A Short Post on TV
It occurred to me as I settled down on the basement couch to watch TV last night that I have two types of shows I watch: ones I look forward to and must watch ASAP, and ones that can linger on the Tivo. As time has grown more scarce, I’ve given up the “maybe it will get good again” or the “it’s pretty good, sometimes” shows.
Two shows I left behind this year and never looked back on were House and The Office.
Shows that I like but can postpone include How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, At the Movies and Top Chef Masters. I’m a little sad to note that both Project Runway and Top Chef original recipe are both in this category, too, as they used to be in the next one.
But the can’t-wait shows, the ones I know will be on Facebook and the internets within minutes of their ends? First and foremost, Breaking Bad, then in chrono order, Glee, Modern Family, Community, Parks & Rec, and Dr. Who.
How about you?
May 13th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Most of our tv watching has wound up falling into the second category, though I still try to watch Top Chef Masters as soon as it airs, as well as The Amazing Race (which is now over for another season).
Probably in order of importance to us: The Amazing Race, Top Chef Masters, Chuck, Community, How I Met Your Mother, and The Office. Save for the first two on this list, though, we’re behind by at least 3 episodes for all of these… and there have been times where I’ve wondered if we’d even feel the loss if we stopped watching The Office at all. Clearly tv has not been a priority for us of late.
This summer we’re going to try out a few new shows, I think. Definitely: Lie To Me and White Collar. Maybe: Burn Notice, Friday Night Lights. We’re a season behind on 30 Rock, I believe, so we might catch-up with that this summer as well.
May 13th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Hmmm…must-see TV for us is Breaking Bad, Glee, Chuck, and 30 Rock. For me, Project Runway. We fit Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert in wherever we can. We still watch House, but it’s not a priority; we still watch Lost and 24, mostly because this is the last season, so why not? Mad Men, when it’s on, is high priority. Given up on Dancing with the Stars, gave up on Dollhouse before it was canceled, gave up on Fringe because there was just too much else to watch and we can get in on Netflix this summer.
May 13th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Steph, I didn’t love Burn Notice enough to watch it, ditto Justified and Leverage, both of which I sampled. I did, though, love the eps of Friday Night lkights I watched, and I need to get back to it.
You will not miss the Office, and every week I read a recap where the critic says, well, a few good bits but…
Amy, forgot Mad Men, that’s a definite.
May 14th, 2010 at 8:16 am
OOh, I love tv. This comment is a bit of an opus. I had a similar thought last night when we sat down for the first time in almost a week to hours and hours of shows, and only two hours of watching time. In order we watched Modern Family, Justified and Community. Other shows in that must watch right away category: Chuck, Good Wife, Cougar Town, Deadliest Catch (for Ross, not so much for me), Friday Night Lights.
NOTE–If a person were to start FNL, which I think a person really should because it is so very good, please, please skip season 2. Nothing good happens in season 2. Even the WRITERS in season 3 pretend season 2 didn’t happen. You will watch season 2, think “this is ridiculous,” and not get to enjoy the awesomeness that is season 3 and 4 (so far). I will not be able to convince you to come back, even though you would love season 3. I lost my parents forever to FNL because they insisted on watching season 2.
NOTE 2–We really, really enjoy Justified, but I also wonder how much of that is because of how much the character of Raylan Givens is a version of Sheriff Bullock. Regardless, it’s one of my favorite new shows, certainly.
Shows allowed to molder a little bit: HIMYM, Top Chef Masters, Burn Notice (which I very much enjoy), Psych (which I tend to watch when I’m alone doing laundry), The Middle (same), Mad Men (same), No Reservations, Project Runway, Glee (the last two or three episodes bugged me).
Shows dropped or in the process of dropping: The Office, 30 Rock, CSI: Original Flavor, Gray’s (for the second time)
Shows I have entire seasons of on the DVR and wonder when I will ever watch: FlashForward, Damages, Warehouse 13, Ashes to Ashes, Masterpiece Contemporary and Mystery
As I look at this, what I think is interesting is how my tv watching is shaped by having another adult in the house, but only one tv. Shows I like but Ross doesn’t I still record (or watch online–Lost, Weeds, Party Down), but end up watching in spare minutes when I’m alone. Since he’s stopped playing hockey for the summer, I’m way behind on a lot of shows I enjoy but he doesn’t. At the same time, I’m pretty sure he wishes he was watching a lot more hockey playoffs and baseball. However, the shows we watch right away are shows we both just love and love watching together.
May 16th, 2010 at 1:28 am
Here’s the tough question: Are you watching “Doctor Who” on BBC America or are you searching out the episodes online to stay in tune with what’s being shown in Britain?
Other than Who, I am watching Justified right away and Big Bang Theory. Some Law & Orders and Law & Order: Criminal Intents pile up, but we plow through them at some point. Mad Men was a watch, albeit delayed to whenever I could. I was watching Sons of Anarchy pretty in line of when they run. And I am starting to watch In Plain Sight when they are rerun late on Monday nights, which are my Sunday night.
A truly bad habit is developing: I am watching Star Trek: TNG when I get home from work and calming down from my day. Like comfort food, but way too filling, especially when I’ve seen them billions of times before. Should be working out or picking up a book or magazine.
May 18th, 2010 at 7:44 am
I love how it’s the posts I think are random that get the most comments! We do love our TV, here, don’t we, readers?
Those of you who aren’t watching Modern Family, Community and Parks and Rec are missing out. I’ve given up on the Office, and am about to do so for 30 Rock and HIMYM (i.e. finishing out this season and deleting the season pass on Tivo, so not bothering with next season) . Modern Famiily, Community, and Parks and Rec consistently make me laugh, which the ones I’ve dropped/am dropping no longer do.
May 18th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
V, I’m watching Dr. Who on BBC America, every Saturday. As River Song would say, flapping her hands, “Spoilers!”
I don’t know if TNG is a bad habit; better than a martini, right? My husband is working his way through Season 1 of Buck Rogers. I’ve declined to join him.
May 20th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I love TV, but there are few shows that I must watch. I’m totally addicted to Mad Men and have recently watched three seasons on DVD. Season 4 is in my DVR queue, finally, but I think it will be hard to eke out week after week when I’ve had the instant gratification of another episode on disc.
My husband’s best friend is the sound engineer for The Office, which makes the sitcom a priority long past loving it.
Putting Modern Family in the cue. Lost may be the next DVD gorge. I’d rather read, but it’s all good background when I’m drafting or knitting.
May 25th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
I try not to watch tv, but my teenage daughter got me hooked on the following shows this year: Chuck, Big Bang Theory (hilarious), Castle, & Glee. That’s it. No more, I draw the line…