When I lived alone, in Peoria of all places, I did not have cable. I survived on Netflix, Bittorrent, and during my last 2 years Hulu. It worked fairly well, but things were just inconvenient enough that following more than three or four shows concurrently was unwieldy. Then I moved to NYC and started living with four other dudes, three TV's, two DVRs, and a dynamite non-strike TV season (Glee!). Combine that with a schedule that doesn't have much slack and things get hairy.
'Rational' folks might simply say: stop watching so much TV, or catch up on the weekend, DVR everything, cut down on your shows, and the patently ridiculous - wait for the DVD. Listen folks, none of those solutions are 100% feasible, even in combination. I'm at school almost all week, literally. TV time is my time and keeps me from imploding. DVR space is limited with 4 roommates. And wait for the DVDs? Do you start buying PS3 gear when the PS5 comes out? Yeah, didn't think so.
The only real solution I see is one of tough love: divorcing shows. There are plenty of quick wins with this strategy. Heroes sucked from the get go, and letting go mid-season 2 was a breath of fresh air to my schedule. HIMYM made it easy by sucking so much after season 3. Scrubs was a no-brainer once I woke up and realized how un-endearing Sac Breath Braff really was. Alas, these are but the low hanging fruit.
Cut off one show and two more shall take its place!
Powerhouses like House has proven a bit harder to quit. I keep going back to it, and even Tim Roth's Lie to Me has shown great tenacity. But I'm done with them. I can no longer tolerate Hugh Laurie or Dr. Lightman. But, there exists a fundamental problem with this hack and slashery.
Every time you cut out a show, those wily TV execs throw two more in your way. (eh eh, see how good I am with titles) After quitting House, Parks and Recreation popped into my rotation and brought The League with it just to add insult to injury. I mean fuck, when did TV Execs wake up and start making moderately entertaining shows with just enough laugh value to engage me? Goddamn you superior formula based programming!!!!
Even when shows cut themselves off (ATHF, Sealab 2020, Home Movies), new shit springs up to replace them (The Venture Brothers, Squidbillies, Metalocalypse). And don't get me started on the half/summer season shows on HBO/Showtime or delayed starts like Chuck. Ugh.
I'm not sure how to handle this ridiculous head/show proliferation, but it's only a matter of time before my entire week is devoted to TV and I become an indoor kid again, complete with orange Cheeto fingers.
In short: FML
hah! great Hydra comparison! Neal, i never knew you were versed in the ways of the Marvel serpent. it must have been all that David Hasselhoff, huh? or was it just the original Greek myth hydra?
what's FML?
oh yeah nick, i took more than one class in "the classics". I eat thisby and crap pyramus. nick fury ain't got ovid on me.
and FML is pretty self explanatory.
Your problem is you like crap.
Glee and The League are not good shows. Chuck isn't so good it needs to be taped every week.
HIMYM got back on track though.
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whatever samay.
Yeah, I watched The League and had to turn it off after 10 minutes. I couldn't stand it and this is from a guy who took second in his fantasy baseball league. (I would've had first first if it weren't for the damned pitcher pulling his groin!) But, I digress...The League sucks.
I agree with your assessment of ATHF, Sealab 2020 and Home Movies (God, I miss Home Movies). I guess its better to end on a high note than drag it out two more seasons.
Nothing is really tripping my trigger this season as a must see except for Venture Brothers. I hate to see the season progress as we'll have to wait another few years for the next season. My wife also bought the first season of Weeds. Strangely, I liked it and look forward to seeing more of it.
I'm pretty much a die hard Sience Fiction guy and even with the Sci-Fi channel (yes it will always be SCI-FI, not some stupid word play thing that panders to the need to abbreviate everything ala` texting), I'm still starving for quality shows. I'm very close to dropping Stargate Universe from my DVR rotation. They should have stopped after season 7 of SG1. I also have V on DVR but haven't watched it for fear of repeating the campy crap of the 80's.
I look forward to the HBO adaptation of George R. R. Martin's book series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Hopefully it will be good and get picked up for the duration of his series, if he ever finishes it. If it does it will be the one reason good enough for me to add premium channels to my cable line up.
Neal, try adding a portable hard drive to one of the DVRs to expand the memory. Then burn it to DVD for storage until you have time to watch it.
The League is cheeky and not 'good' -- fine. I will however stand up for Glee. I refuse to let any of you tell me that the Pilot's rendition of Don't Stop Belevin was anything less than fantastic.
Tom, the entire Adult Swim block has me stuck. If you like Home Movies - Metalocalypse is by the same dude but 500% different. I'm really hoping for some wild shit to happen this season on Venture Bros, last season left me wanting and General Hatred is a pretty piss poor replacement for Brock Samson.
And don't watch Weeds! You'll dig the first season, devour the second, and then be painfully disappointed by everything that comes afterward. I'm trying to save you the remorse of watching a great show self destruct.
Haven't tried V or the SG shows, and honestly I probably won't. I'm so salty over the Terminator fiasco that watching sci-fi on tv hurts too much. Between that and the horribly last seasons of BSG, I have become attuned to the idea that TV Execs hate science fiction. They actively hate it and produce it only as a joke on the ever loving public.
I do recommend premium cable though. I can't wait for Big Love and Breaking Bad to come back. Those shows are pretty clear illustrations that the world is FUCKED and we should all be looking out for ourselves. If that isn't an important life lesson, I don't know what is.
Also, I should probably stop watching so much TV.
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