What do you think of TV ?

[Scumbag]

Ive been living for a week now without cable TV, and im slowly adjusting to the filth that is free to air TV. Now I used to watch quite a bit of TV (namely the history channel, ovation, odysee, national geographic), and im planning to wean myself off TV completely over the next few months.... mostly to rediscover my attention span and ability to think.

Personally, I think commerical TV is just vommit. Pre chewed mush for the masses , easily palatteable. About the only thing id watch on commerical tv is the simpsons.

I have no problems with the medium itself, it's just the content I find really boring.

I hate reality TV, all those big brother, bachelor, striptease shows- It's like watching paint dry, and beige paint at that. The contestants on these shows are all the same white bread "shazza/dazza from the 'burbs"- does it make any difference which one wins? I just can't see the appeal. It's not voyeurism, because voyeurism implies that there's something going on which is actually worth watching.

I hate cooking shows. And renovation shows. And travel shows. And backyard-blitz-block-changing-rooms lifestyle type shows. And I hate the manic TV personalities who present these lifestyle type shows. For fucks sake, how excited can you get over double glazed windows? And I wonder, do people actually go out and cook/renovate/travel after watching this stuff, or do they just watch it for the sake of watching?

I hate all those police/lawyer/doctor drama shows. They're all the same. They're so interchangeable that half the time you can't even tell which one you're watching. As if life isn't dramatic enough as it it is, why do people want to fill their heads with SVU pedophile-necro-make-believe?

I hate all those chirpy american sitcoms. Mainly because they're just not funny. And also because they're so predictable. And they all seem to utilise the same character archetypes- "the bitchy mother in law", "the ditzy receptionist", etc etc. Its like watching the same show over and over again.

Ive now been watching sbs and abc occasionally for the documentaries... but I prefer reading :P

what do you guys think?

[flounder]

Originally posted by phoneyhuh

what do you guys think?

I think you are unreal.

[Cassa]

I hate tv. I have not watched it in any form since I moved out of my parents' house over a year ago. It's mind food for idiots.

[KoinBahd]

As a whole I think broadcast TV blows. I know that I could do without it when the time comes. The only thing I would need a TV for then would be to watch videos, DVDs, Playstation etc. But even then, a lot of these things can now be accomplished by computers and computer monitors these days. (Back in my day...)

I don't hate the medium TV per se, but there is an awful lot of crap on there. If it were to be utilised better then I would be all for it.

Oh and yes, The Simpsons is about the only show I will watch on a regular basis. Best show ever!

[oracle]

I am an idealistic person, so my opinion is that television is evil, but I do sometimes find myself watching a little on the odd occasion. That said, I only ever watch doco's, or scan the music channels to see if there's a good song on (which is rare.)

The only time I succumb to watching it is when I'm too fatigued to do anything else. After working on a PC all day, I don't usually feel like jumping on my PC as soon as I walk in the door, so on the odd day I might flop infront of the TV for 10/20/30 mins. After dinner I'm usually a little recovered enough to do something else.

I have cable TV, but I feel compelled to mention that I wouldn't have cable, or an aerial if it weren't for my other family members... which is why I haven't given up on it all together, because it's readily available. If I live by myself, or a like-minded person, I'd have a TV solely for my DVD's.

I have also stated my point of view on TV in (http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=196162#post196162) other (http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=197540#post197540) posts (http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=202807#post202807) before.

"television... the drug of the nation"
- Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy

[BlueBoy]

I asked my mum why she watches those lifestyles shows. Her reply: "Just in case I want to do that in the future."
Seem to me that the key auidence for these types of shows are people who have no idea how to use the internet to search for information. People who like to be spoon-fed information in (very) slow trickles.

I talked to Reality TV addicts about why they watch the shows. They like them because they get to see normal people interacting.
They don't understand that they can do that whenever they want. They seems surprised when I pointed out that reality isn't edited down as well, as if they expected the shows to be a mirror or something.

I watch about 30 minutes of TV a day. Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle and Pizza.
I have better things to do with my time.

