OK. I admit it. I have never actually watched "Being There". However, I am familiar enough with the movie to know that the simpleton main character says "I like to watch," and is refering to television.
While I don't watch that much television these days, I still enjoy spending a few hours a week indulging in that particular 'inactivity'. I'm not fool enough to try to justify my choices as having any redeeming value, or even being overly well written or well acted. I just like them. Every year, my choices get more and more limited. This year I'm watching "ER", "One Tree Hill", and (sometimes) a new show that's on after OTR, "Related".
While that is three measley hours a week, I also will flip about randomly and glom onto an in-progress movie a couple of times a week. In addition, I will purposefully sit down a few times a week to watch a DVD. About half the DVDs I watch are actually TV shows that I have purchased on DVD, either because I liked them so much that I can watch them again, or because I didn't catch them when they were originally on.
Here are some of the TV shows that I have acquired this year: "Once and Again: Season 2", "Battlestar Galactica" (new series), "Earth 2", "Firefly", and "Rosewell: Season 3". I am eagerly awaiting "Once and Again: Season 3" and "Alien Nation: The Complete Series". I may actually pick up Season 1 of "Lost", since I've become intrigued with all the hype around the show.
The bottom line is this: While I agree that watching television every night can be mind-numbing, I enjoy watching television on a somewhat regular basis. There was a point in my life where I watched TV for several hours every evening. I just can't do that any more. I have other interests. And, recently, I've really rediscovered the joys of both reading AND writing. However, I see no reason to give up television completely. But, with the advent of TiVo and television shows on DVD, I can enjoy my guilty little pleasures without having to put up with the commercials.
Take that Madison Avenue!
Remember that whole flap about networks trying to say it was illegal to fast forward over the commercials? That it amounted to stealing? Boy am I glad they stopped that nonsense.
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