Let's get lost tonight
Sep. 19th, 2007 02:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penfield[UPDATED 9/21 under "Friday Night Lights"]
My lovely live-in girlfriend, J., perhaps acknowledging that I will be subjected to multiple unplanned viewings of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Project Runway" on our television this season, has agreed to be educated in one of my preferred television programs so that we can share it together.
This would require a commitment not only to share in all of the new episodes, but also to take a crash course in all the previous episodes, presumably on DVD.
Cycling through the possible choices, I realize that I'm not as much of a fan of TV as I used to be. It's pretty easy to narrow her options down, even among shows that I like:
The Office -- this is already one of our "couple" shows, to the point where we get angry when one person watches a new episode without the other person.
House -- a good show, but there really isn't enough backstory or mythology to make it worth slogging through three prior seasons. A person could jump into the middle of any season, like I did, and not really miss anything.
Numb3rs -- see "House." Heck, *I* don't even watch this show every week.
Heroes -- this is another show that we have watched together, only I was so disappointed by the first season finale that I'm thinking of getting out altogether.
24 -- in much the same way, last season soured me. Plus, I want to be able to watch the old episodes along with her, and even though they're fast-paced, there's just not enough nuance for me to want to sit through all those past seasons again.
Smallville -- what is this, its 18th season? Okay, it's only the 7th season. But it feels like it took decades for Lana Lang to get her first clue. Anyway, there's just too much in the can already, and not enough of it was very good.
Scrubs -- I'm ambivalent about this show, because I think it's funny and innovative, but it has also become sort of obnoxiously proud of itself. Five years ago, it was amusing to watch the juvenile misadventures of a doofus fresh out of medical school. Now it's kind of embarassing watching this schmuck in his early 30s flailing around, even if some blowhard still inexplicably calls him "Newbie." I just don't like it enough.
That leaves three choices, all very different:
Friday Night Lights -- This show only debuted last year, to the delight of most television critics and about 12 television viewers. Even ESPN's Bill Simmons, whose lifestyle and tastes I generally liken to that of Neanderthal Man, is pleading for people to watch it. I doubt it will help much, and the shutout at the Emmys will help even less, but I have high hopes.
UPDATE: This plea to save "Friday Night Lights" was published way back in April, when NBC decided to pick up the show for Season 2.
PROS:
- Emotionally powerful writing and performances will easily resonate with her sensibilities
- Just one season to catch up on
- Doing my part to increase viewership; could singlehandedly create a groundswell of support
- Friday night airtime perfect for J.'s "Friday Night Couch Potato" mandate
CONS:
- Sports angle will be a tough sell, especially during a season in which I will already test her patience with the amount of football on TV
- Might be cancelled before I am finished writing this
Lost -- This is probably my favorite show on TV right now, even if last season's finale had me scratching my head, wondering where the hell they're going. It has all the stuff you want in a show: humor, pathos, action, even the occasional spine-tingling. It will start its fourth season in February 2008, so if she's going to catch up on this show, she'd better do it now.
PROS:
- Contract with ABC guarantees episodes for three more seasons
- Delayed premiere this season provides plenty of time to catch up
- I kind of want to watch the first few seasons again anyway; the first season in particular is excellent
- Viewership will allow J. to participate in heretofore unaccessible water-cooler discussions
CONS:
- Requires investment of time, as well as past DVDs
- Endless mysteries may drive J. absolutely nuts
Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- I hesitate to include this since it isn't on TV anymore and therefore really isn't in keeping with J.'s original offer. But I do have all the DVDs from Season 1-5. And I still think it's one of the best shows ever (at least through season five). It is considered culturally relevant enough -- like Seinfeld, the Simpsons and Harry Potter -- to have inspired a book about the show's relationship with philosophy.
PROS:
- Known quantity and quality
- Cost-effective
- No time pressure
CONS:
- Could do this anytime, really
- I've already seen all the episodes like five times each
So, dear readers, if there are any of you left out there, help me out:
Thank you.
My lovely live-in girlfriend, J., perhaps acknowledging that I will be subjected to multiple unplanned viewings of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Project Runway" on our television this season, has agreed to be educated in one of my preferred television programs so that we can share it together.
This would require a commitment not only to share in all of the new episodes, but also to take a crash course in all the previous episodes, presumably on DVD.
