We got our Nielsen diaries in the mail yesterday; we’re part of the statical universe for one week, beginning this Thursday.
The thing is…there’s not a damn tv show on the air I actaully watch in first run; likewise, Mrs. Rhymer pretty much ignores the box. (Oh, I occasionally watch Law & Order: SVU, but that’s it.) But I hate to just ignore it, so I’ll leave it to the Dope to decide what shows I, at least, will watch in prime time on my days off during this period.
To suggest a show, simply give its name, day & time of airing, and network, along with a brief explanation of why I should bother with it. Obviously if you want me to watch something Thursday night, you’d best reply before then. Contrariwse, if there’s a show you think I must on all accounts ignore, let me know that too. I will look over the responses and make my decisions based on (consensus) and (b) my own caprice. I may or may not actually watch the show in question, but in the interests of honesty I will at least have the TV on & tuned to the channel in question.
But be warned; unless you’re prepared to bribe me, I will on no account tune my TV to Two and a Half Men.
Jenna Elfman played a woman both brothers were trying to score with on a couple of episodes. After the nerdy brother had given her a massage and cooked her a fantastic meal, she said to him “If you had a TV on your forehead and could breathe through your ears you’d be the perfect guy.”
May I suggest the only three shows I watch with any regularity:
The Simpsons, Fox 8pm Sundays - A bit uneven in quality nowadays, but still well worth a look.
Reaper, WB 9pm Tuesdays - A very funny high-concept show about a Seattle slacker whose parents sold his soul to the Devil. The slacker captures dangerous escaped souls for Satan in order to win his own soul back.
My Name is Earl, NBC 8pm Thursdays - A wonderful ensemble comedy - I love this show. The last episode of the season (a one-hour special) airs this week.
How do you figure? I’m not going to list any show in the diary unless I am home when it is on in the same room with the television and the television is on. How does soliciting opinions on what shows to watch violate the agreement?
I’m inclined to watch Earl, as I have before, but I don’t think it needs a ratings boost. Does Betty need one? Is there any reason I should prefer it to Earl?
Not only that, but I am now an official non-believer in Nielson ratings (not that I ever believed in them that much anyway.)
This is at least the third or fourth thread over the years of someone being selected to become a Nielson family who rarely, if ever, watches television. While I am sure the Rhymer’s are nice people - hey, they’re Dopers! - it pisses me off to no end to think the future of shows currently on the air are decided by people who don’t watch much of anything to begin with.
No wonder good shows are cancelled and crap shows stay on the air forever.
And for the record, I like the show Two And A Half Men.
Geez…they might as well pick me to rate video games (the last one I played is Pac Man).
I did all I could to save Firefly. Um…in the sense that I bought the DVDs after it was cancelled. But I’d have watched it on the air, had I known about it?
Big Bang Theory, Mondays 8/7 central, CBS. Goofy comedy about 2 roommates who are physicists, their 2 geeky friends, and hot chick neighbor. Lots of nerd jokes, smartass comments. It’s a show I thought sounded really boring and lame but it is actually quite funny, and I would like to see it stick around.
Dirty Jobs, Discovery Channel, 9:00 PM Mondays. To paraphrase the intro - they take a look at the jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Sewage treatment, pig farming, coal mining, etc. etc. The host, Mike Rowe, doesn’t just stand around and watch everyone else works - he basically becomes an unpaid intern for the day and does the job right along with the real workers. And he’s hilarious, especially given that he has to adlib most of his lines.
And a bonus - it runs opposite 2.5 Men, so you’ll be striking a blow against them at the same time!
The Big Bang Theory and House make up my entire must see TV schedule. Please, please, please, do your part to help the only funny sitcom on the air since the first season of Friends.
Another vote for Big Bang Theory. I also watch Rules of Engagement with my wife, both these shows are among the very few shows we can watch together and I would very much like them to stick around.
You’re not even supposed to tell your friends and (non-household) family members. How do you think it’s ok to solicit requests from the entire internet?