"Oh, I don't watch TV."
Except that I totally do. I am in the habit of using that titular line occasionally in conversation, these days. And while technically true, it's a lie in spirit. I don't watch TV on TV. With the arrival of streaming TV and iTunes and such, I watch TV on the computer. And what's interesting for me is that I don't watch TV the way I used to.
Television was a passive medium when I was growing up. You might geek out with a friend over the latest episode of a certain show and then (as now) certain programs were cultural touchstones that facilitated casual social interactions but for the most part, you just plopped your butt down on the couch and consumed what you were served, largely in a vacuum.
The Internet has changed how I watch TV. Not just when, which is something that VCRs and Tivo started but the nature of the viewing experience. These days I follow a half-dozen or so programs. And part of my viewing experience, in fact, one of my favorite parts, is to the hit the recap sites and cast and crew blogs for those shows a day or two after the episode.
For my lamentable love of reality game shows (Top Chef, Survivor, Project Runway), the tidbits of off-camera gossip, opinions from the people who were actually there and analysis by former contestants is not unlike sports commentary. Interesting and adds a depth to the whole thing I find fun. And sites like TVgasm and Television Without Pity give me clever episode recaps and spirited conversations I don't get amongst my friends, who largely don't share my pitiful addiction. ("You hate Irina? My god! I hate Irina too! She's a total bitch. Yea, she's going to win, though. Because she's also the only one who can actually, you know, design stuff.")
For shows like Stargate, Heroes and FlashForward, I can read the cast and crew blogs and nod to myself, "Ok, I totally got that cinematic reference." And enjoy their version of the way they think the writers are going (or if writers, their take on how the actors and director handled their material)and chat with other fans about where we think the show is going. A large part of Josh Whedon's charm, for me, is that sort of 'Ah shucks, the straight... er non-geek ... people don't get me' quality of his writing when it comes to discussing his shows online.
The Internet killed my TV. But it made TV better by doing so. Go figure.
Television was a passive medium when I was growing up. You might geek out with a friend over the latest episode of a certain show and then (as now) certain programs were cultural touchstones that facilitated casual social interactions but for the most part, you just plopped your butt down on the couch and consumed what you were served, largely in a vacuum.
The Internet has changed how I watch TV. Not just when, which is something that VCRs and Tivo started but the nature of the viewing experience. These days I follow a half-dozen or so programs. And part of my viewing experience, in fact, one of my favorite parts, is to the hit the recap sites and cast and crew blogs for those shows a day or two after the episode.
For my lamentable love of reality game shows (Top Chef, Survivor, Project Runway), the tidbits of off-camera gossip, opinions from the people who were actually there and analysis by former contestants is not unlike sports commentary. Interesting and adds a depth to the whole thing I find fun. And sites like TVgasm and Television Without Pity give me clever episode recaps and spirited conversations I don't get amongst my friends, who largely don't share my pitiful addiction. ("You hate Irina? My god! I hate Irina too! She's a total bitch. Yea, she's going to win, though. Because she's also the only one who can actually, you know, design stuff.")
For shows like Stargate, Heroes and FlashForward, I can read the cast and crew blogs and nod to myself, "Ok, I totally got that cinematic reference." And enjoy their version of the way they think the writers are going (or if writers, their take on how the actors and director handled their material)and chat with other fans about where we think the show is going. A large part of Josh Whedon's charm, for me, is that sort of 'Ah shucks, the straight... er non-geek ... people don't get me' quality of his writing when it comes to discussing his shows online.
The Internet killed my TV. But it made TV better by doing so. Go figure.