Something terrible has happened. This last week, I discovered that I need to watch less TV.
No, I didn’t have some sort of epiphany about how I was wasting my life on the sofa, or decide that turning off the TV would reduce my carbon footprint. I simply ran out of time. Apparently, running two sites about television and doing a degree in Film & Television Studies means that I don’t have enough time left to actually watch the damn shows. That’s a cruel twist of fate, that is.
So, I had to make a choice — give up the blogs (never!), forget about school (not the most forward-thinking choice) or watch less TV. And so, as of this week, I am streamlining my viewing schedule, limiting my sofa hours to only those shows that I love. No more will I watch shows that just mildly entertain me, or ones I think I must watch just so I can write about them. It’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff.
FOX didn’t come out so well in my cleaning binge. Fringe was already off the list, but Prison Break and The Sarah Connor Chronicles are now in the waste pile, as well. By giving up these three shows, I not only save myself three hours a week, but also the additional hour required to make sense of the gaping continuity errors and inexplicable plots.
Reality shows are taking a hit, as well. Years after everyone else tuned out, I finally figured out that Survivor might have gotten a little repetitive. Despite not watching this season, I’m pretty sure there will be fights about who does the most work in camp and who betrayed whom, and lots of pretty people in bikinis will gang up on the old and weak. It’s like I’m psychic, it is. Surprisingly, I think I’m also done with Project Runway. I’m a little sad that it’s come to this, but after a season in which every challenge felt familiar and nearly every contestant was someone I wanted to slap repeatedly, it may be time to go our separate ways.
And, after trying to break up with Grey’s Anatomy for ages now, I think I’m finally ready for a trial separation. I was willing to give it one more chance after it made all those sweet promises to me at the end of last season, swearing that Meredith was over her issues. As soon as I relented, though, it started back up with the whining. Perhaps we’ll reunite if it ever grows up, but for now, I’m walking away. It’s about self-respect, you know.
I feel lighter. I feel a bit freer. I feel a bit less like an overgrown sloth. And, most importantly, I now have time for Dollhouse when it premieres in January. It’s about priorities, you know.
What about you? Have you decided to remove any old and stale shows in your own fall cleaning?
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I’ve given up on Prison Break. I’ll catch it on DVD when it’s done, if at all. If it gets another series I may not bother. I am giving Heroes another chance, but it’s hanging on by a tiny thread. I just don’t care about anyone, and the fact that people come back from the dead with such ease isn’t helping. It’s all fairly boring. I’m sure at one point it used to be good, but I haven’t felt excited about watching it in some time.
I’m still hanging on to Grey’s, but I haven’t seen the season opener yet, so may change my mind. I didn’t make it through the first episode of Fringe, even Pacey couldn’t save it for me. Poor Pacey.
True Blood has gone the same way, I just can’t take those vampires seriously.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
It’s funny, I’ve actually been trying to watch a bit *more* tv, but it hasn’t been working out so well. The only show I watch (and tape so I can re-watch), is Supernatural. I’ve been taping Fringe, but I just haven’t been able to make myself sit down and watch it. Same with “Sarah Connor Chronicles”. I know I’ll gobble up “Dollhouse” once it comes on, but really, everything else (besides Supernatural) tends to sit on the DVR, waiting to be watched. I’ve actually had an entire season of a show on the DVR, and decided to just delete it. Yes, I know that I’m strange. But face it, most shows nowadays can be kept up with by reading episode recaps.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I am apparently done with Smallville. I watched the first couple of episodes but then missed a few by being out once or twice and never caught up again. While they’re still recorded each week, I don’t even try, I just delete them straight away. The fact that Michael Rosenbaum was leaving was a huge influence; I don’t see how it will work without him.
I have tried to drop Ugly Betty but it’s like 5 minutes and you’re back there again. It’s still too much fun.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I think I went the other way, and instead didn’t pick up a single (new or new to me) show this year. Not even one episode. I was trying to cut down as well - sometimes I can’t keep up with the few I watch - but that didn’t go so well.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Carrie, I know what you mean about the True Blood vampires — they are very silly. I can’t help but love the show despite that.
Bex, I keep thinking that I’m not that interested in watching Ugly Betty anymore, but as soon as each episode starts, I’m sucked back in.
Rachel, honestly, you’re not missing much. With the writer’s strike, the networks have had months to come up with new programming, and this is the best they could do?
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Shamangrrl, I’m with you on the Supernatural love. That’s one I wouldn’t even consider giving up.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
If you look at 24’s broadcast time as a template, then every show you give up is a day of your life back. I am happy to say I have already regained almost a week last year by giving up 24 and Prison Break as well as a few other things (and continue to earn dividends on the fact that those shows continue to not clutter up my DVR). This year I regained a day for Sarah Connor Chronicles, Fringe and well actually I know there were some more things but obviously I don’t miss them enough to remember what I deleted off the hard drive and season passes.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Aww I love Ugly Betty, it always makes me smile. It should get some Pop Vultures love.
(But I am still in season 2, so maybe not).
October 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I did mst of my “Fall Cleaning” a couple years ago when I decided never to watch FOX again, and haven’t anything on it since the season finale of Arrested Development (sans a few football games). Same goes for The CW and Veronica Mars (sans Everybody Hates Chris).
In what had to be a first ever, none of the shows I watched last year got canceled but luckily none of the news show are worth adding so my TV time isn’t too muddled, but I may cut Heroes loose finally for quality reasons. I am actually rooting for the show to kill off Kristen Bell so I can pull the cord once and for all.