[Wolfette13]

I quit watching TV when I was working full time and in school and my children were younger. I ended up going about 5 or 6 years without even owning a TV. When I eventually did purchase one again I actually was amazed that I really hadn't missed anything at all. The few times I did actually turn the thing on after I purchased it I had it on the on music station from the cable. Since I've been on medical leave since the middle of May I've found myself watching more TV than ever before. I pretty much stick to the same channels daily though. The FoodNetwork (Rachel Ray, 30 minutes meals and Paula's Home Cooking, The History channel, whatever they happen to have on and The Hallmark Channel, Touched By An Angel. I could very easily get rid of the TV again and not miss it. I agree that the programs that are on regular TV are trash however, most of the cable channels available are shopping networks or just plain trash so I'll take my books and my writing anytime, as long as there is music in the background I'm a happy Wolfette.

[rascuache]

I find i dont watch tv so much anymore, unless i'm really just sitting round with my mates and it happens to be on, once in a while there will be a series that i will really want to watch, like daria, crank yankers, pizza.....

i could live with out tv, and one day i may have to. My computer and dvds and books are more interesting but sometimes there will be the odd thing on tv worth watching...

like that thing on SBS the other week about the American beef industry.

And i'm not interested in cable...unless they are playing every single show i've loved in the past and i doubt that.

[Princess]

tv??? thats the picture that comes out of the idiot box right?????

ill usually watch the news in an attempt to stay current with the world while feeding my face at night and then retire to my room and study my ass off till the early hours of the morning.....

[gooey]

mmmmmm TV!!!


i love TV!

sooo relaxing, going home and having a few cones and putting ya feet up and watching the idiot box




simpsons, south park, pizza, crank yankers, buffy (not long to go),
enough rope with andrew denton, the panel, futurama (when its on), doco's on SBS and ABC, rage, eat carpet, the glass house,.... etc etc etc


mmmmm - electric fireplace - mmmmmm

this reminds me of some wise words from homer simpson:

"Come, family. Sit in the snow with Daddy and let us all bask in
television's warm glowing warming glow."

[mrwest]

Greatest mind control device ever created. Occasionally there's something interesting on, but most of it is a waste of time. Judging from the responses here it seems most people don't watch it much, I was surprised. Is the internet is taking over from the tv?

[ShadowNemesis]

Originally posted by gooey
mmmmmm TV!!!
simpsons, south park, pizza, crank yankers, buffy (not long to go),
enough rope with andrew denton, the panel, futurama (when its on), doco's on SBS and ABC, rage, eat carpet, the glass house,.... etc etc etc

Buffy ends next week doesn't it, because Angel finishes tonight. The bedroom scene with Willow and Kennedy was :D last night.

[DJos]

FTA + Foxtel = Bliss for Me :D

[MisterBishi]

The only thing I watch at the moment is Spooks once a week, and I'll watch the football when the season starts again, I'm pretty hooked on teletext though.

[Dollputz]

I used to have cable TV but got rid of it because I found I was watching too much television than I should.

I have a brother and sister who insist on watching Home and Away and Neighbours every single night.

Hee! We had Neighbours in America late at night for a very short time but it got taken off. I'm pretty sure England still gets it though.

[MisterBishi]

Yeah we've had Neighbours and Home and Away for about 15 years.

I think only old ladies watch them though.

[iaidoka]

if it wasnt for my DVD player, there would be no point in owning a TV in my mind.

and at that, if it wasnt for japanese anime, there wouldnt be a point in me owning a DVD player.

[gooey]

Originally posted by ShadowNemesis
Buffy ends next week doesn't it, because Angel finishes tonight. The bedroom scene with Willow and Kennedy was :D last night.


:D :D :D

[gamooma]

TV is almost like a bad habit for me. I'll watch just about anything (with the exeption of reality TV). Mostly I'm doing something else at the same time and just have the TV for background noise. Does that really count as watching TV?

[Fuzzy Dice]

oh come on. CARTOONS! they're like the entire point of subscribing to any kind of cable/sat package. Does anybody here watch clone high? I KNOW i've seen a few invader zim avatars kicking around zgeek.

Really, the only things i watch on TV are cartoons, discovery channel type stuff, and music channels (if you can find one that actually plays music).

Um, at most an hour of TV a day. Usually not even that, unless you count games and dvd's.

