game show that has quickly become one of MTV's most popular half-hours. Its quizmaster is televidiot Ken Ober. Five feet to his right, ensconced in his keyboard setup and looking collegiate-cool in Blues Brothers shades, is musical director Steve Treccase […]

   • 1993 January 4, Wes Morgan, “Kentucky over Indiana”, in rec.sport.baseball.college‎^[1] (Usenet):

     Before the UK-IU game in Louisville on January 3rd, the televidiots came out with the line, "Two of the best coaches in the country, two of the best teams in the country, and two of the best players in the country -- we should see a wonderful game".