boob tube revisited

Remember how I said I was going to leave the boob tube behind? Well, I did, and at about the right time as a certain pop star had just died and I figured that if he got anywhere near the amount of media attention Anna Nicole Smith did (and I'm assuming he got even more), then I wouldn't be turning the TV on even if I did still have one. And I did what I said I would do (read, radio, and blog a bit more consistently), and didn't miss the TV at all. Okay, it helped that I could still watch Coronation Street online, but basically, I was out of the TV-loop and felt just fine. But.

But tomorrow night is the season premiere of House and I LOVE Hugh Laurie! In fact, all the season premieres seem to be happening this week or next (like Amazing Race!), and all of a sudden yesterday, I felt a bit bereft. So like a person possessed I spent hours on the Internet trying to see what I could catch online. And some shows, like Fringe, I do have access to, but American channels like Fox won't stream videos if you don't live in the United States. That leaves certain sites where you can download if you pay, or having to sift through sites that make you register, view ads, or take chances with possible viruses and spyware. And my reasons for not having a TV still stand: don't want to pay for cable, don't have room, and don't have the discipline to not use it as a tool of distraction. So what was I doing perusing Craigslist and Kijiji for 13" TV's? Snort. But no, I've decided to try to continue my TV-fast, although I can't ABSOLUTELY guarantee I won't be running over to someone else's house to watch House. :)

Comments

[Krissa]

The Amazing Race is still on? ... Nick loves House, too. I liked it ok. I was really sad when I found out that I couldn't watch my shows online in Germany, but I think I wrote that before. I don't mind not having a tv here, but if I were still in the US, there would be NO WAY I could live without my tv. No way, no how.

[Donna Freedman]

No harm in watching it with someone else, is there? You could make a party of it: Everyone who loves the show bring a snack to share and show up at the home of the person with the comfiest couch.
I haven't had a TV since March 2004, when I left my marriage and moved to Seattle. For about 10 months my daughter and I shared a place, and I watched TV with her. After we moved into separate digs, I watched very occasionally at her place. For the past four years, though, I have probably watched less than half a dozen times a year -- just too darned busy.
Although I like shows like "Mythbusters" and "Deadliest Catch" (and, yeah, "House"), I find that for me television is like any other guilty pleasure: I enjoy it when I get it, but I can go for months without having it again. Kind of like cheesesteaks: When I visit my dad I'll eat a cheesesteak every day, but then I won't get one for a year -- but I'll live.

[have gone vegan]

Indeed Krissa, Amazing Race is still on. Amazing eh? ;)

Great idea Donna! And while we didn't exactly make a party out of it (although I did bring homemade cake!), I ended up watching House with my brother and sister-in-law. It was a great episode too, and maybe made more fun by being able to watch and discuss it with others. In fact, I'm planning to pop by next weekend to see Amazing Race too. :)