# We're A Nielsen Family! So what should I watch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399 "2004-01-28T07:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/1 "2004-01-28T07:18:55Z")
A few weeks ago we got a call asking if we wanted to be a Nielsen family. We got the log book yesterday. So, Dopers, how can I distort the television industry? We really don’t watch all that much TV. I’m not going to start watching prime time crap. I thought about putting the TV on the NASA channel 24/7, but that’s too easy. We have satellite, but we don’t have any premium channels. I do watch the Daily Show already, so that’s easy. We watch a couple of obscure things also, like the Horse TV channel. (My daughter is a rider.) What other cool stuff should I watch this week? Especially, what should I watch during the Stupid Bowl? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/2 "2004-01-28T08:47:38Z")
What an interesting opportunity. 🙂 I rarely watch the main networks anymore. I more often watch Discovery Health channel (I think the surgery shows are fun) and TLC. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/3 "2004-01-28T08:50:37Z")
Wrestling 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MinniePurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@MinniePurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinniePurl)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/4 "2004-01-28T09:04:37Z")
For the love of all humanity, please DON’T watch any reality shows. Something has to stem the tide of reality crapola being thrown at us. I never watch any of it, but it doesn’t count because I don’t have a Neilsen box. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/5 "2004-01-28T11:32:17Z")
The whole point of the box is to record people’s actual viewing habits, isn’t it? I’d say just watch what you normally watch, and let it go at that. You know, since it’s too late to tell you to watch ‘Firefly.’ ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/6 "2004-01-28T12:42:16Z")
From a rarely-used portion on my college education is an story along these lines. When they make you a Nielsen family they don’t want anyone who in (for want of a better word) out-of-norm. They take a lot of steps to make sure of this. One precaution is that for your first few weeks, they monitor your diaries and compare them against the statistical average. For you spend all your TV time ogling _Wild Bunny Cam_ on the Playboy Channel, you will simply be dumped without explanation. Therefore, for a month or so you should reflect the ongoing trends. After that, go nuts. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/7 "2004-01-28T13:16:30Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > When they make you a Nielsen family they don’t want anyone who in (for want of a better word) out-of-norm. They take a lot of steps to make sure of this. Let me get this straight - they only want “average” families? And they know what’s average because they’ve monitored other Neilsen families, right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/8 "2004-01-28T13:32:28Z")
Tell them you watch Bodyshaping. It’s a fitness show on ESPN but it comes on at 5am which means the only time I see it is during bouts of insomnia. You see, I have an unhealthy obsession with one Jennifer Dempster. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/9 "2004-01-28T14:09:36Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Let me get this straight - they only want “average” families? And they know what’s average because they’ve monitored other Neilsen families, right? > > :rolleyes: Yeah, it’s pretty stupid. They don’t really randomly select from the entire population, they pick and choose families to use. Perhaps they need to hire better statisticians, like ones who have actually taken a class or two. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/10 "2004-01-28T19:41:01Z")
I don’t get a box, just a log to fill out for the week. We’re hardly average, so can’t do that. 🙂 We actually do watch the NASA channel and HorseTV from time to time. And the weather channel. Lots of Weather Channel. Even more when we lived in a place with weather. As for reality shows, I’m deeply disappointed that there is no place on the log to say that I wouldn’t watch these shows if I was threatened with boiling oil. Leafing through the TV listings in our paper, that actually applies to most of what is on. I need to get a TV Guide, I suppose, and also need to see if MST3K is on at some ungodly hour. You get to list things you tape also. ---
**Author:** ![rdm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2acd7d/32.png) [@rdm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rdm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/11 "2004-01-28T23:26:55Z")
Watch Arrested Development, 9:30 pm EST on Fox Sunday nights. It’s hilarious and needs to stay on TV. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/12 "2004-01-29T00:03:17Z")
> [@rdm](#): > > Watch Arrested Development, 9:30 pm EST on Fox Sunday nights. It’s hilarious and needs to stay on TV. I opened this thread to say the very same thing. Arrested Development is the best comedy on network TV. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/13 "2004-01-29T00:19:46Z")
In no particular order: Alias West Wing 24 Arrested Development Joan of Arcadia Las Vegas CSI (not the Miami show) The Handler Line of Duty Monk Malcom In the Middle The Practice Without A Trace The Shield Sopranos (if you have HBO and when it returns) But please, do not watch ANY reality shows!!! ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/14 "2004-01-29T00:39:58Z")
CBS affiliate _none_ NBC affiliate Late Night with Conan O’Brien WB affiliate Angel ABC affiliate _none_ FOX affiliate Stargate SG-1 Comedy Central Reno 911 South Park HBO Carnivale ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/15 "2004-01-29T09:19:34Z")
I’m surprised no one mentioned the Family Guy reruns on the cartoon channel. Maybe we can get interest in starting it back up again. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/16 "2004-01-29T09:26:03Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I need to get a TV Guide, I suppose, and also need to see if MST3K is on at some ungodly hour. You get to list things you tape also. I believe it comes on at 9 am on Saturdays. Which is why I never watched it until I got a DVR. So don’t let them cancel it, I’ve hardly seen any of the shows! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/17 "2004-01-29T12:21:17Z")
King of the Hill Simpsons Malcom in the Middle Arrested Development Scrubs The Daily Show Dave Chapelle Show and lastly, any Hockey games. Thats all I can think of that is worth watching anymore. ---
**Author:** ![rdm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2acd7d/32.png) [@rdm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rdm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/18 "2004-01-29T13:05:18Z")
Odinoneye: Family Guy is already going back into production due to the popularity of the DVDs. They’re going to make a another small amount of full episodes. Howie Reynolds: MST3K is already canceled. They’ve only been showing the last few seasons since the series ended years ago. But it’s final episode aired is this month. Then it’s off SciFi. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/19 "2004-01-29T13:15:29Z")
Angel! It’s on WB wednesday at 9pm. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Curious\_Writer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@A\_Curious\_Writer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Curious_Writer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399/20 "2004-01-29T14:39:47Z")
Paul in Saudi, I got dumped after a year or so b/c all I watched were occasional reruns of classic comedies like Leave it to Beaver, Full House, the Cosby Show, and so on, as there are no good, family-friendly things on TV anymore, as someone (maybe you) alluded to; nothing good on network TV. I suspected that what you said was the case. ``` Now, on to Voyager, who gets a diary, not a box... ``` > [@Voyager](#): > > I don’t get a box, just a log to fill out for the week. > > We’re hardly average, so can’t do that. 🙂 We actually do watch the NASA channel and HorseTV from time to time. And the weather channel. Lots of Weather Channel. Even more when we lived in a place with weather. > > As for reality shows, I’m deeply disappointed that there is no place on the log to say that I wouldn’t watch these shows if I was threatened with boiling oil. Leafing through the TV listings in our paper, that actually applies to most of what is on. > > I need to get a TV Guide, I suppose, and also need to see if MST3K is on at some ungodly hour. You get to list things you tape also. ``` I would watch what you normally do and list that; there's a place at the end I think where you can list comments, or there shoudl be. There was for the radio one I did a couple months ago. I'd also tune in tot he same shows I did; TV Land, Nick at Nite, ABC Family. And watch the old stuff like I did. Maybe they'll start to realize we're normal and it's the people who make all these reality shows and sleazy, vulgar stuff that are really nuts. ``` [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-a-nielsen-family-so-what-should-i-watch/226399.md?page=2)