"Television is now so desperately hungry for material that they're scraping the top of the barrel"

Gore Vidal's quote is a criticism of the state of tv in his time. He is recommending that television networks are so desperate for content that they are turning to using the most affordable quality product. This implies that the quality of television shows has actually declined substantially, as networks are no longer going to purchase top quality content. Vidal's quote is a caution that television networks should not be so desperate for content that they are willing to compromise quality. He is suggesting that tv networks should focus on producing quality material that will bring in viewers, rather than simply depending on quantity. Eventually, Vidal's quote is a pointer that quality ought to always come before quantity when it pertains to television shows.