# Fantasy TV -- Couch potatoes, here's your chance **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522 "2005-01-19T13:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/1 "2005-01-19T13:04:50Z")
A few of us have been playing [Fantasy TeeVee](http://www.fantasyteevee.com/home.php) over at this site. (Hey! the Jelaza who’s tied for third on the list of top scorers of the week is the SDMB’s very own **Kat**! WTG, Jelaza/Kat!) The season is almost over, and we need to get organized for the next season. We need an even number of players for our league, and I’m guessing **Neko** , who we tricked into playing a second time, ain’t gonna bite for a third – so we need one or three players. Or more – I’d be happy to start a second league if there’s interest! **Rubystreak, Jelaza** – could you chime in here and gush about how much fun this is? Seriously, the three of us are definitely enjoying it – it’s like fantasy football, only with TV shows. If you’re thinking “well, okay – but I don’t want to go up against people who have been doing this for months” – yeah, there is a learning curve, but I’d be happy to offer a few tips to help you get your feet under you. And it’s really, really fun. My friends have learned to ask “so how are you doing in Fantasy Teevee,” if not to care about a detailed answer. 😉 If you’re interested, email me at twickster47 at yahoo dot com. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/2 "2005-01-19T14:51:28Z")
I’ve been playing this game with Jelaza and twickster for two seasons now, and lemme tell ya, it’s quite addictive. You don’t have to watch any of the shows in order to win (I watch very few of the ones I play in the game) and the game site provides enough information to play. If you decide to give it a try, I promise to give you tips and strategy ideas to help you do well, since there are some tricks to the game that help you win. Please join us! ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/3 "2005-01-19T15:05:36Z")
Hmmm. I like TV. And Fantasy. And Couches. And potatoes! Tell me how this works. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/4 "2005-01-19T15:35:29Z")
Check out the link – it’ll do a better job of explaining than I can. Briefly: each person chooses a certain number of “players” for his or her team. These players are a combination of lead and supporting characters from the shows the league covers, plus what are known as “quirks” (The use of a subtitle on _Amazing Race_; someone screaming or running on _Lost_; someone using a cell phone on _24_, etc.). Once you’ve chosen your team (and you can add and drop characters/quirks as you see fit), you set a lineup for the five-night week, choosing four leads, three supporting characters, and two quirks distributed with no more than two players for each night. Then, the Official Watchers watch the shows, and give points for number of minutes onscreen, number of times the character’s name is used, number of kisses (we’re doing real well with Susan and Mike on _Desperate Housewives_ these days), number of drinks, minus number of times they swear, add a Nielsen bonus for top-rated shows – and voila! You get points! It’s fun. No, really, it’s fun. And addictive. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/5 "2005-01-19T15:43:41Z")
Oh. I thought it was more like a ‘Create your own Fantasy TV schedule, see how you do in virtual ratings’. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/6 "2005-01-19T16:06:41Z")
It is create your own schedule, but it’s more like rotisserie league football-- you pick your characters from a roster of TV shows (picked by the league administrator, me and/or **twickster** ) and quirks and pit them against the characters and quirks your opponent is playing on the same night (you can play 1, 1, or 2 characters/night). Each week you play a different member of your league, until Sweeps. Scoring: they tally things like the number of minutes your character is onscreen, how many times his name is said, if he drinks, swears, or kisses anyone, and the show’s Nielsen ratings. You get a total number for each of the characters and quirks you play that night, and if your combined total is higher than your opponent’s, you win the night. The person who wins 3 or more of the 5 nights wins the week. During Sweeps, you play against all the players in your league, and can play as many characters as you want per night, not just one, so the strategy is different. The person who has won the most weeks is seeded highest, then second highest, etc. You get a seed bonus added to your nightly score, which can make the difference. It really is cool and addicting. I got the hang of it pretty quickly, but it’s only really fun if you be sure you give it a little time on Sunday when it’s time to change your weekly schedule. Us competitive types like all the strategizing. **twickster** is my nemesis! 😉 You could try it for one season and see if you like it… ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/7 "2005-01-19T16:27:00Z")
Maaaybe… I’ve never played Fantasy Sports Leagues before, is this how they do it? The criteria just seem… odd. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/8 "2005-01-19T16:33:04Z")
Yeah, it’s definitely a little odd – I think you have to play to see whether you like it or not. Some people don’t – we had six people in our league the first season, and four the second – and as I said, I think we’re down to three. (“Nemesis,” indeed, **rubystreak** – so how come **Jelaza** ’s on the top ten list and we’re not? 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/9 "2005-01-20T06:21:55Z")
I sneaked ahead while you two were busy nemesis-ing each other? 😉 It’s not as difficult as it sounds. You don’t even need to watch the shows to determine who’s a good pick and who’s not. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/10 "2005-01-21T14:42:02Z")
No, definitely not difficult. And we’ll help you get started. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze – anyone – ??? ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/11 "2005-01-21T14:52:23Z")
Is there a deadline to get involved? I haven’t had the chance to look it over in detail. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/12 "2005-01-21T15:10:04Z")
Nah, I think if we knew by early next week, we’d be good to start the following week. Just think – three people giving you tips – not all of which would be in total conflict with each other… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/13 "2005-01-25T14:30:23Z")
Last chance… ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/14 "2005-01-25T14:41:34Z")
Maybe next season… City of Heroes and my movie-watching keep preventing me from doing much web-browsing from home. I haven’t even updated my website in over two months… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/15 "2005-01-25T14:47:31Z")
No prob – I suspected you were sliding towards a “no.” Hard to imagine you wouldn’t want to pick up another time-consuming online obsession, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jmizzou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/edb3f5/32.png) [@jmizzou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmizzou)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/16 "2005-01-25T15:09:44Z")
Sounds fun to me. I’ll give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/17 "2005-01-25T15:22:35Z")
Woo hoo! You da man! Woman! Whatever! Email me – twickster47 at yahoo dot com. And **Rubystreak** and **Kat/Jelaza** will be along soon to join me in doing the Welcoming Dance of Joy. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-tv-couch-potatoes-heres-your-chance/285522/18 "2005-01-26T04:15:46Z")
Woohoo! Welcome to the League, **jmizzou**.