# Anyone else completely ambivalent about t.v. these days? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009 "2010-11-17T18:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/21 "2010-11-17T21:41:10Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > It comes on Friday nights at 8 or 9 I think. I dvr it and watch it on saturday nights since there is usually nothing on. > [@Kyla](#): > > _Supernatural_ is on Fridays at nine, but if you’ve never seen it, you might want to set your DVR for the reruns on TNT on weekday mornings, because they’re running earlier seasons. I’m not sure how comprehensible the current season is if you’ve never seen it before - and if your only exposure is through shipping wars raged via F!S, you may be surprised to learn that none of the main characters are in sexual relationships with each other. :rolleyes: Friday, eh? I think I’ll check it out this week. I don’t have cable (and didn’t have it growing up, a happenstance that probably contributed to my not caring much for TV). It may be worth it just to have a new slash universe to read. Due South and The Sentinel are a bit… dusty. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/22 "2010-11-17T21:51:40Z")
Monday: House, Lie To Me, Castle Tuesday: NCIS, Stargate Universe, Sons of Anarchy Wednesday: Terriers Thursday: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League Friday: I would catch Caprica, and then Sanctuary, but the first is now cancelled, and I’m iffy on the latter. Sunday: Walking Dead On hiatus: Justified, Breaking Bad, Rescue Me Somewhat interesting: NCIS L.A. Big Bang Theory (this actually looks promising, I just haven’t given it the attention it probably deserves) Raising Hope No Ordinary Family ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/23 "2010-11-17T21:59:25Z")
I am, but I kind of blame Tivo, as curious as that seems. I upgraded to a 1TB disk and it started recording like mad. Then I missed a few weeks of various shows and just never bothered to watch them. Now there’s like, 8+ weeks of House, Chuck, etc… episodes and I find I just don’t care enough to put in the effort to watch them. Trying to watch a whole season of Dr. Who (for example), just seems like too daunting a task. It would take me probably 50-80 hours just to watch the things on the Tivo that I actually asked it to save, much less the recommended stuff. Who has that kind of time to devote to TV? ``` So weirdly enough, if I happen to catch the show during its original airing, I'll sit and watch it, but I'll seldom bother watching the Tivo'ed version. ``` ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/24 "2010-11-17T22:16:54Z")
We still watch a few shows but we’ve become pretty selective. Thanks to HBO we are a little skittish about investing time into new shows. The one hard and fast rule I have is that a show must be commercial free or we have to watch it from the DVR. Watching TV is enough of a time-waster without wasting even more time with commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/25 "2010-11-17T22:24:03Z")
I am totally off TV. Other than “The Big Bang Theory” and the “S%#( My Dad Says” (or however it’s spelled) and “The Simpsons” I don’t watch new stuff. I like sitcoms and those have become rare, I will watch old reruns on WWME-CA (Me-TV) in Chicago. I hate toilet humour and TV has seem to become a challange to see how many bodily functions you can get into 22 minutes. But then again, it could be I’m getting old. I stopped listening to music around 1995 when R&B and Hip Hop became the mainstream in popular music. I remember my folks saying, “TV is junk” and “I hate your music” now I’m saying it so it’s probably just getting older ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/26 "2010-11-17T22:25:42Z")
I think there are some really great shows on television now: These are some of my all-time favorites: Breaking Bad Dexter Fringe Community Psych I’m also really enjoying: Glee Castle Stargate Universe Burn Notice Eureka Warehouse 13 The Walking Dead Chuck True Blood Covert Affairs And a few reality shows: Mythbusters Top Chef Survivor The Amazing Race Not all high-brow stuff, but good entertainment doesn’t necessarily have to be. There’s certainly a lot of crap on tv as well, but that may just be the consequence of having so many channels competing for the audience. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/27 "2010-11-17T22:27:29Z")
So it’s **your** fault that _Terriers_ has low ratings! Seriously, watch that show, FX Wednesdays at 8 CST. Sepinwall loves it and you know his judgment can be trusted. To answer the OP, yeah (except for _Terriers_). I’ve dumped the premium channels – first time in years that I haven’t been excited about something on HBO or Showtime. I’ll get the DVD for _Terriers_ and _Raising Hope_, but my longtime favorites don’t interest me anymore. I agree with **Stranger on a Train** that many American shows are produced way past their sell-by date. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/28 "2010-11-17T22:32:17Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > There is some great television being produced, but not by the major networks. > > Stranger As I find that I mostly agree with your opinions about pop culture, I would like to hear what tv shows you like, in case I missed any. I take it that the British shows you mentioned are worth watching? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/29 "2010-11-17T22:34:03Z")
I haven’t really watched a series in years. I watch TDS, Colbert, and Antiques Roadshow and an odd special or two. We found that watching a series on DVD from Netflix is much better - you don’t miss random shows, and watching 3 or 4 in a few days helps with the continuity. That more than fills up our TV watching time - and streaming from Netflix works fine if we are between disks. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/30 "2010-11-17T22:42:15Z")
