Mad Men, Frasier, Grey’s Anatomy, The Daily Show, How I Met Your Mother, True Blood, Fringe, Supernatural, Californication, Dexter, The Office, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The New Adventures of Old Christine, One Tree Hill, South Park, Family Guy, and even Frasier, Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Angel and Charmed reruns…oh how my list goes on and on…
I am a television junkie.
When I talk about all the television shows I watch, some people look at me and ask how I can possibly find the time. Well, for starters, I wake up at 5 AM every morning, and I just MAKE the time. Why? Because I love television and I think that escaping into television shows helps to keep me grounded. I know that some people consider avid television watchers as having unintelligent beings, but I think that’s a bunch of crap. I mean, if that is ALL I had in my life then I might agree, but I think that I’m a pretty well-rounded student, person, and woman.
I don’t let television run my life. I run my television schedule…thank goodness for recording devices! (Although, one time, I did actually leave a blind date at Applebee’s because I forgot to set Sex and the City to record…but he was a dud anyway!)
With the VCR virtually obsolete, I can now record these shows directly onto my computer and fast forward through the commercials even faster! This new technology also lets me set shows as “favorites” so when I find myself in a really busy week, my computer remembers to record the shows for me. AND I can prop my laptop on my treadmill and watch a recorded episode or two while I burn calories. I sometimes make deals with myself that I am not allowed to watch a certain program UNLESS I am actually on the treadmill – so that is another huge plus for television watching. I can watch television while I am cooking or cleaning, straightening my hair or folding clothes. There are tons of times where I can sneak in some of these recorded indulgences.
So you see, while some people think that television creates mindless entertainment and unnecessary distractions, I find it a necessary part of my life. I need to close the books and unwind. I need to laugh, cry, solve crimes, and visit supernatural and surreal places with characters all across the country. I wouldn’t say that my television watching goes to the extent that I live vicariously through the characters I follow, but I probably do get a little too emotionally invested in some of these shows. My life can get a bit sedentary and frustrating sometimes. Television allows me the escape I might not otherwise see until after graduate school.
So all the high and mighty people who think that television viewing is for the unsophisticated and unintelligent might want to re-evaluate what they are thinking and saying. I find that a good television show can be very helpful for the analytical mind. Some of my greatest ideas have sparked when I allowed myself to just relax and take in the tube.
6 comments:
Last time I tried to look at anything current in TV entertainment was that sit-com with Charlie Sheen, the name of which I've forgotten. (Is it still on?) The whole thing was rubbish; I could take only 4 min. of it. Before that, I tried to watch Friends, circa 1997. The numerous "cute-butt" jokes were silly and forced. I managed to get through about 20 min. of that one.
I may as well face it: an old Preston Sturges movie or anything with Errol Flynn in it, and I'm content.
I like Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond, and The Daily Show. Growing up, I loved Sanford and Son, Chico and the Man, and The Beverly Hillbillies. I suppose an analysis of why I liked these shows growing up would be that I have some identification with Hillbillies and a mixed Hungarian/Puerto Rican. Sanford and Son, well I grew up with lots of African Americans in the D.C. area. I now see there were problems with Sanford and Son, but Red Skeleton is a hoot. Yeah, I love that ethnic/Hillbilly humor because it's all about me:-) I was a TV junkie back then too.
Oh, man. Tv. :) I have to say there have been some times in my life when I cared nothing for any shows. That was mainly because the shows I did like came on at times I wasn't home. I didn't like messing with VCRs to record the shows, it was too much of a hassle. Now, with the DVR it is so easy...and awesome! I have to admit, there are some shows that I now watch that I at first thought would be complete trash (Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, to name a few)--mainly because of the commercials for them, which I now feel do not do the shows justice. I just wouldn't give them a chance and, now that I have, I've realized that they're pretty good.
Anyway, I've always been a TV junkie. Beginning with Full House and lots of Nickelodeon shows as a kid. Ah well. :)
I can't believe you wake up at 5am everyday!! What time do you go to bed. Also, your blind date story is pretty hilarious. I can imagine you sitting there annoyed by this guy.
I like to keep the tv on when I'm doing everything. Now the tv is on. Usually when I read I have tv in the background. Sounds like you multi-task too. We're probably just practicing our multi-tasking skills to keep up with the times!
What do you think you learn from the shows that you watch?
I couldn't agree with you more...I find myself looking at my TV time as a reward for all the brain strain that goes on in school. In my house, we rent series from Netflix to completely cut out the commercials and maximize our downtime...we just finished up with Dexter and just started Six Feet Under. I have passed from "needing" it to feeling entitled to it.
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