Reality TV has been run into the ground....sitcoms (menh)

[ShadowNemesis]

My 4yr old loves watching Cyber Girl on a saturday morning. I just wish they would bring back all the old cartoons like Speed Racer, Mighty Mouse, Rocky & Bullwinkle....all those sorts of things.

[Fuzzy Dice]

Originally posted by ShadowNemesis
I just wish they would bring back all the old cartoons like Speed Racer, Mighty Mouse, Rocky & Bullwinkle....all those sorts of things.

...they do.....usually really crappy new versions. There was one for speed racer out not too long ago. NOTHING like the original. Right now, there's new versions of he-man, justice league (you could say formerly Superfriends), transformers..

What's wrong with the people who made transformers: armada? Weren't gi-normous robots cool enough? why did they have to make it into robo-pokemon? "Mini-cons! gotta catch 'em all!"

*pouts*

[ShadowNemesis]

The only tv that gets watched here before school, is if the 4yr old gets up first and puts it on the aerobics.

[Dollputz]

Originally posted by MisterBishi
Yeah we've had Neighbours and Home and Away for about 15 years.
I think only old ladies watch them though.

Figures.

They are probably the same old ladies responsible for Coronation Street still being on air too.

[sagit]

Originally posted by KoinBahd
...

I don't hate the medium TV per se, but there is an awful lot of crap on there. ...

* puts hand up to second the motion

[BlueBoy]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Dice
...they do.....usually really crappy new versions. There was one for speed racer out not too long ago. NOTHING like the original. Right now, there's new versions of he-man, justice league (you could say formerly Superfriends), transformers..

What's wrong with the people who made transformers: armada? Weren't gi-normous robots cool enough? why did they have to make it into robo-pokemon? "Mini-cons! gotta catch 'em all!"

*pouts*

Nothing wrong with Justice League!
Invader Zim is teh good stuff though :)

[druid]

Originally posted by MisterBishi
I'm pretty hooked on teletext though.

Ah yes, I remember surfing this information dirt track when net access was just a madman's dream. I'd read the day's programmes first, then check the discussion boards and go through the news followed by random crap like weather maps and arrival times at the local airport. Those were the days.

[MisterBishi]

Teletext always has the scoop on the afternoon football stories, no waiting for the next day's newspaper.

I know there are football pages on the web that will have the afternoon's news, but it's just not the same, and the letters page on the computer games section is hilarious.

[druid]

That's right. All current news fresh from the oven there on page 100.

[no_dice]

There are only a few shows that I make a conscious effort to watch:

:: The simpsons
:: Alias
:: The Amazing Race
:: Survivor

For those of you who don't watch/never heard of Alias.....I pity you. It is quite possibly the best show on TV right now :)

[beowulf437]

I almost never watch tv before 10pm. If I do then it's usually a movie or anime series on DVD. I do like to watch cartoons also (Samuri Jack and Courage the Cowardly Dog), it a kind funny when cartoons are smarter than the regular tv shows.

I don't like sit coms or reality shows because they are just stupid. I can't stand cop shows or medical shows because most of their logic is just too flawed. TV news is just someone trying to cram their opinion down your throat while keeping their ratings up.

Heck if it wasn't for the PS2 our tv in the living room would almost never be on.

[MisterBishi]

Dude, your avatar is scary, I'm surprised you haven't seen that on TV news.

[druid]

Originally posted by no_dice
For those of you who don't watch/never heard of Alias.....I pity you. It is quite possibly the best show on TV right now :)

It may not be the best but it's pretty funny once you get over a few things. I like to watch it just to bet on what hair colour or tight set of clothes she gets next. "Alias - Only CIA knows the true colour of your hair." The fast pace of it isn't too bad but I wonder how long they can go without running out of cities to explore in the world.

Dark Angel was in the same category but more amusing because the parts that were designed to attract teenage boys were done so obviously with tongue in cheek.

[oracle]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Dice
What's wrong with the people who made transformers: armada? Weren't gi-normous robots cool enough? why did they have to make it into robo-pokemon? "Mini-cons! gotta catch 'em all!I hate all those new cartoons that are made for merchandising from the get-go... Like that Bayo-Blade one, or whatever it's called.