Yeah, I’m almost completely ambivalent. I generally still keep up with _South Park_ and _Futurama_ by watching the episodes online (don’t have cable). Sometimes I’ll watch _The Simpsons_ or _Family Guy_ on my actual TV if it’s a new one. I really have no clue about most TV from the past 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/31 "2010-11-17T22:44:42Z")
Do you know where you are? This is land of everyone competing to out-I-don’t-watch-TV you. I’ve had TV, have gone without even owning one for years, have had cable/satellite, and currently only have a digital convertor box, so I only have regular network programming at home. I can list on one hand the few shows I make a point of watching. Even shows that I kind of like, I’ll watch if I’m home when they’re on, if I’m not doing something else, but I don’t really follow much on television anymore. Occasionally someone will ask me if I watch Show X, and when I say yes, they want to talk to me about. “Do you remember in episode 2711-G when Nancy did…” bla bla bla. Umm, no? I mean, I watch it, but I don’t _watch_ it. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/32 "2010-11-17T23:15:13Z")
Thanks to Tangent, I’m reminded of a few shows I left off: Burn Notice In Plain Sight Warehouse 13 Psych I watched Eureka regularly until a few seasons back, when it just sorta dropped off my radar; when I came back, Thing had Changed, and I was lost. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/33 "2010-11-17T23:18:17Z")
Yes! I can hardly stand to watch it. I sort of like Criminal Minds and The Big Bang Theory, and I’ll put on a lame sitcom but find myself doing something else instead of watching it. Always. That one with Courtney Cox isn’t bad, and that something Family one with the guy from Married with Children isn’t bad, either. Oh, and Mad Men. I think I have my TV just for the, what?, 12 hours a year Mad Men is on? (I have basic cable, no HBO or other “fancy” channel.) Commercials are what killed it for me. I often lose interest in a show once commercials interrupt it. I think I’m done with TV. Time to cancel the cable. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/34 "2010-11-17T23:27:33Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I am totally off TV. Other than “The Big Bang Theory” and the “S%#( My Dad Says” (or however it’s spelled) and “The Simpsons” I don’t watch new stuff. > > I like sitcoms and those have become rare, I will watch old reruns on WWME-CA (Me-TV) in Chicago. I hate toilet humour and TV has seem to become a challange to see how many bodily functions you can get into 22 minutes. > > But then again, it could be I’m getting old. I stopped listening to music around 1995 when R&B and Hip Hop became the mainstream in popular music. > > I remember my folks saying, “TV is junk” and “I hate your music” now I’m saying it so it’s probably just getting older NOOOooooooo!!! Ditch tv, fine. But no music?! _Really?!?_ ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/35 "2010-11-17T23:53:55Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > Friday, eh? I think I’ll check it out this week. I don’t have cable (and didn’t have it growing up, a happenstance that probably contributed to my not caring much for TV). It may be worth it just to have a new slash universe to read. Due South and The Sentinel are a bit… dusty. Well, it certainly is slashy. To the point that my best friend - who wasn’t even aware of the existence of slash until I told her about it - loudly encourages to make the characters to make out during emotional moments. Shockingly, they have yet to follow through on her advice. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/36 "2010-11-18T00:37:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyone else completely ambivalent about t.v. these days? Yes and no… ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/37 "2010-11-18T03:45:40Z")
I watch _The Good Wife_ & _Cougar Town_, which both started last year. There are new shows I liked well enough when I saw them (_The Defenders_ is cute for its form, _Better With You_ is pretty funny), but I haven’t really kept up with them. I’m online a lot now. Which response should be overrepresented when asking a question like this _on an online forum._ I was watching _Legend of the Seeker_, but it ended. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/38 "2010-11-18T05:44:10Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Anyone else completely ambivalent about t.v. these days? Yes! I am so glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. Not a single new show this fall has kept my interest. I’ve deleted so many DVR season passes I’ve lost count. Also, I have quite a few shows that are on the bubble of being deleted. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/39 "2010-11-18T08:17:36Z")
I think you’re all nuts. TV is as good as it has ever been, especially on cable but even the networks are bringing it. I’m particularly happy about the resurgence of the sitcom, this time (largely) without canned laughter. (CBS is the lone holdout on that front.) All three networks have staked out a complete night with a 2-hour block of watchable sitcoms: CBS on Mondays, ABC on Wednesdays and NBC still holding Thursdays. CBS is even encroaching on Thursday night, and Fox has one lone watchable sitcom on Wednesdays. (Plus cartoons on Sunday for people who like cartoons.) That’s 14 watchable sitcoms each week to choose from. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009/40 "2010-11-18T09:32:42Z")
I too sort of trailed off watching TV a few years back… what I do watch now is either on DVD or downloaded. And that’s only a few shows. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-completely-ambivalent-about-t-v-these-days/561009.md?page=3)