TV Ennui
I’ll admit. In years past, I couldn’t understand the folks who said they didn’t own a television. I read a lot, more than most people I know, but I still couldn’t imagine life without one. Lately, though, I’ve been getting there.
I don’t watch much TV, but I’ve always had 1 or 2 shows that I follow constantly. In college or law school, it was pretty much a social thing. We’d watch Friends, Ally McBeal or Felicity and catch up on all of our gossip. Even more fun, we’d put on Lifetime movies and keep up a running commentary a la Mystery Science Theater 3000.
And after school, I always had something that I liked to follow. The ritual of unwinding in front of the TV and knitting has long been a favorite part of the day. Lately, though, something is missing. I still watch a few shows, but there’s nothing that gives me that , “Oh, I have to know what is happening this week!” feeling. I still like CSI, but I don’t feel compelled to watch the way I used to. House used to reel me in, but it’s got a sameness and formulaic feeling to it now and has lost its luster. The Closer is wonderful, but in reruns until this summer, and I stopped following How I Met Your Mother ages ago. I still love The Soup, and it never fails to crack me up.
For whatever reason, most of TV-land feels bland to me now and I’m just having trouble getting into anything. For the first time in years, I don’t have a show that really excites me.
I miss having a good show to knit to. I never really got into Lost and I don’t have HBO so I’ll be getting my True Blood on DVD. I know we have some TV mavens out there. Help me out here. What’s really good on TV now?
-Lynn Spencer
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Basically within work, I always find my way in here in the office, I always find my personal way into this place. It may make or even break my trip to any given time. But mainly it makes it. Grin smiles smile.
The Big Bang Theory, for me, is the best nerd-chick comedy out there, i wish that this tv series runs longer*::
How I Met Your Mother is just like some other comedy shows that are just OK, it is one of my favorites but not really the best “”-
i just thought that Lenard is the funniest guy in Big Bang Theory~*;
i used to watch Burn Notice on our Cable TV but unfortunately they did not play the next season~:~
penny is just so adorable in the big bang theory.:’
i love gabrielle anwar on Burn Notice, she is a great leading lady’,~
well, Allyson Hannigan is really cute in the TV Series “how i met your mother”,.;
well, Allyson Hannigan is really cute in the TV Series “how i met your mother”-;:
penny is really cute in The Big Bang Theory, great comedy tv series too:,”
Burn Notice is one hell of a great tv series, i love spy movies and tv series like this one.”:,
P.S. While you’re in your Netflix queue, I highly suggest getting caught up on “How I Met Your Mother.” This series just keeps getting better, especially with Neil Patrick Harris as Barney. Barney actually makes me forget Doogie Howser! Truly!
Also, I highly recommend “The Big Bang Theory.” I’ve told several people about this show (which makes me fall out of a chair from laughing so hard. Seriously, my husband makes me watch it on the floor now!) and am proud to report that I’ve actually received thank you gifts for the recommendation!
The word “formulaic” came into my mind just last night when I saw House’s expression change during a conversation unrelated to the case and knew that he had just figured out what was wrong with his patient! But I’m a character addict, and once I invest time into a character I have a really difficult time abandoning him. I HAVE to find out what they’re up to the same way I check in on friends’ Facebook statuses. (Hello my name is Kristi and I am a tv AND Facebook addict!)
However, you have to try Glee. I also think you MUST put “The Tudors” in your Netflix queue.
One show–one–has truly captured my attention in the last two decades, and that is ‘Supernatural’. I shudder to think how I almost missed it because I waved it off as being just another paranormal, vampire-y, satan-worshiping kind of thing. Indeed, I clicked by it many times while channel surfing.
It’s no accident that this show has recently won some prestigious science fiction awards, and also no accident that it was just signed on for its sixth season. What’s funny is I don’t even care much for science fiction. The thing is, this show is all about strong brotherly and family relationships. And it doesn’t hurt that the two leads are fantastic actors and pretty much the HOTTEST guys on tv right now. The fact that both the cinematography and the soundtracks are superb is extra icing on the cake. And the writing? I defy you to find any on television currently that can match it.
If you don’t check out this show (like I almost didn’t) you are cheating yourself out of some great television. One warning: the story arc is a strong one, and as such, it is a series that must be watched from the beginning in order to truly “get” what’s going on.
I’ve converted a lot of skeptical people into ‘Supernatural’ addicts–hopefully some of you will join those numbers. I know you won’t be sorry.
Don’t worry, I think you’re on the right track. I haven’t watched tv for nearly 10 years and I don’t miss it a bit. Anything really good will come out on dvd with no ads to watch at your convenience.
I listen to audiobooks too when I knit, and do embroidery.
The only problem is that you tell people you don’t watch tv and they still ask you “Did you see …?” Most people just regard watching tv as being as vital as breathing.