I agree with the idea that cartoons are about the only thing worth watching, but I just don't have the time (or will) to sit infront of the box these days. I've only seen a handful of episodes of Invader Zim (and I mean, less than 4) but from what I've seen it's halarious. I hope it comes out on DVD soon... Maybe then I get time to watch it. Oh, and I've also got Futurama on DVD.

Apart from that, what happened to the best cartoon of all time Thundercats!?!?

C'mon!.. "THUNDERCATS! HOOOOOOOO!"

[beowulf437]

This is my favorite thundercats page

http://brakpage.com/thundercats/

And what the hell is wrong with my avatar

[Fuzzy Dice]

....nickelodeon pulled invader zim from their lineup in favor of SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. :mad: *does the homer shriek - AAAA! AAAA! AAA!*

Fortunately i have the entire two seasons on my comp

[MisterBishi]

Originally posted by beowulf437
And what the hell is wrong with my avatar

hehe only joking dude.

[Nandragon]

I heard an interesting point of veiw on this subject just the other day...on HBO. Without the futuristic point of view that tv and film give us today, we might not have toasters or microwaves, probably not even computers.

I thought ya'll were trekies, Sci-fi nuts, anime....all from yep....tv.

Why I don't know what would happen if I couldn't watch the Sopranos, Sex in the City, Simpsons, Futurama, Bernie Mac, Charmed, CNN, Trading Spaces, SOUTH PARK, The Man Show, National Geographic, Crock Hunter even!

And yes, Buffy the vampire slayer!

Tell me u guys don't watch tv!

[jmello]

the history channel - modern marvels :D
the learning channel - junkyard wars
the discovery channel - almost anything
the weather channel - radar
fox news channel - watching bill o'reilly whinge
comedy central - the daily show
a&e - old movies
the movie channels (cinemax, hbo, showtime)

gotta watch "the price is right"

i usually leave the tv on in the background, and mess with the computer, until something worth watching is on..

[ShadowNemesis]

Damn it, I will admit I watch.....
Alias
Buffy & Angel
CSI & CSI Miami
Crossing Jordan
Law & Order SVU(Marissa Hargitay):D

DAMN, knew I would forget something...
The Shield
Without A Trace
Charmed

What is it about Anime dvd's that people find so interesting?
(I am just asking)

[oracle]

Originally posted by Nandragon
I heard an interesting point of veiw on this subject just the other day...on HBO. Without the futuristic point of view that tv and film give us today, we might not have toasters or microwaves, probably not even computers.What? You've never heard of books, Nan? Do the names George Orwell, Arthur C. Clarke, or Isaac Asimov ring any bells? Hmm... Perhaps not.

No, I think that futuristic view would still be there even if it were not for television.

[DJos]

My tastes in TV are somewhat eclectic:

Lotsa Sc-Fi (as mentioned in the http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10193 thread)
I lurve WW1&2 doco's on history channel + any doco's on military hardware and general blowing shit up.
Tech Doco's and shows on Discovery Channel rock
CSI & CSI Miami
Macleods Daughters
Stingers
the Shield
without a trace
F1, WRC & V8 Supercars + RPM
Alias
West Wing
Law & Order & SVU
Charmed


Hmm, Im wierd :p

[Scumbag]

Originally posted by ShadowNemesis
What is it about Anime dvd's that people find so interesting?
(I am just asking) ill be fucked if I know too! I honestly cant beleive so many people watch crappy japanese cartoons so religiously!

My friend used to have a flatmate that was into all that shit... whenever we used to bag them out, he was like "oh you probably just havnt seen the good ones" so one day I requested to see these good ones....


It was boring as shit! Why the fuck would you want to see naked cartoon characters ?


(mind you I love simpsons & south park)

[Mr Bigglesworth]

im on about 15 minutes of TV per day...most of that consists of watching BBC World...might I add one of the best news services available (not that crap you Americans are fed by Fox or CNN).

I find commerical TV to be boring, repetitive and their news services to be biased and/or inaccurate. In terms of shows I like, like South Park and Enterprise, ive got them downloaded so I can watch them at my convenience, and other stuff like the X-Files I actually buy their series and watch them :D

I do make the effort sometimes to watch Benny Hill on UKTV at midnight sometimes :p

[r0p3 g1rl]

I watch Charmed with the sound off.

enough said.

