# television phenomenon
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 12, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059 "2000-08-12T03:00:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/1 "2000-08-12T03:00:10Z")
something i have noticed…
if i watch a particular show for the first time, and don’t watch that show again for a long time, the next time i watch that program i will see the same episode.
has anyone else noticed this?
why does this happen?
anyway, i need to go brush my teeth.
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### Author:  [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/2 "2000-08-12T22:41:23Z")
…i guess not.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/3 "2000-08-12T22:46:40Z")
I noticed this too. In fact it happened this morning while I was getting dresses for work. I was channel surfing and hit “Mad About You” where Paul Reiser was buying a new wallet (in the opening bit). I have seen this episode before and before and before…
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### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2000, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/4 "2000-08-12T22:49:18Z")
You’re not alone. I’ve seen the show _Hunter_ exactly three times in my life over the last 15 years or so. Every time it has been the EXACT same episode. (Don’t remember the inane plot, but there’s a chase scene that causes a gumball machine to break and spill gum everywhere.)
Same with _the X-files_, I’ve only seen it like three times, and everytime it’s the one where there’s supposed to be some sort of infestation (roaches?!? I forget) and Raisinets get spilled on the grocery store floor and everyone starts shreiking “Ahhhh! Roaches!”
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### Author:  [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2000, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/5 "2000-08-12T22:50:59Z")
But sometimes it will be years between my first viewing of a particular movie (joined after the first 15-30 minutes have already gone by) and actually being able to see the whole movie from one end to the other.
F’rinstance: I’ve seen “The Postman” twice. It was showing on TNT but I didn’t know it until I tuned to the channel and there it was – twenty minutes into the story. They did a reprise showing the next day. I didn’t know it would be on until I hapened to switch to TNT – twenty minutes after it had started. I got to see the same exact scene I saw the day before, right to the very second.
~~Baloo
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### Author:  [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/6 "2000-08-12T23:59:56Z")
The last few times I have gotten to sit down and watch South Park, EACH time it was the Chmpokomon episode.
Funny the first time…
Second, amusing…
Third, whats on ESPN?
Screeme
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/7 "2000-08-13T01:43:03Z")
I’ve watched a whole “Seinfeld” probably half a dozen times in my life.
I’ve seen the “Hellooooooo belly-button” episode at least three times.
I’ve seen even fewer “Mad About You” eps. But I’ve seen the “New Year’s Documentary” at least three times.
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### Author:  [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2000, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-phenomenon/29059/8 "2000-08-13T03:07:55Z")
There should be a name for that phenomenon. I generally chalk it up to the coincidence of my desire to watch TV and there being absolutely nothing on. (60-some channels and there’s _still nothing on_ - guess I’ll try that _Ally McBeal_ everyone’s talking about. Oh, wait - I’ve seen this one!)
But maybe my habits are just incredibly cyclic. Earlier today, I’m footling around and I turn on the TV. It’s _Bonnie & Clyde_. B & C have been shot and Bonnie is lying in a cornfield with C.W., waiting for Clyde to get the car. I turn off the TV, leave the house, footle around other places. I come home several hours later and come in to check my email. I turn on the TV. _Bonnie & Clyde_ is on. Bonnie’s lying in a cornfield…