Romans watched gladiatorial combat (to the death) for entertainment, heaven knows what they got up to in the dark ages.

Later hangings were common entertainment, bear baiting, watching the 'lunatics' in Bedlam, hunting as sport (and I don't mean for the pot, not opening that can of worms) cock fighting, one could go on, seemingly without limit.

Much of what we regard as entertainment seems, historically, to be based on cruelty of one kind or another, just the object and the means of that cruelty changes over time. I don't think we are getting worse, but no better either.

PS: Are you sure RG's smugness is terminal, I had thought it merely perennial?