Cycling through the possible choices, I realize that I'm not as much of a fan of TV as I used to be. It's pretty easy to narrow her options down, even among shows that I like:
The Office -- this is already one of our "couple" shows, to the point where we get angry when one person watches a new episode without the other person.
House -- a good show, but there really isn't enough backstory or mythology to make it worth slogging through three prior seasons. A person could jump into the middle of any season, like I did, and not really miss anything.
Numb3rs -- see "House." Heck, *I* don't even watch this show every week.
Heroes -- this is another show that we have watched together, only I was so disappointed by the first season finale that I'm thinking of getting out altogether.
24 -- in much the same way, last season soured me. Plus, I want to be able to watch the old episodes along with her, and even though they're fast-paced, there's just not enough nuance for me to want to sit through all those past seasons again.
Smallville -- what is this, its 18th season? Okay, it's only the 7th season. But it feels like it took decades for Lana Lang to get her first clue. Anyway, there's just too much in the can already, and not enough of it was very good.
Scrubs -- I'm ambivalent about this show, because I think it's funny and innovative, but it has also become sort of obnoxiously proud of itself. Five years ago, it was amusing to watch the juvenile misadventures of a doofus fresh out of medical school. Now it's kind of embarassing watching this schmuck in his early 30s flailing around, even if some blowhard still inexplicably calls him "Newbie." I just don't like it enough.
That leaves three choices, all very different:
Friday Night Lights -- This show only debuted last year, to the delight of most television critics and about 12 television viewers. Even ESPN's Bill Simmons, whose lifestyle and tastes I generally liken to that of Neanderthal Man, is pleading for people to watch it. I doubt it will help much, and the shutout at the Emmys will help even less, but I have high hopes.
UPDATE: This plea to save "Friday Night Lights" was published way back in April, when NBC decided to pick up the show for Season 2.
PROS:
- Emotionally powerful writing and performances will easily resonate with her sensibilities
- Just one season to catch up on
- Doing my part to increase viewership; could singlehandedly create a groundswell of support
- Friday night airtime perfect for J.'s "Friday Night Couch Potato" mandate
CONS:
- Sports angle will be a tough sell, especially during a season in which I will already test her patience with the amount of football on TV
- Might be cancelled before I am finished writing this
Lost -- This is probably my favorite show on TV right now, even if last season's finale had me scratching my head, wondering where the hell they're going. It has all the stuff you want in a show: humor, pathos, action, even the occasional spine-tingling. It will start its fourth season in February 2008, so if she's going to catch up on this show, she'd better do it now.
PROS:
- Contract with ABC guarantees episodes for three more seasons
- Delayed premiere this season provides plenty of time to catch up
- I kind of want to watch the first few seasons again anyway; the first season in particular is excellent
- Viewership will allow J. to participate in heretofore unaccessible water-cooler discussions
CONS:
- Requires investment of time, as well as past DVDs
- Endless mysteries may drive J. absolutely nuts
Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- I hesitate to include this since it isn't on TV anymore and therefore really isn't in keeping with J.'s original offer. But I do have all the DVDs from Season 1-5. And I still think it's one of the best shows ever (at least through season five). It is considered culturally relevant enough -- like Seinfeld, the Simpsons and Harry Potter -- to have inspired a book about the show's relationship with philosophy.
PROS:
- Known quantity and quality
- Cost-effective
- No time pressure
CONS:
- Could do this anytime, really
- I've already seen all the episodes like five times each
So, dear readers, if there are any of you left out there, help me out:
Thank you.
T.V. Shows
Date: 2007-09-24 12:14 am (UTC)MOM
Re: T.V. Shows
Date: 2007-09-24 02:44 pm (UTC)People are always telling me about Family Guy. I'm sure it's great -- it sure was when it was called "The Simpsons."
How can you say "they should force prisoners to watch" Buffy, when you've just said that you have never watched it yourself?
RE: Project Runway -- I've seen bits and pieces of this show, and while the entire topic (couture fashion) is the height of utter ridiculousness, the show is modestly entertaining. It is my opinion, in general, that reality TV is cheap garbage.
Re: T.V. Shows
Date: 2007-09-25 03:28 pm (UTC)On another note, is everyone else too busy to reply to your blogs? C'mon people!!
Re: T.V. Shows
Date: 2007-09-27 02:26 pm (UTC)