my youngest brother and i watch a lot of tv... but my other brother watches little if any, he has "other interests." you know, he actually reads books (j/k), listens to music, sits with his "thoughts."
i think children watch a lot of tv when it seems their "entertainment" options are limited. my daughter (11 months) is only interested in car commercials, and the occasional pop video. also - and esp. - the commercial for foxwoods casino...
i grew up on sesame street, little house on the prairie, the waltons, and of course the young and the restless... but then fox network came to chester... channel 5... spiderman and married with children...