Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Glued to the Tube


Thought Number One....

The new Spring season of television shows are beginning to make find their way into our homes and snare us in their sticky webs.  Oh yeah...while I always promise myself  "I WILL NOT WATCH, I WILL NOT WATCH" ...I might as well, own up to the fact that I have no will power.  If I watch one portion of one episode, I am a goner.

It would seem that a show doesn't necessarily even have to be great...or good, really...actually it could suck, but if there is a cliff hanger at the end of a program, I will come back next week to get closure.  Then of course, one mystery is solved but the show will end with another cliff hanger.

This television addiction is causing some real time crunches in my life.  I am sure you have all figured out that it takes a big chunk out of my day messing around on my computer. Then you have to add in the time spent playing with smart phones and tablets. All that device distraction is a lot. By the time I add in the assortment of TV viewing,  it limits the time left for working, sleeping and eating.   (please note: as a courtesy to you Apple haters, I generic-ized (new word)  the phone and tablet reference....but I plan on doing a legal name change for both of my devices to Pink Lady and Granny Smith)

I have recently discovered a few shortcuts in my effort to be more time efficient.  I can Facebook while watching the Tube.  In fact, I can FB with other time-wasters as myself while we collectively watch the shows that ensnare us.

It came to my attention recently (again on FB) that there is a person...an actual living person... that hasn't watched one episode of American Idol...ever.   I don't know if I am over the moon in admiration for this person (I believe I am) or if I am totally incredulous how is that even possible.   How can you NOT get caught up in a least one episode and then not have to know who is about to get kicked to the curb?  (Really, I just don't get why people are going ape sh** over Heejun Han, when I think Jessica Sanchez is the clear winner.)






On Sunday night, another competition of  sorts, Celebrity Apprentice, just sucks me in like a Dyson rolling over a sand pit.   I know, I have just lost all your respect but I seemingly am not alone on this strange fascination of watching celebrities (sorta kinda celebs that you may or may not of ever heard of) fighting and back biting their way into favor of the very odd albeit rich egomaniac.   How could you not want to see the HULK, (Lou Ferrigno) take on Lt. Hikaru Sulu of Star Trek (George Takai).  Also, I live for the occasional wind that blows Trumps hair up. 

Luckily, technology is working with me on my problem of time managing all my programs in. The DVR let's me speed up the whole process.  American Idol can be manipulated down to about 30 minutes and The Biggest Loser can be trimmed down to 20 minutes.  (way too much winy drama but the weigh in is the must see)






Thought Number Two


The worst part of this addiction...which I guess is true of all addictions...is when they cut you off cold turkey.  I am still bitter about the sudden ending of Reunion in 2005 when they just quit the show mid-season and NEVER revealed the killer.  At least Closer, House, Desperate Housewives, and One Tree Hill gave us some warning.  I find it rather rude when shows like The Gifted Man and Prime Suspect just quit showing up at my house with no explanation. 

With this new crop of shows, I am already zeroing in on faves.  As much as I try not to get too closely involved, keep a certain amount of objectivity...the truth is that if Smash gets cancelled mid-season without letting me know if Ivy Lynn gets replaced by Karen Cartwright, I will lose my MIND. 










Are you addicted to any particular programs?  Have you any strong opinions on some of the new shows?




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23 comments:

Thechubbychatterbox said...

Mrs. Chatterbox and I like Person of Interest. It's a formula show but the two main actors have really good chemistry. Survivor is okay but running out of steam. Remember when they were dependent on things like getting their own food? Richard Hatch's teammates hated his guts but couldn't get rid of him because he was providing the food. Those were the good ole days.

Cheryl P. said...

Mr. Conflicted and I also like Person of Interest. The premise of that is pretty original as well. I would like a machine to let me know when something bad is going to happen, but I have more in mind like the furnace needing a repair not that I am going to get shot in my sleep.