[oracle]

Pirate watches Charmed with his pants off.

Enough said.

[Nandragon]

Books?! that's another thread...but if you must know...

Tim Lahaye
Ann Rice
Stephen King
Ann McCaffrey
Peter Straub
Saberhacken
King James:p

and then some...

My daughter has just this summer read Oliver Twist, Robin Hood, Tom Sawyer, Moby Dick, Ann of Green Gables, and the latest harry potter. (which I can't wait to read!)

<<And still has time for mindless boob tube entertainment!

[sortius]

T V I S T H E W O R K O F T H E D E V I L

[beowulf437]

What is it about Anime dvd's that people find so interesting?

I've liked anime for about 37 years. I started out with "8th Man" and "Astro Boy" and just went on from there. Yes some of it is just crap but some of it is pretty good.

I probably have about 10 anime movies and a couple of anime series on DVD. It's not all about 'naked cartoon people', if it doesn't have a good story I don't particularly care for it. I am hoping to get "Cowboy BeBop" on DVD so I can watch it uncut.

What makes a good anime is the same thing that makes any other movie or tv show good, the writing and attention to detail. In a good action/science fiction anime there are twists and turns and the good guy isn't always good and the bad guy isn't always bad. In comedy anime I like characters that are likeable and intersesting. My favorite so far has been "Love Hina" because I can related to the people.

[sortius]

beowulf437 I couldnt put it any better when describing anime... the way I see it, it's an ancient artform that the japanese have perfected over centuries. Sometime it's all too easy to forget the roots of some things when the medium isnt quaint or dated...

[Movius]

Originally posted by sortius
beowulf437 I couldnt put it any better when describing anime... the way I see it, it's an ancient artform that the japanese have perfected over centuries. Sometime it's all too easy to forget the roots of some things when the medium isnt quaint or dated...
Anime is not an ancient artform.

Anime means animation, animation has barely been around for 1 century. The artistic style used in mordern anime and manga originates from the early 20th century, when western artists started arriving in Japan at the end of Japanese isolationism. The style is a sort of mix of traditional Japanese artwork and the prevailing western style of cartoon illustration at that time.

[Al]

I used to watch tv, but these days I find I'm too busy.

There's always something better to do...

Tv is good for when your brain needs a holiday...

[sortius]

Originally posted by Movius
Anime is not an ancient artform.

Anime means animation, animation has barely been around for 1 century. The artistic style used in mordern anime and manga originates from the early 20th century, when western artists started arriving in Japan at the end of Japanese isolationism. The style is a sort of mix of traditional Japanese artwork and the prevailing western style of cartoon illustration at that time.

I was refering to the stories behind it... not the medium it was delivered on...

[beowulf437]

The Japanese are blissfully unincumbered by protestant conventions in storytelling. So their fairytales have come through essentially unchanged through the centuries. In many cases they have woven bits and pieces of their mythology into their media.

The anime "Dragon Ball" is in essence the fairytale "Gokuh the Monkey King" and "Urusie Yatsura" is based on a fable about a young man who catches an oni (a cross between a genie and a demon) so that it would grant his wish to marry.

Western movie makers have even emulated japanese films (direct ripoffs) on many occassions. Everyone knows that "The Magnficent Seven" is based on the movie "The Seven Samuri", but did you know "Star Wars" was based on "The Hidden Fortress". Watch it if you can find it, the characters are exactly the same (the names were changes to protect from lawsuits) and "Star Wars" is an almost scene for scene copy.

[Bostonmess]

I like the footy (soccer).

I watched 24, got quite into that. It was a good laugh. Spoilers. I like how Jack in this series was nearly having a heart attack as he was dealing with the terrorists near the end, I found that very funny.

I'll watch most Star Treks if they're on and I'm not doing anything. I'll watch quite a bit of Big Brother, though I think with this fourth? series in the UK I'm getting bored eventually.

Bo Selecta is probably the funniest thing on Tv ATM. I'll try and catcc some documentaries on anything really, whatever takes my fancy that's on.

Can't stand that Charmed bollox, don't like Buffy, I'll watch a bit of X-files, though I'm bored with that too these days.

Oh, and the news :)