I like to watch television, I really do. I know most of you do, too. But over the last year or so, I’ve realized that I had to cut out watching shows that I just must see. I don’t have a DVR, so if I watch TV, it must be live. I found that I was limiting social opportunities because I couldn’t plan things on certain nights/times because I would miss my shows. The hardest ones to miss, I found, were reality shows (Survivor, the Amazing Race, and American Idol), because I didn’t want to miss what happened each week.
I still occasionally catch 30 Rock, Numb3rs, or a CSI, but these don’t require me to watch every episode. I make them a treat for when I happen to be home at that time and don’t have anything else pressing. I also have started watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, because they come on during my typical dinnertime downtime and don’t require close, or regular watching.
There’s really only two exceptions: sports (for obvious reasons, but I only have to watch Big XII football and the NCAA tournament when they’re on) and in the summer, for SYTYCD because it IS the summer, and my friends like to watch it with me.
I don’t feel I need to cut TV watching out of my life completely, but I have limited it. I don’t have to watch TV everyday, and more often than not, I’d rather read than watch TV anyway. Since I’ve weaned myself off of must-see TV, I guess you could call me a TV weanie.
What show would you find to be the hardest to give up watching?
Without a doubt, “Jon and Kate Plus 8.” Hands down. However, I’m typically occupied with another activity, so I usually miss it anyway. Thank heavens for reruns!
I must admit I’m a TV junkie. Unfortunately it’s not really because I love what I’m watching at the time. It’s just a way for me to zone out and not really have to think for a while. It’s also company. However, I do have a couple of shows that I just can’t miss: House and American Idol. If I think I’m going to miss one I record it on my VCR…yes, they still exist and mine still works!
It’s a toss-up between LOST and The Office. Other than that, all I really watch is PBS and Fox News, the latter of which I am trying to cut down on.
Mine is probably the Office, but I DVR it because it saves 10 minutes or so. Seriously, on a 60 minute show, by skipping the commercials you can watch it in 42 minutes!
I’m pretty mucha weanie too. There really is no show that I have to see. I like to watch HGTV sometimes. We do have a DVR. Except right now I’m watching Count down to the Crown on TLC (Friday nights) because one of my best friends niece is Miss Alabama (Amanda Tapley). Beautiful and talented girl. Hope she wins!
♥
Joy
I don’t watch TV when programs are on anymore…I just watch shows on DVD so I’m always a season behind. But that’s okay, because I usually don’t have time to watch shows as they air. I’m a big Psych, House, and Monk fan. I also like watching sports on occasion (though watching my beloved Sooners play seems to end in sadness).
I don’t watch as much as I used to…but I do like a little reality TV from time to time.
We don’t have a TV either. Well. We have a *TV* but we have no reception for channels. So we live by DVD which is awfully convenient an only keeps us locked down for 20 minutes or so (for our favorite episodes – like Fraiser or Monk) and then we’re off and on our way again.
Even with DVR, I still have to limit the amount of shows I tape because I can only spend that much time each week watching TV, period, and I don’t want weeks and weeks piling up. So, I don’t take on too many. I would hate it if I had to miss Private Practice, 24, Prison Break or Lost.
As of last week, we got rid of our Direct TV and it is now only used for dvd’s. The shows we really enjoy watching is NCIS and Biggest Loser, but nice thing is we can get those on the computer. Feels good doing other things besides sitting in front of the tv everynight…like BLOGGing! :)
forgive my bad grammer…i know better!
right now Id be sad If I missed American Idol :( boohoo
I cant give any of them up. Im so addicted!!!
this is funny. i was thinking the same thing. i used to *LIVE* for certain shows. And I DO have DVR. Right after my divorce I DVR’d everything and then spent hours watching it to keep me busy. Then, i decided to get out more. I still DVR but i have started limiting what I record. The only show that I really ever got upset if it didn’t get recorded was “Men in Trees.” Don’t know why, but I just loved it.
Psych
Monk
House
24
The Unit
The office (really we are on the dvds, season 3 but I plan to start recording the newer ones)
I sometimes watch and sometimes dont Oprah and Dr Phil. I don’t have much time so I wait and when a bunch are recorded I skim through them to see if they will catch my attention and usually delete a bunch in the process
If I ever remember I’ll set it to record NUMBERS, I never catch it live. ugh!
I guess it would probably be pretty bad if I didn’t say: NCIS. Which really would be difficult.
There are very few shows I will drop everything and anything for to see. They are: NCIS, Criminal Minds and The Unit.
I watch WAY more TV than I should. I have to admit that I don’t watch reality TV. We have Tivo, though. It is, quite sincerely, the greatest invention EVER. My favorite shows: Lost, Battlestar Gallactica, 30 Rock (I adore Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, insane politics aside), How I Met Your Mother, and CSI. There are more, but those are my absolutely must sees. I don’t even know what time or day most of them are on because I never watch them live.
I have a DVR so I hardly watch anything live anymore. I record all the Law & Orders (the original, SVU and CI) but of course you know about my mad crush on Vincent D’Onofrio so that was a given. :)
Good decision, to limit your must see’s.
I will never forget reading somewhere, when I was about 11 or 12 years old – that if a person chooses watching a TV show over interacting with friends – they might just be boring – or anti-social.
But remember too… that when that article came out in 1982 – there were not as many programming options and they could not have predicted that people would start having ‘Friends’ parties and ‘Sex and the City’ parties – thereby making tv shows part of the culture and a social activity. Nevermind, discussing all these shows ad nauseum on the internet and at the water cooler.
But I still have to remind myself of that article. Because when times are a little tough, it’s sometimes easier to curl up on the couch than it is to put on a brave face and go out and make conversation.
Ugly Betty, LOST, and Grey’s! I love them :) But I love that abc puts them online so I dont feel like I miss out if Im not home!
Everything in my world comes to a screeching halt during Idol season. My kids do not even call me when it is on.
I enjoy the HGTV shows, but if I miss one, so what, there will be another tomorrow. Something like WoF or Jeopardy.
The only show I watch regularly is Project Runway, and that’s only on for about 15 weeks. The rest of the time the tv is off unless we have Fox News on while we’re getting ready for bed. We’ll watch sports occassionally if there’s a specific game we want to see. Some weekend nights we’ll watch The History Channel or something like that. It’s amazing how little tv we watch compared to several years ago!
I am a fiend for Desperate Housewives. I haven’t missed an episode in I don’t know how long. I’m GLUED to my tv during that hour. No talking except for gasps, goshes, and gah’s. I have a few shows that I must see – but DH is my #1!
I have shows that I really like to watch – Biggest Loser being the primary one. We (as a couple) also watch Supernatural, Lost, Life and Hell’s Kitchen. But with the advent of internet, typically, if we miss them we can go to the network websites and watch them.
Oh my, a SYTYCD fan? I love you! Last summer I alienated my entire (20 person) readership with my constant posts about SYTYCD…oh boy, this summer I’ll just alienate all of them but you. Hopefully. I’m counting on you now! :)