I loved the early Survivor shows but I quit watching when it seemed like the qualifications to win had a lot to do with your "sexy quotient". Back in the time of Richard Hatch it was about how sneaky and coniving you were. Good ole days indeed.

meleahrebeccah said...

"It came to my attention recently (again on FB) that there is a person...an actual living person... that hasn't watched one episode of American Idol...ever.  "


AHAHHAHAHHA! Yes, that was from my FB wall. I was JUST as shocked as YOU!

I just got sucked into Celebrity Apprentice, this past Sunday. And as much as I LOVE The Hulk, I really wish they'd use subtitles when Lou speaks, because I cannot understand a word he says.

And SMASH = AMAZEBALLZ.


*Yes I am a TV addict and PROUD of it!

Cheryl P. said...

Yes it did come from the conversation on your wall. Very surprising that in the 9 years that show has been on and the fact it is the most watched series in the history of TV that anyone could escape not seeing at least one or two. It probably seems stranger to me as I live in front of a TV or computer or both.

When I occassionally meet someone that tells me that don't even have a TV in their house it is all I can do not to start hyperventilating.


I totally agree about Lou's speech. I also find it annoying that whenever anyone says the slightest critism, he starts with the ...whiny whiny..."I've worked my whole life...started with nothing...blah, blah" A lot of people work hard to acheive success.

meleahrebeccah said...

Yes. Yes. And YES!

meleahrebeccah said...

Yes. Yes. And YES!

Wolfbernz said...

Hi Cheryl,

I'm just getting into the TV watching again. As I've mentioned in some of my posts, we just got a TV (after not watching TV for a while) One show I used to watch religiously was "The Shield"

So far I don't have any favorites, but I can say I have watched American Idol a couple of times and it's ok. I agree though, how can someone thumb through the channels and not watch even one episode?

Clicks!
Wolf

Trina said...

My favorite shows seem to all be on the Showtime network - Weeds, Californication, Dexter, and U. S of Tara - when we have time (and TV and Cable) I try not to miss all the new episodes. For some reason, these show just keep my attention and they are amazing with their cliff hangers. I mean, who would want to know what happened to a mom gone drug dealer or a writer as his life goes down the toilet or a mom with multiple personalities, a husband and two kids?

LOL

New shows on regular TV are weird... I do like Big Bang Theory...

Clicks!
--Trina

oldereyes said...

Well, Cheryl, I have never watched a single episode of American Idol. Or any of the other shows you mention (Well, I did watch The Hulk and Star Trek). I watch only sports and movies, preferably old. Occasionally I watch one of the Hundred Greatest shows on ESPN or MTV. That's about it.

oldereyes said...

Of course, I can kill hours playing Word Mole or Freecell, so I'm not addiction-free.

Cheryl P. said...

I thought the Shield was good as well. I like that genre of police drama type of show.

I find with American Idol, if I watch the first couple of the season, I get hooked but if I don't I am fine to not pay too much attention. It is more about getting on the fan bus for one of the contestants or really hating one and wanting to watch them die (figuratively, of course).

If all my TVs dissapeared for a week, I would probably be more productive but I would miss them. I also would be replacing them rather quickly.

Cheryl P. said...

You're so right about Showtime and their series. If you start watching any of them your stuck....like glue. Weeds in particular...who couldn't get drawn in. Did you watch the Big C. Another really edgy series that was funny as heck while being shocking and interesting.

Big Bang Theory is one of my favorite half hour sitcoms. I could watch those over and over again and they are still funny.

Cheryl P. said...

I was thinking even as I wrote that post, that at least a certain portion of men (and some women) probably watch sports in lieu of scripted tv or reality shows.

I am surprised with the kind of exposure that AI has that you could escape watching at least one espisode. I don't tend to watch a whole lot of reality type of shows but talent competitions hook me in.

When hubby and I first got married we lived in Chicago. They had local channels that had the greatest old movies...loved it. Now out of the 450 channels I get the movie line up is things Waterworld and Freddie Got Fingered.


Didn't you mention in at least one of your posts, that Muri had some favorite shows?

