# Three Hours of TV a week **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578 "2006-09-29T04:02:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/1 "2006-09-29T04:02:03Z")
I’m determined to cut back on my television consumption. I watch too much and waste too much in front of the boob tube. So I’m cutting back to three hours, all pre-scheduled. 1. Battlestar Galactica - 1 week from tomorrow season 3 premiers and I’m stoked. 2. House - I have to get my fill of bitter sarcasm. 3. Shark - It’s House but a Lawyer. Very fun. James Wood is great. That’s it. No more. Except for maybe football, but that doesn’t count. 😃 How about you, are you cutting back? – IG ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/2 "2006-09-29T04:53:44Z")
Yeah. I’m cutting down. Only Nova, Frontline, POV, Mystery! (sometimes), Great Performances, Nature, American Masters, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, South Park, Pac-10 football, Big 10/12 (whatever) football and whoever is playing Notre Dame on the hopes of seeing them lose, the Thursday nite game on ESPN (tonights was great!). Oh, and Nevada if its televised. But other than that, NOTHING! Except King of the Hill and Law and Order (back to back!) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/3 "2006-09-29T13:12:33Z")
I can’t. It keeps me company while I am quilting which is all evening. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/4 "2006-09-29T15:55:23Z")
I’ll probably be watching MORE since the days are getting shorter. My Tivo saves shows I like and I watch whatever I’m in the mood for. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/5 "2006-09-29T16:21:10Z")
I’m way ahead of you. Studio 60, Lost, Survivor. Oh, and Heroes. Blast. That’s four hours. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/6 "2006-09-29T16:39:18Z")
I didn’t intentionally cut down on TV viewing, but I found that I did cut down after I got a Tivo. My TV watching used to fall into two categories: watching TV because I want to watch TV now (during dinner, when I’m too tired to do anything else, etc) and watching TV because something I want to watch is on. Since I can watch anything from the Tivo at any time, those two are now the same, and I watch less TV overall. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/7 "2006-09-29T17:09:53Z")
I don’t actually watch TV a lot, but it’s on a lot. I use it as background noise while working on the computer at home. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/8 "2006-09-29T19:47:08Z")
I’m the same way. If I’m home I usually have the decorating channel on. The only shows I really watch are Project Runway, Top Chefs and 24, and the shows on HBO which are all on Sunday night. The rest I wait until they come out on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/9 "2006-09-29T19:49:32Z")
I think I need TiVo. I’ve watched a few good shows this season but I know I’ll never remember when they’re on. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/10 "2006-09-29T19:52:17Z")
Nope. Not much else to do between 8-11, since I have two kids that have to be in bed around 8:30 for school the next morning. If anything, I wish there were more things on during prime time that I wanted to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/11 "2006-09-29T19:59:14Z")
All I watch now are The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, and Venture Bros. (with Studio 60 and Heroes as “maybes” and Saturday Night Live if I’m home and awake). In January, my beloved Scrubs, 24, and The Shield will return, and Venture Bros. will be on another long hiatus after three more episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/12 "2006-09-29T19:59:17Z")
If I absolutely had to, I could pare it down to The Simpsons, Prison Break, House & Criminal Minds. 3 1/2 hours. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/13 "2006-09-29T19:59:37Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] 1. Battlestar Galactica - 1 week from tomorrow season 3 premiers and I’m stoked. [/quote] I am so with you on this…I can’t wait!!! Watching the “webisodes” on [Sci Fi Channel](http://www.scifi.com) stoked me even more! > [@Improv Geek](#): > > 1. House - I have to get my fill of bitter sarcasm. > 2. Shark - It’s House but a Lawyer. Very fun. James Wood is great. I must check out **Shark** , then. But since I also watch **House** for the “Hugh Laurie is sexy as hell” quotient I might not like it as much. > [@Improv Geek](#): > > That’s it. No more. Except for maybe football, but that doesn’t count. 😃 Whew!!! Good to know! I’m probably watching more TV now that I have in previous years, probably because I have my DVR. I still need to watch **Heroes** , and I’m also recording **Studio 60** , **The Nine** and **Boston Legal**. Plus I also want to check out **30 Rock** and **Eureka**. Could TV be getting…gulp…_better_?? ---
**Author:** ![Rebecca\_DiMwitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rebecca\_DiMwitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebecca_DiMwitter)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/14 "2006-09-29T20:19:28Z")
Just got rid of HBO since **Deadwood** was done with, so now I am down to **House** , and **South Park** when I can stay awake to catch it. I don’t ever use the TV as background noise, since I dearly love the silence which falls over the house when both sons are out and it’s just the cat and I, curled up on my bed with a book. This doesn’t happen often enough, of course. But wouldn’t miss a moment of it when it does! I do go to a lot of movies, and Netflix voraciously too (has “Netflix” become a verb yet or is that only in my mind?), so I suppose I am not missing too much “video” time. –Beck ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/15 "2006-09-29T20:38:20Z")
Starting next Friday: _Prison Break Battlestar Galactica Office / Earl_ Hopefully, something will be on break when _24_, _The Sopranos_ and _The Shield_ start. Fortunately, I don’t limit myself to 3 hours. More like 6 plus sports. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/16 "2006-09-29T20:46:27Z")
Maybe an hour, if I feel like a Simpsons rerun or two on the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/17 "2006-09-29T21:45:06Z")
Cutting back? No. It is football season and it is the only sport I enjoy and the only reason I have cable. When it is not football season, I rarely watch more than 2 hours a week anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/18 "2006-09-30T16:22:00Z")
I haven’t watched TV in over 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/19 "2006-09-30T18:01:40Z")
After sampling all the new TV shows, this is what my list looks like: ## Must Watch **House Boston Legal Lost Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Mythbusters** ## Promising Shows to Keep Watching (jury still out) **Heroes** ## About to Fall off the List **Shark Smith** I had high hopes for **Shark** , but the writing is letting Mr. Woods down. He’s awesome as usual but man, the writing on this show is weak. The courtroom scenes are unbelievable, with Deux Ex Machina endings and implausible manoeverings, the dialog is cliched, and every time the daughter is on the screen the plot grinds to a screeching halt. Too bad, because James Woods deserves better. **Smith** is another show I had high hopes for - a stylish crime drama with Ray Liotta? What’s not to like? Well, it’s slowly paced, has weak dialog, and just uninteresting. The most annoying thing for me is that these are sophisticated, high-tech thieves, but none of that comes across on screen. There’s a really, really interesting show buried in there somewhere. They could make good stories detailing capers, coming up with clever and realistic ways to break into things, cat-and-mouse stuff, etc. You know like Mission Impossible for Bad Guys, or the 70’s movie **Thief** with James Caan, which was compelling because it was done so believably. Instead, we’ve got soap opera plots and the heists have all the subtlety and sophistication of your average wrestling match. It lost me this week, and it’s off the DVR rotation. I find I spent a lot of my TV watching time with Discovery HD and PBS HD. I wish there was more programming, but what there is is great. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578/20 "2006-09-30T19:25:04Z")
I watch one to six movies a week via Netflix and may pop in a disc of \*Buffy the Vampire Slayer \*or \*Firefly \*from my DVD sets but otherwise don’t watch TV at all. Most of my free time is spent reading (although that’s generally during lulls at work) or surfing the internet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-hours-of-tv-a-week/374578.md?page=2)