Dear Television Networks,
I understand that you have a number of fine television programs to squeeze into the schedule each and every week. And I know that American Idol currently sits in the middle of that week like a giant inflatable rat blocking out the ratings sun. But there must be something that your smart, pretty programming execs can do to avoid the problem I am facing tonight, Wednesday, at 8 p.m.:How, I ask you, am I supposed to watch Survivor, Bones, Friday Night Lights, and America’s Next Top Model all at the same time?That’s horrible, Television Networks. Just mean.My master plan after the jump…
Because I am a professional, I understand that there are a couple of solutions here — and no, "watch less TV" is not one of them. Please, Television Networks. I can’t believe you would even suggest that.First, I am pretty sure I can set my DVR to record reruns of ANTM, thus catching its rerun later in the week (uh, you’re still doing that, right?); now I just have to remember to cancel the Wednesday recording every week. Okay. Check.That leaves me with three shows fighting for two spots. And here’s where it gets harder. Because neither Survivor nor Bones are available (legally) on the internets, to my knowledge, the obvious choice would be to cancel Friday Night Lights and watch it tomorrow morning on NBC’s website. But I shouldn’t have to do that, NBC, because FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS IS THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION AND IT OBVIOUSLY SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL! Argh.
Another solution: Watch FNL live, and use the VCR in my office to record either Bones — another excellent and underrated show, but one I no longer need to plug quite so vigorously because it’s already been picked up for next season — or Survivor. Except Bones is my favorite show at the moment (note: there is a difference between "best" show and "favorite" show, which I would attempt to explain to you but really, you don’t care and it’s better that way) and Survivor is a reality show whose castoff will be spoiled by tomorrow morning. Plus, who even remembers how VCRs work? Who can deal with all that whirring and clicking?
And so I guess my decision is made: TiVo Bones, Survivor; record ANTM whenever it gets rerun; watch FNL tomorrow morning on the Internet at work.I DO NOT LIKE THIS SOLUTION, TELEVISION NETWORKS. (And really, I’m looking at you, NBC. It’s like you’re not even trying.) Please do try and avoid this situation in the future. I do not need our relationship to become any more abusive than it already is.
Love,
Whitney
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Survivor is put on CBS’s InnerTube the next day, and the quality is a lot better than NBC’s player, though not as good as ABC’s.
Fox has been putting the new Bones’ episodes on their myspace page: myspace.com/fox
You can watch Bones on Myspace the day after it airs. You don’t even have to have a myspace (although who really doesn’t have one nowadays). And, I totally agree with the favorite show thing. It’s not the best, but I’m totally obsessed with it lately.
I feel your pain. And the ANTM re-runs are usually Sunday night and usually opposite Desperate Housewives, which just adds to the problems when Housewives is new. I am pretty sure Survivor is also on iTunes, legally. And I agree, the CBS innertube shows are great quality. This seems to happen more nights than I care to think about and then some nights are totally dead. So frustrating. Great article, by the way.
To say that FNL is the best show on tv is RIDICULOUS. ROME is a MUCH better show than FNL. The acting, cinematography, writing and action is a lot better than FNL.
Here’s my plan using my dual-tuner DVR & the wondorousness that is On Demand: Watch FNL on a slight delay to avoid commercials (because it is the best show on TV); DVR ANTM and watch after FNL; and use On Demand to watch Survivor tomorrow.
The correct answer is that you can’t do it all at the same time. So my plan is to watch “Bones” live because I can watch a “Friday Night Lights” repeat on Bravo during the weekend.
I also have Comcast On Demand, so the “Survivor” episode should be available sometime tomorrow, maybe as early as midnight. Plus, my CW affiliate always re-airs “America’s Next Top Model” on Sundays.
Gotta love modern technology and time shifting!
It is for this very reason that I have two DVRs. Before I got the DVRs, I had 3 or 4 VCRs I used to keep up with multiple shows that aired at the same time.
I got no problem here. FNL IS the best show on TV right now (AND my favorite) so I’ll be watching it fo sho. Never got into Bones, I’m so over Survivor, and although I like a reality show train wreck as much as the next person, I’ve never hooked up with ANTM. So there. Kyle baby, it’s me and you, sweetheart. Done.
Nononononono, Whit! Watch Bones live, DVR Friday Night Lights, and let Survivor go. It’s time.
