Spring Break
The Daily OrangeForget network TV: repeats, reality shows and movies still entertaining
By Nathan Mattise
Posted: 2/4/08, 11:26 PM EST Section: Feature
I'm sick of all this negative strike coverage. It's unbearable to constantly hear about the unfair wages, the messed up residuals' system, the folks who can't watch their weekly episode of "Ugly Betty" and the soon-to-be television, radio and film grads that may be out of job before they even have one. The whole thing is more depressing than your friend who is constantly leaving Postal Service lyrics in his away message from now until Valentine's Day.
But life is all about perception, right? A glass can be half empty or half full (and if you think that's the last optimism cliché in this article, you're sadly mistaken). It may be hard to see, but there is a silver lining in all this writers' strike mess. It surfaces when you stop talking about all the TV we're not watching and focus on the TV we are. The writers' strike has provided a rare window for the dedicated TV viewer to ignore their obligation to watch critically acclaimed programming and simply indulge in what they've been passing up.
And what types of television are worth a second look because of the uncrossed picket lines? Allow me to break it down for you:
The "If-you-haven't-seen-it,-it's-new-to-you" Show
There's so much buzz-worthy programming on TV these days it's hard to keep up with it all. The writers' strike is the closest thing you have to a viewers' mulligan. If networks are going to run "it" shows from the last 10 years in constant syndication, why not take advantage? I still won't watch "Futurama," but there's some solid TV in my daily viewing routine now I missed the first time around.
I'd suggest taking the time to discover why your friends are in love with Elliot from "Scrubs" by catching one of the 10-plus episodes on every day. Take a tip from your parents and begin to appreciate the subtle nuances of Tim Allen's humor over on TBS.
Even flip to SOAPnet and spend an afternoon deciphering the plot lines of "The O.C." (Side note: I now see what girls saw in Seth Cohen. The boy is absolutely adorkable. I'm trying to defend this to some folks, and I'm getting crushed for it, but trust me.) Whatever show you're itching to try, chances are it's on at least twice a day - usually in back-to-back format to boot.
But life is all about perception, right? A glass can be half empty or half full (and if you think that's the last optimism cliché in this article, you're sadly mistaken). It may be hard to see, but there is a silver lining in all this writers' strike mess. It surfaces when you stop talking about all the TV we're not watching and focus on the TV we are. The writers' strike has provided a rare window for the dedicated TV viewer to ignore their obligation to watch critically acclaimed programming and simply indulge in what they've been passing up.
And what types of television are worth a second look because of the uncrossed picket lines? Allow me to break it down for you:
There's so much buzz-worthy programming on TV these days it's hard to keep up with it all. The writers' strike is the closest thing you have to a viewers' mulligan. If networks are going to run "it" shows from the last 10 years in constant syndication, why not take advantage? I still won't watch "Futurama," but there's some solid TV in my daily viewing routine now I missed the first time around.
I'd suggest taking the time to discover why your friends are in love with Elliot from "Scrubs" by catching one of the 10-plus episodes on every day. Take a tip from your parents and begin to appreciate the subtle nuances of Tim Allen's humor over on TBS.
Even flip to SOAPnet and spend an afternoon deciphering the plot lines of "The O.C." (Side note: I now see what girls saw in Seth Cohen. The boy is absolutely adorkable. I'm trying to defend this to some folks, and I'm getting crushed for it, but trust me.) Whatever show you're itching to try, chances are it's on at least twice a day - usually in back-to-back format to boot.
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