Pondering the way I watch television shows

[wednes]

As you must know, I do watch the occasional TV drama series. I enjoy tuning in each week to see what new plot and character developments will unfurl. LOST, for example, provides a gold mine of things to ponder and speculate about. Then there's the anticipation of watching each new episode as it airs. I enjoy getting caught up in the ferver of a great show and being part of the viewership, discussing the show with others who watch it, etc.

So when I rent an entire season of something and watch all the eps in a row with basically no break, I feel like something is really lost in the translation. I don't mean rewatching, I mean it's your first time seeing something and you watch a whole season in a week (or two days, if it's an HBO season). Rushing through it like that just seems like a bummer. Technically, you are seeing every episode, but not the way the producers/directors/writers/cast intended.

For better or worse, people used to schedule thier week around TV. The first time The Godfather was shown on TV, NYC traffic was as light as it normally was on Christmas day. Everyone was at home watching. When I was a kid, the night they showed Wizard of Oz every year was like a holiday. Now, with so many options to see everything later, viewing times barely matter. In some ways, I find that sad.

Then again, I tend to pay more attention to TV as a concept than many people. I just find TV to be such an accurate indicator of where we are as a society, I guess.

Comments

[sudrin.livejournal.com]

I noticed this with shows that are set up for weekly consumption (Such as say, Rockford Files) but less so with shows that seem to have an arc planned out (like Sopranos) but I understand the fatigue you are talking about. I think it also comes from leaving nothing for yourself to look forward to. You do make a good point though about shows like Lost. There is something special about watching it on a weekly basis with the rest of the world that allows for unique conversation that you won't see again outside of a convention. But after that, its the very reason things like Dragon*con or Comic*con DO exist. :)

[spiralwitch.livejournal.com]

it is sad that there is so much on tv that we don't appreciate the little things. remember when they would have a "special" on television like Peanuts or something and there would be that little promo that ran that actually said special and it spun around? we would get so happy.

watching the wizard of oz around easter time was a favorite in my family. we'd camp out in the living room. i was an adult before i ever saw the end of the movie because i'd be alseep by the time she made it to emerald city.

[groovesinorbit]

*nods* I'm having fun watching Dollhouse in relative real time, and being able to chat with people about it and analyze it to death show by show is a lot of what makes it fun. Very different from watching BtVS and Firefly on DVD.

[madush69.livejournal.com]

Ever since I got married and Cathy and I got the DVR, I can't tell you what time, what channel, or even what day my favorite shows are on. I can still give ya the ABC Tuesday night lineup from the early eighties, but yeah, it's not quite as communal. Luckily I do share these watchings with a perfect TV watching spouse, so that's a bonus. I'm still an episode or so behind on ABC's version of "Life On Mars. I'm enjoying that show quite a bit.

[darkeryet.livejournal.com]

I never get to watch tv in the evening anymore but I prefer to record the episodes and discuss them at the end of the week with the friends who watch the same shows. Even when I can't watch my shows as they air, it's still special to watch them one episode a week. Watching an entire season can certainly be fun too, but that is time-consuming and kind of greedy. I like to have my half an hour or an hour of vegging out at the end of a long day rather than reserve an entire day for such a thing.

[kissdbyagnome.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you wrote about this. I have been missing lost and trying to catch up with it on demand and it's just not the same.

Also, It's very annoying to me when people turn up their nose and proclaim "I don't watch TV" or even better "I don't have time to watch TV". As if it's a waste of their time and a dig at anyone who makes time for it. I'm very weary of these sort of people because for me TV is an art form. Much like a person will appreciate a good book or an interesting painting, TV is the same for me. Oh don't get me wrong I watch the occasional trashy show (just like I'll read a trashy novel) but I really am irritated with those that think they are ABOVE TV. I dunno, just a peeve of mine and sorta off topic.