You’ll read more books without a tv.
I didn’t have a TV for years. Only have one now because the hubby couldn’t live without one. I seem to absorb the major plot points/sporting events through osmosis, so I can at least hold my own around the water cooler, but when he’s out of town – like he’s is now – the TV stays off and the house is blissfully quiet.
@SandyAAR Hmm…I might have to check out Mad Men! One of my freinds has the DVDs, so maybe I’ll borrow those and check it out.
One of my friends is getting married this summer and wants me to knit her shawl, so I need some knitting tv!
How could I have forgotten Mad Men and Glee? I just don’t get this hiatus thing. And MM isn’t back until late summer.
The way they’ve started to stagger new episodes on the few shows I actually like make me even more grateful for DVR. The constants for me are the Daily Show/Colbert Report and Rachael Maddow’s show, but it’s getting harder to find new dramas and sit-coms I like. I generally recommend USA’s Burn Notice, it’s got lot’s of snappy dialogue and ongoing spy dramas and I like CBS’s Big Bang Theory (geek sit-com).
I also have to put in plug for some “kids” stuff. Nickelodean’s Penguins of Madagascar series has a comedic edge that reminds of the old Loony Toons and the Disney channel just started running new Shaun the Sheep shorts on Monday afternoons (DVR be praised).
Hubby and I have such different tastes in TV programs that he watches his and I watch mine. Well, I used to watch mine. It died about a couple of years ago, after almost 30 years of faithful service, at about the time I discovered AAR and was busily glomming and reading. I haven’t missed it. I was never one to follow TV series, except maybe for Star Trek and Project Runway, which I tired of eventually. I did watch some episodes of True Blood Season 1 because I was such a fan of the books, but Anna Paquin’s Sookie does not ring true for me, so I quit even before the season ended.
Now I read or work out while I listen to audio books. I recently started an account with Netflix and have begun watching shows on my laptop like Glee, Heroes and Legend of the Seeker. I go for completed seasons so I don’t have to wait for the weekly installment. It is also very nice that some current season episodes are watchable on Netflix 2 or 3 days after being aired.
I am waiting for more of Glee, starting up again on April 13th. The episodes are watchable from fox.com very soon after being aired.
And, Glee! Love, love, love Glee!
Lynn, you’re right. There isn’t much good on these days. We watch American Idol fairly regularly and we love Modern Family on ABC. That’s always good for a laugh. My “must see TV” shows are NCIS, Burn Notice and In Plain Sight on USA and The Closer. Tonight is Burn Notice’s season finale, so that doesn’t really help you, but In Plain Sight will be starting it’s new season in April. My daughter and her friends sucked me into Say Yes to the Dress and What Not to Wear. I don’t look for them specifically, but if I come across them while channel surfing, I’ll stop and watch. Same with Deadliest Catch. HHMMM…almost all cable. How the networks have fallen!
I’m an HBO addict and love True Blood, Big Love, and more that I can’t think of at this moment. Mad Men is a truly wonderful and intelligent show and you have time to catch up on three (short) seasons on DVD before it premieres this summer. I’m also totally hooked on The Office and Parks & Rec. I know you, Lynn, and I’d bet Mad Men is right up your alley.
[i]Lynn asked: What’s really good on TV now?[/i]
You’re not missing much, Lynn. Right now, American Idol is the only program I make time to watch. It’s on three nights a week, but will drop to twice a week as the contestants dwindle down. If my husband didn’t have his favorites (“House” also used to be one of his), the TV would probably never be turned on. He idolizes TMZ and I leave the room when that’s on. Before his foot injury last year, he watched TV downstairs. Since then, he’s developed the habit of watching it upstairs, unless I’ve got something on he doesn’t like, which is rare, because there’s nothing worth watching.
Reality TV is pretty much the norm, from what I see when scanning channels. I think we’ve sunk pretty low in that category. Each of those kinds of shows builds on one another, so they’re always trying for people to act and respond on them in different ways that couldn’t be more stupid. The Kardashians is a perfect example. Or even The Girls Next Door (Hugh Hefner’s current harem). Scary that we sit by the TV enthralled by this stuff and are formed by it, especially the kids. The quote regarding our minds, “Garbage in; garbage out,” is never more true these days.
It’s not that you can’t find interesting televised programs, but they’re surrounded by so many that are just plain junk.
Lynn,
I still watch House, but I can understand your loss of interest in it. I also don’t watch CSI, I think Grissom leaving did it in for me. I enjoy The Mentalist (who doesn’t like some Simon Baker but that and House are the only scripted shows I still watch. I enjoy the Bravo shows Millionaire Matchmaker (tho I don’t like her advice to women to catch a man), Shear Genius and Top Chef and also Project Runway/Models on Lifetime. And I must confess to being an avid watcher of American Idol. That’s like the train wreck I can’t turn away from.