Since my husband died TV and I have had an uneasy relationship. I have been trying to think why, and believe I may have the answers.
Okay, I’ll admit with the recent events in my life my concentration is less than in the past, but come on, even as an escape from my reality?
I suppose many of you would admit you have favorite shows, that for some reason or another, speak to you or your funny bone or maybe even your intelligence. I used to be that way...or rather we. How odd to think of we in the past tense. You know, it’s one of those things I guess we tend to take for granted, even when you had no idea that you were.
So last night I thought, I’m going to settle in and watch “Entourage”. I went into the kitchen to eat dinner (which is a whole other story). Once I finished eating I made my next morning coffee to be set on the timer, slipped into bed and grabbed the remote control. You have to remember I am a remote control newbie. It took about five minutes to figure out how to get to the DVR, and our pre-programmed shows. Good grief, they should have onscreen instructions, because my husband never saved the printed instructions. He should have as many times as I remember he cursed the newer remote. I now understand why!
“Entourage” ...well I watched for maybe eight minutes and realized I wasn’t paying any attention. That was one of our favorite shows...or was it? TV played a large part of our life, partially because it was a passive thing my husband could do. But was this something I would watch on my own? Certainly not last night, and I wonder about in the future, do I DVR them or not?
Then tonight I turned on TV while eating my dinner and flipped from the news, which I had seen earlier, to find the new season of “Survivor” was on. I couldn’t believe I was so clueless about the time of year, after all we had watched every season since the beginning of the series. I continued to watch as I ate, when after about ten minutes I grew tired with it. I think they had just been given bikinis. I love a buff body as much as the next person, but it dawned on me I didn’t know these people, didn’t care about them, and they were just...mean. How can I watch a TV show featuring mean or manipulative people for weeks upon weeks? I can’t.
Again, why did I tune in and think I would enjoy it? Because it is what WE did. This has been repeated over and over in the past few weeks. Now I fear there is nothing I can watch on TV.
This may have been proven in a stunning moment when I began to watch “Parks and Recreation”, with Amy Pohler of “Saturday Night Live” fame. As I watched I found myself thinking, this seems so familiar. A few more minutes, and it dawned on me, this was an unabashed rip-off of another successful, quirky show I used to watch; The Office. I turned off the TV in disgust.
This is what is wrong with TV today, in my opinion. First it began with the reality shows, one by one each channel began to add them, predictably they got more “sick” and meaner, all seemingly in an effort to grab audience ratings. From “Real House” to “Bachelor”, to “Real Housewives of Anywhere”... they are all way too predictable. I could understand “CSI Miami”, but does every big city need their own?
Anyway just one of the myriad of things that have changed, one that kinda bugs me and definitely frees me up for other things. Good thing I have music, cartooning...and crickets.
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Keka
Del Stone
PlannerDan
Myriad
Kerry Lauerman
jmac1949
Salon.com
Comments
Is it possible that you never really liked these shows, but you liked the time together, and so made the best of a variety of lesser evils?
rated because you're my hero
PlannerDan--Thanks my friend...I like doing them too!
Seriously, I wonder how many people have ever thought about the "we" conundrum, when a shared activity loses its lustre because it becomes a solitary pursuit.
Rated for your usual common sense. And the cartoon.
I am glad that you have other thing sto occupy your time while you "shift" your TV habits. Your cartoons are cute!
I have found a mere handfull of shows that are deep enough to make you think, well written enough to hold your interest, and entertaining enough to make you look forward to their airing. I have found these shows, for the most part, on networks like USA, FX, and even TNT. Shows like Fringe, Deep Blue, Supernatual are all good examples of quality writing and acting.
For the most part though, I find TV very useful to just have on when I go to bed as it lulls me right to sleep. Better than taking the Meds! Cheaper too!
Rated.
We're in different time zones but still, if you watch DWTS on Monday I'll be with you in spirit...
Network copy-cating and repetition isn't at all new... as I recall these series in related genres were introduced in close proximity, back in the day- WESTERNS: Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Big Valley, Paladin, Sugarfoot, Cheyene, The Rebel, Maverick, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, etc. DOCTORS: Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, Marcus Welby, M.D. VARIETY: Ed Sullivan, Hit Parade, Your Show of Shows, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore. SITCOMS: I Love Lucy, I Married Joan, Our Miss Brooks, Gayle Storm. Event Twilight Zone was quickly followed by The Outer Limits ...Once they get the formula...choices become highly limited. But at least the entertainment premises were once worthwhile...sigh.
Crickets sound far more enjoyable these days. Listen and hum along...XOXOX
-rated-
Crickets are a nice company, and your cartoons rock. Kisses!
