Saw the latest issue of TV Guide at the checkout counter today. Haven’t bought or read a copy of it for at least 15 years, maybe longer. Found myself wondering, “How many people actually buy this thing and use it to plan their week’s TV viewing?” I mean, come on, don’t most people buy it for the glossy chitchat? It’s like a midget-sized People magazine.
Personally, I just muddle through with the listing that’s in the newspaper. So far I haven’t missed anything that caused me great mental anguish. (But I hate it when they move Smackdown around on Saturday night. Leave it alone, people! And don’t tell me, “It depends on the baseball game’s schedule.” Listen, Mr. Big Shot Programming Executive, Wrestling is more important than baseball–I think Smackdown should always come first. Hey, they can play baseball in the dark. That’s why they have lights.)
I use the TV guide to look up and see who is in this movie I just clicked across or what is the name of this old program that’s being rerun. And half the time they tell me the names of all the actors I already know (yeah, Jimmy Stewart, yeah, Donna Reed, but who is the old man with the funny laugh, damnit!) or the name of the movie only with no actors, or else the station changed broadcast at the last minute and that’s not what’s on. Or (worst of all) I am cursing the TV guide for having it all wrong and then I notice I am looking at the WRONG WEEK’S MAGAZINE!!!
Do people actually read that glossy chit-chat?
In Pocatello Idaho, long, long ago. I’d buy the TV guide when I wasn’t subscribing to the local paper. Yeah, I’d mark the guide for programs I might be interested in. So much for long-term memory.
Now that I’m in NJ where basic cable is more than 10 times that amount, I just get basic reception. 7 channels with little out there and thus no need for a guide.
kayT - You’re right, the TV Guide was about as helpful as a blindfold in a theater when it came to movie info. I solved that by getting the MovieHound’s Golden Movie Retriever. Great for cast lists, production info and synopsis.
I used to use TV Guide up unitl about 1 year ago. I have a satellite dish which has an electronic program guide (EPG) which has scheduling info (including plots, star, etc) up to 48 hrs in advance (as mentioned above). I also check out a website (www.tvgrid.com) which goes up to 2 weeks in advance. It also has search features, e-mail reminder, etc. Now that TVG is $1.79 a copy and doesn’t give plot summaries for all shows, it’s no longer a viable medium.
It’s always more correct for last minute show shuffles.
Also, as far as I can tell, it’s the only one that shows the one-line synopsis inside the grid. (E.g., Yahoo TV makes you push 4 more times and return, just to see the late nite show guests)
We used to get TV Guide when I was little, right after we got cable. The choices for viewing had suddenly expanded so much that we actually used it to see what was on. I remember seeing a commercial for an upcoming program, asking my mom if I could watch it, and her checking the TV Guide to see if it was appropriate.
We stopped subscribing after a year or two, but for years and years, before and after, my dad always used to buy the “Fall Preview” issue. That’s the one where they describe the new TV series which are premiering for the new season. My dad used to read the synopses and the cast listings and mark whether or not he thought they would last. He was usually right!
In the last few years, the only place I’ve seen TV Guide is in the supermarket racks and in hotel rooms. I don’t know anyone who buys and uses it.
People who don’t have a DSS receiver, or cable, or a computer, like my mother and soon myself. My mother use it to plan her TV viewing for the week and she reads it & does the crossword in the back too.
In the fall when this computer leaves with my b/f, I’ll have only the Sunday TV section, which is better than TV Guide for San Francisco, IMHO.
I’ll have only the Sunday TV section, which is better than TV Guide for San Francisco, IMHO.