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June 13, 2007
“I May Be Neglecting the Things I Should Do”
For the last three years, I’ve only had a DVD player and a VCR hooked up to my television. I couldn't even get the local networks at home. If I wanted to watch something that was being broadcast on television (i.e. The Office), I would go to the Y and ride the exercise bike while the show was on. Of course, I could only do this with certain shows, as the Y only has six or seven TVs (one of which is always tuned to FOX News – BLECH).
I went totally off the deep end the other day, though, and got a DVR.
I’m not one of those people who is all snobby about not watching television. I like TV. I only got rid of my DVR after Brian died because I was afraid that I would mope around watching television instead of dealing with my life, which, in retrospect, was a good decision. It’s interesting what one misses, though, when one doesn’t watch TV – new shows, for instance, and good commercials. (It irritates Tammy to no end that I never know what she’s talking about when she brings up commercials. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the one who said whatever spurred Lucas into telling me that I should start watching television like a normal person, but I have no proof.)
I have mixed feelings about having TV again. First of all, I hardly know what to do going straight from no stations to having approximately four hundred billion of them. It’s a big step. I mean, I haven't quite been able to wrap my mind around what stations I have access to. That on-screen “guide” is no help at all. With Tammy’s assistance (she knows more about cable than the people at Time Warner), I was able to locate key stations so that I could start recording important programs – Comedy Central (The Daily Report, The Colbert Report), Cartoon Network (Robot Chicken), and NBC (The Office, 30 Rock). That was all I could handle before I had to take a break to read a book. I haven’t actually watched anything yet. Maybe tonight. One day at a time.
Posted by adrienne at June 13, 2007 12:28 AM
Comments
You still won't know anything about commercials once you discover the fab 30-second skip command on your DVR. You can watch a two-hour American Idol special, for example, in about thirty-five minutes and not miss much. Loved your interview over at 7-imp, and especially that your Mom commented.
Posted by: Mitali Perkins at June 13, 2007 09:19 AM
Welcome to the dark side! I, honestly, can't imagine life before the DVR. Chuck and I have had our DVR for a year now. It's really great because at any given time we can find something to watch because we record so much. Now that it's summer time, and all of the shows are reruns, I can have Matlock marathons.
Posted by: Kelly S at June 13, 2007 10:02 AM
I did not know about this 30 second skip command. This is item number one on my list of things to do when I go home tonight.
Kelly, Matlock? Really? What else do you guys DVR? Another thing I realized when I was perusing the guide is that I have no idea what's what on TV. I'm getting Entertainment Weekly now, though, so I should be up on things before too long....
Posted by: adrienne at June 13, 2007 11:16 AM
I *love* Matlock. I grew up watching it with my Grandma, so it brings back warm, happy memories. It's a really good show. There aren't many shows around anymore that contain suspense and humor. Plus, it's really funny to look at blue eye shadow and shoulder pads!
Posted by: Kelly S at June 13, 2007 12:12 PM
I do not think I said anything that would spur the boy into say that. It was probably Ron, he's the TV guy.
Posted by: tonderdo at June 13, 2007 05:20 PM
I can only half-watch Matlock. I have to be on the computer or playing Tetris on my phone or something. It can't keep my full attention the way quality programming like The Soup can.
Posted by: chuck at June 13, 2007 07:50 PM
Naturally, I had to run and DVR The Soup immediately. How could I forget something so important???
Posted by: adrienne at June 13, 2007 08:26 PM
Saturday mornings are the *best* in the Scroger home. We sleep in until Amanda starts yelling at us for being lazy, then we sip coffee and eat a homemade "fly-in" breakfast (pancakes, eggs, and bacon), while watching E! News Weekend, The Soup, and Best Week Ever. After all that--nap time!
Posted by: Kelly S at June 14, 2007 08:50 AM
There was a very funny This American Life episode about a guy w/o TV who agreed to watch 40 hours of it and he basically couldn't -- it was torture -- there was "nothing" on -- until he finally got hooked on America's Funniest Home Videos and then I think he wet his pants...
Posted by: Liz Garton Scanlon at June 15, 2007 01:20 AM
Oh, I heard that ep., too! (I get This American Life as a podcast, which is brilliant -- never miss an episode.) I just about wet my pants laughing at it at the time, but it's been on my mind since I got the cable. I feel kind of like a traitor to the people without television. Of course, I've been so busy reading, visiting with Tam, and taking care of my house this week, that I've only managed to watch one fifteen-minute episode of Robot Chicken. I haven't watched a movie, either. I neglected so many things while I was finishing up the book, and it's been a joy getting back to them -- even cleaning.
Posted by: adrienne at June 15, 2007 07:23 AM
I use the tv as a multitasking tool while I clean, the laundry gets folded and I get to watch something. Of course if I am watching something really good it never fails that Lucas will come in with a dire emergency or important question like, "Where's the orange juice?" or have you seen my feet. Max will of course play with the corn popper at the good parts of the Daily Show. I guess the truth is unless it is really late at night I have trouble sitting and watching tv unless I'm making fun of it, like wrestling & survivor which frequently rots the other brains in my house.
Posted by: tonderdo at June 17, 2007 05:30 PM