TV not on TV, We Need to Talk
I just signed up for TheWB.com, Warner’s new Hulu-inspired streaming video website, with the hope that I’ll finally get a chance to re-watch the WB’s Everwood series, seasons two through four. (Those seasons are unavailable on DVD because Warner won’t shell out the cash to pay music royalties.) I haven’t received registration information yet, and like the Hulu beta, I’m sure it will take a few days. The problem is, when I am registered, I’ll have one more way to watch TV without having cable.
Between the network TV websites, TV shows on DVD, new sites like Hulu and The WB, and other…ahem…unofficial Internet distribution channels, that old lie I like to tell myself – I don’t watch TV – is becoming less and less true. Sure, I’m not watching cable or network broadcasts, but my laptop is working overtime. Plus, I’m going to burn out another DVD player marathoning entire series like Battlestar Galactica.
So, I’m not technically watching TV. But I sure am consuming a lot of programming.
I’m not the only one getting my fix via the Internet. Some TV shows, like the now canceled Jericho and Gossip Girl, are bigger hits on the Internet than they ever were on broadcast TV. Residuals not for DVD sales, but rather for new media content was one of the big sticking points in the writers strike and will be again in the impending actors strike (along with host of other issues, of course).
But that’s the bigger issue. I’m more worried about me and my growing addiction to TV not on TV. After this week, I can admit it. I have a problem. I’ve watched almost the entire Battlestar Galactica series, have found Gossip Girl online, and am still making my weekly trips to streaming sites to watch Lost and 30 Rock. Access to BSG and GG are the bigger problems. With DVD and new media, it’s easy to wait for a series to run its course and watch every episode back to back to back to back. There’s no waiting a week for the next episode. There are no breaks. TV not on TV completely changes the relationship you have with a show.
When Everwood first aired in 2002, there was an anticipation of the next week’s episode. I was developing a long, unpredictable, but ultimately fulfilling relationship with the program. There was a courtship. There were ups and down. There were times I thought that I would text message breakup with Ephram and Amy. “Srry, this arc isnt workin 4 me.” But I didn’t. I persevered.
Now I’m having quick, passionate love affairs with programs. I don’t care about so much about the ups and downs because I’m just in it for a quicky. I can skip the bad stuff if I want to. More often than not, I ignore those moments, knowing that it’s not about caring for the characters, but rather getting to the exciting climax.
TV not on TV you are fun and spontaneous. That’s for sure. However, it may be time to sit down and have a talk. We have to take this relationship seriously. I really, really like you. Can we take take this to the next level? If we can’t, TV not on TV, it may be time to call it quits. Hopefully, it won’t come to that. If it does, though, I just want you to know this: It’s not you. It’s me.
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