Marcela
I tell you this, knowing that you know this. Forgive me.
I agree with our brother Torman and many of the others about contemporary television. There are only a few dramas I watch these days: "House, MD," "Criminal Minds," and that's about it. Reality shows? If I really need the distraction, occasionally "The Amazing Race," for the locations. I am, along with members of a tribe of aboriginals in Papua New Guinea, the last remaining human on the face of the globe who has not watched a single episode of "American Idol," not even the ones with Raleigh native Clay Aikens.
There are good shows on some of the higher channels on the cable dial, but my best advice when it comes to television is to learn and remember the location of the "OFF" button.
God bless you... you are in my prayers every night.
rated
On a more superficial level? I tried "Parks and Recreation" and it was just terrible. The "Office" on the other hand I love.
But on the nights when I'm really feeling battered? Nothing soothes like the familiar rhythms of REALLY old sitcom reruns. Take me back to Mayberry or New Rochelle with Laura Petrie. . . .and everything else drops away. . .
They say it gets better.
Hug
I never get my mitts on the remotes, so have no idea how to tune into anything on TV. But given the choice, I'm sure I'd probably conclude, like you, there is little worth watching anyway.
Your cartoons, our love of music and sharing our news are far more valuable pursuits. I think. It's so difficult when life changes in such a dramatic way, but your writing is certainly top quality.
Love you.
but there's good stuff on DVD (try Firefly if you've never seen it), and the ocean and sky provide great free shows if you're in a position to see them
So much for innovation!
I cannot say that I have endured your particular sort of pain. Mine has been a life of consecutive (mostly) intimate relationships with men, but I have always remained an independent woman. Not for any great desire to be "independent" but this was just how things worked out. I have been a student of your writing since you came here and admire you for many reasons, the least of which is your writing skill and I mean that in the best possible way.
What I am trying to say is how much I admire your ability to move from one life experience to the next and the way you sucked the positive out of it to use in the next. Never dwelling on the possible negatives of what you had been doing, always moving forward, bright eyed and ready for the next great opportunity.
This is a grand quality to have, one that probably can't be taught, I think it's probably innate, but the philosophy behind it can be shared.
Now your greatest challenge is in front of you. It's multi-faceted, your grief and personal growth, your moving on as the living must always do, in the face of your husband's death, that's facet number one. And you've got your son to worry about, a world of trouble and pain.
Lots on your plate dear Sheila. You're a woman of undeniable and crazy strong strength. Flex your muscles, take your time, breath deeply and revel in the beautiful mature woman that you are, that your experiences have helped you to become, and the woman the man you loved for so very long was ever so proud of and deserving of his love.
That's not to say I know what you are experiencing. I watch plenty of shows on my own, as does he. Like everything else you are learning anew, you'll find your way.
And I agree, the cartoons are great!
Here's to you finding you don't need to figure out that remote, or if you do, may you find something worthy of your time and intelligence!
But you mentioned CSI-Miami, which I occasionally watch, and continuously wonder why. I had to comment: I hate the color crap they do to it (tint it yellow to make everything look sunlit). I live in FL and love it, but it doesn't look like that ... unless you're really stoned. And I think David Caruso is way, way miss-cast, and unbelieveably over-rated. Have you ever noticed how often they shoot him with his hands on his hips, standing slightly sideways (you will now) ... and how they shoot him, camera up? All of that is to make him look taller ... no make that tall. He's about the size of my left leg; probably weights 120, wet. So when he talks tough, it's hard for me not to laugh ... that anybody would take him seriously. Now that's good acting ... not him; those around him for acting like they're impressed.
Anyway, watching TV is like water; it'll seek its own [new] level, and you'll find your tastes are maybe different than you thought. Or you'll get into movies like me, andf get lost in a fantacy that is 2 hrs long instead of having it fed to you in 30 minute to 1 hr increments. plus no commercial interruption. It "takes me away to where I'm going" without the expense of a sailboat. ;-0
I hope this writing is helping you deal with your grief. I like the way you're getting "out there" through your writing. When I went through my divorce, I made a call and went out with someone within a couple of weeks of the final decision. As far as dating went, I was comically inept, but getting out there helped me get over the hump. Hope the same happens to you with your writing.
We are TV junkies in our home, but never watch reality TV. We DVR Fringe, Law and Order (both the original and CI - the SVU is just dumb), the new series the Good Wife, Boston Legal and of course, The Office.
Perhaps eventually you will find your own 'coziness' in watching TV -or not. I like the comment that 'then you can spend more time on Salon'. Your posts are terrific.