I’m still watching too much television.
It’s gotten a lot better now that I’ve gotten rid of all but the most basic of basic cable — I get the four major networks, the CW, ion, TBS, WGN, Nickelodeon, and Bravo. (I think Bravo’s an accident, and the reception isn’t as good as the rest, although it’s still good, but I’m not complaining because, hey, Top Chef!)
Some may say it’s no big deal. I’m single and it’s not like I’m ignoring responsibility at work or whatever sitting around watching TV, and I do have TiVo, after all. And all of that’s true.
But I’m not being a wise steward of my time. More often than not, I watch TV instead of reading or really studying the Word of God. I could just be doing so much more with my time.
What’s helped me pare down a lot of what I watch is my redeveloped sensitivity. I had become so desensitized to the point that I was thisclose to thinking, for example, Chuck and Blair were romantic. Yeah. Chuck, the guy who tried to force himself on two girls in the Gossip Girl pilot (one of whom was 14). Chuck, the guy who blackmails and schemes and sleeps with entire hotel staffs and experiments with all manner of drugs.
And now he and Blair are running around talking about threesomes and other depraved activities (yeah, they’re still just 18; not that any of that stuff is ever justified) and yet everyone’s all, “Yay Chuck and Blair!”
Ugh. Also? Just one of so many examples.
So far this season, I’ve already lost Glee (which managed to dive right into the offensive in its first episode), Dollhouse, Ghost Whisperer, and Medium. The latter three just don’t…interest me anymore. (The flash-forward GW took is unfortunate. I think the end’s in sight.) Also, I realize just how much the very premise of Dollhouse bothers me.
Right now I’m watching Dancing With the Stars, Lie to Me, The Big Bang Theory, Castle, The Biggest Loser, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Good Wife, Criminal Minds, Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Bones, Fringe, The Mentalist, Numb3rs, and Amazing Race.
Originally, I hadn’t intended to watch The Good Wife or Amazing Race, but I’ve gotten sucked in, and so now I’m once again watching too much TV. I’ve got to lose at least one show, maybe two.
Based on order of preference combined with borderline elements like last night’s Bones (I really am getting tired of the show’s bashing of all things God- and morality-related through Brennan and Angela), it’s at the bottom of the pile, so its Season Pass is effectively canceled.
For now, I’ll keep everything else, although of the remaining 15 shows, the two I’d be more willing to let go than any of the others are The Big Bang Theory and Numb3rs.
I’m sure I’ll have to readdress this with mid-season replacements and winter premieres. Luckily V will replace Top Chef when the latter’s current season ends, but Chuck and the winter seasons of The Closer, Leverage, and Burn Notice will be back in January-February…
Sigh.
Posted by Melissa on October 10, 2009 at 7:24 am
Here’s something you can try: Every time you want to watch something on TV, pretend there’s a fairly astute 9-to11-year-old in the room. The mom radar/smut filter will go crazy. (I know you’re not a mom yet but do I think you have mom radar.) We watch some things that we don’t allow the kids to watch (Fringe [mostly because I'm afraid they'll think it's too scary, not for moral reasons], House [for obvious reasons]), but those have to wait until they’re either in bed or busy doing something else. It really cuts down on the amount of TV you can watch when you have to be constantly discerning what’s child-appropriate. I say this a little bit tongue-in-cheek, but it works!