Cheryl P. said...

Much to my husband's chagrin, I play Whirly Word and Sudoku2 on my phone incessantly. I take wasting time very seriously.

Crack You Whip said...

I have a dear young friend (Jaycee Badeaux) who made it onto American Idol and that is the only reason I watched it. He wants to finish high school before trying again...so well-grounded.

I really should play catch-up on the show though!

BobS said...

I'm sorry. I was so busy catching up on all my TV viewing I didn't think to check out your site until now. ;>) My wife likes all the detective shows, and I love my wife, so we watch a preponderance of those types of shows. But, we tend to like the quirky ones, like Monk, Fairly Legal, The Mentalist, Castle, Body of Proof, etc. And we also watch some of the doctor shows and sitcoms; especially The Big Bang Theory. We have found that reality shows aren't. So we skip those.

We are not looking forward to the end of the Closer, but will be very interested to see how it ends. Sort of goofy I know, but it keeps us entertained.

Cheryl P. said...

What fun to know someone in the contest!!! Jaycee was quite the talent. I hope he does try again. At 15 it had to be a real learning experience for him. I have always wondered if appearing got a person enough exposure that they got opportunities from other interested parties. I hope Jaycee finds a way to use that talent of his.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Cheryl P. said...

That is so cute....why you watch detective shows. Hubby and I have gotten into a routine of sitting down after supper and watching our faves which do include most of those you mention. (we were intermittent Monk watchers, not that it wasn't good but there must have been something opposite at that time). But we do enjoy all the other shows you mentioned.


For the most part, I have an extremely low tolerance for most of the reality based shows. I have no excuse how I got interested in Celebrity Apprentice as I can't stand Trump but I get hooked on contest-type shows if I catch the beginning show of the season.

I, too am axious to see how they wrap up the Closer. Last season, they were heading in the direction of Brenda being villainized and disgraced. That creepy lawyer just keeps coming up with ways to ruin her. Maybe he will get killed off in a firey crash, huh????

BobS said...

It certainly makes you wonder.

Nicky said...

The only show I really follow is House. Hugh Laurie is BRILLIANT and I am so disappointed that they're taking it off. I don't think I've ever seen an episode of most of the shows you named - Gifted Man, Prime Suspect, One Tree Hill, Smash...

Btw, Pink Lady and Granny Smith made me choke on my tea :-)

Cheryl P. said...

The girls, Pink and Gran, hope your are OK.

See, you are so much more productive than me. I watch those and a few dozen more. True those are all going away but the new crop of summer replacements are going to hook me in also. Just not enough hours in the day for all the dinking around I do.

Junebug said...

I knew there was a reason we got along so well!!! I've been trying to cut shows out but then they went and got a great male cast for Celebrity Apprentice. Now, if they would just send Debbie Gibson home I would be happy. I was displeased with the weird arbitrary axing of Andretti.

I remember the abrupt ending of Reunion. So annoying. I have trouble getting into new shows because I'm waiting for my hear to be broken. I just know my current love affair with Alcatraz is going to end as well as a Jennifer Lopez marriage.

I gave up on American Idol this year. The Voice is so much better!!

My trying to quit new shows got thrown out the window again with Ashley Judd's new show, Missing. It was fantastic.

Cheryl P. said...

We do have so much in common...except I am older by far...and you have a baby bug and I have 2 big bugs. But we agree on A LOT of stuff.

Oh yeah...Debbie Gibson needs to GOOOO. She is just not fun at all. Also, agree with being irritated with Andretti being fired. I swear for a guy that is supposely a brilliant businessman, Trump doesn't read people well. He kept dogging Andretti for being a puss. That wasn't it, HE is A DRIVER that doesn't make him a spokesman.

Every season, I tell myself, that I won't get started with Idol but still I do. (kick, kick) Then I purposefuly, don't get involved with The Voice as there really are only so many hours in any day.

I didn't realize that Missing had started already. Now I have to play catch up.