Saturday, March 04, 2006

TV or not TV

http://media.libsyn.com/media/comicgeekspeak/cgs-episode116.mp3

Ok, that is one really lame title. I had something better this morning, but such is how it goes. Here's the thing, TV is free. Or at least it has been most of my life. My family got 7 good channels, then the public broadcasting channel, then the religious channel, interest to me in that order. And still it was more than my father had... which he was quick to remind my siblings and I when our brains seemed to slowly drip out of our heads. And our eyes became more glazed than doughnuts. So I felt we were pretty fortutious.

And then when we went to people's houses and they had a few (hundred) more channels. I assumed it was great reception. Even my next door neighbor's TV, just luck of placement. I am a cartoon addict, so I was never really too jealous at what other people had. I suppose one can't really get into something with one viewing. Of course it was also the quality... Ren and Stimpy... Beavis and Butthead... looked horrible. And then it didn't help that when I would get to watch a repeated viewing, I had seen it before. This always baffled me.

And now, here I am reality having fully hit me in the face, I am paying for TV. I suppose my father's stubborness rubbed off on me. I have often said that there are a handful of channels I would like. And the rest are just there. Still holds true. Except that now... I go to bed well before anything good is on. I can't find Looney Tunes, at least not like I knew them. There is a version of babies... and a version of rainbowy Bugs and Daffy characters in the future. Batman and Superman are on at midnight and 12:30 respectively. What is a guy to do?

There was a Batman marathon of sorts today starting at 1 it was going on for at least a couple of hours or so. But even that did not get watched. My son was not convinced that Batman was going to save Thomas the Tank Engine. Frankly neither was I, I mean different companies... different people own the rights, but I didn't think he was smart enough to figure that out. I think Batman should pass on that Great Detective moniker addition of his.

If you pay for something, you should enjoy it, right? Ah well, someday I might be able to afford a Tivo and then that machine can find my shows for me. All five of them.

2 comments:

Kev said...

When I was growing up there were 3 channels in the UK. We seem to have survived the paucity, however barely. The Things try to initiate negotiations for better TV on a regular basis - a better TV set to begin with, and a more souped-up TV package to follow. Alas, to no avail. They were born to Luddite parents, the poor souls.

My advice in your current circumstances would be to learn to enjoy the shows which the rest of the family watch. Dr Phil can be fun! Thomas the Tank Engine is full of useful life lessons! (That's what happens when men of the cloth become authors). And think of the joy to be had from Oscar night frockery. How can you resist?

Alternatively, learn to love coffee, drink gallons of the stuff, and stay up until all hours to watch those cartoons. You know it makes sense.

Darediva said...

We had 3 channels growing up, and great reception because my dad had the tallest antenna in town, except for the sheriff's dept.

I don't have much more than that now, and honestly don't watch that much tv. The cats just don't care one way or the other. I probably see more on CBS than anything these days, just discovering that I did indeed have the Fox channel. You can tell I have never run the remote up and down to see what's there.

I'm happy as a clam with basic cable, and cable internet. Keeps me entertained, and I'm usually facing this little screen rather than the bigger one on the west wall.

Get yourself a DVR, and be happy. ;)