On a related note, during the opening credits/theme of Friday Night Lights–of the first fifteen seconds worth of music gives me chills, BTW–does anyone else want to get a bucket full o’ bleach and scrub down the lucky “P” the players all touch as they leave the locker room? It makes me feel dirty FOR them. Do you guys not KNOW the kind o’ stuff that grows in locker rooms?! Clean the “P”, already. Please. For my OCD’s sake and the sake of your characters not contracting jock itch, CLEAN IT!
I’ve never seen FNL or Survivor. I watch ANTM, and record Bones. Because I just love Booth and Brennan…
That was supposed to say “of *which* the first fifteen seconds worth of music gives me chills.” Durnit.
Agreed, Survivor must be watched tonight due to the loser being “outed” so quickly on Thursday morning… Watching it on your computer screen is not a good option yet either.. thank god “Lost” is later in the evening…
Greg
denvertvguy.com
The scenario is even more complicated in Canada, where my solution is:
Watch Jericho, tivo Bones (to rewind the snappy dialogue), time shift Lost, so I catch it 2 hours later when they play it in Calgary and catch ANTM later this week when it’s replayed.
I agree Whitney. I hate that so many good shows are on Mondays and especially Wednesday, yet Tuesdays and Thursdays feel especially barren.
That below post was me. I forgot to put in my name.
Umm…..how do you not know this yet. You can watch ANTM on the CW site, Survivor on CBS’ website the next day, and Bones is on Fox’s Website the next day as well. So it does not matter, you can watch all of them, LEGALLY, on the internet. All of the stations show these shows on their sites.
Friday Night Lights & Rome have been the best TV shows this year. I will watch FNL and record Bones, but Wednesday is to crowded with good programming.
Dewd, Survivor is on innertube on CBS.com, it’s the only way I watch it. America’s next top model is on the CW website. as a matter of fact I no longer watch TV, i download tv shows… if a network is not smart enough to make their shows available on the internet I just don’t watch them.
ABC has the best download quality. it’s so sharp. and fun and looks high tech. I love watching Ugly Betty on abc.com, because on my computer it looks as high fashion as it is. They also list all their episodes. I was a late comer to Brothers and Sisters, but thanks to abc.com, I caught up and I love it.
Innertube on CBS has a easy interface, and actually downloads faster, but sometimes the episode skips.
I only use NBC.com for Heroes. I’m not crazy about the picture quality or the interface, but hey, it’s heroes.
my question to everyone is: if no show was available on-line and no repeats would be shows, which one would you see? Answer is of course, FNL
I definitely agree with your best/favorite comment about Bones – it may not be the “best” show on my DVR schedule, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying every minute of it. Kudos for showing Bones some love.
The CW reruns Model Sundays at 9 if you’re interested to know. I’m not sure I understand the logic of TIVOing Survivor because it’s a reality show whose castaway will be spoiled tomorrow, while waiting for a rerun of ‘Model’ (another reality show whose castaway will be spoiled tomorrow) to come on.
I guess what I really mean to say is that I really miss your “Top Model” recaps. Vanessa started off solid, but it’s just not the same. I mean, if she’s gonna rank the photos from worst to first, she should at least link to the photo so we could all LOOK at them. (I mean, I can’t remember what each photo looked like from the night before) Ok, that Model rant was WAY too long.
Bones is on iTunes. You have to pay for the season pass, but I love the show and it’s worth it to watch when convenient since I don’t (gasp) have a DVR.
AMTM is on iTunes too but I’m not sure I want to pay for that silly indulgence of mine. Brain candy is fun, but not at .99 cents a pop.
I’m going to finish up what KTJ started: On Thursday nights when I’m not home, I have to set my VCR (for the ABC and CW shows) and call my parents and have them set their VCR (for the NBC shows) because a) I’m poor and can’t afford anything past a VCR right now and b) You can’t watch TV shows online. NBC, ABC, etc. all have their shows restricted to Americans. And also, we can’t download TV on iTunes yet, just music, podcasts and music videos.
I love my country passionately, but I really wish that we would catch up in terms of TV technology!
I beg to differ. On Wednesday night, I don’t watch anything except for “Top Model,” so my life is easy.
For me, Thursday is always bad. I want to watch the NBC comedy line-up, my roommate wants to watch ABC, and what gets watched first depends on who gets home first. We watch either “Earl” and “The Office” or “Ugly Betty” (one set first, then the other) from 8-10 pm, because I hate “Grey’s” and she hates “Scrubs.”
I like Tuesdays because I come home early from work and on a non-repeat day, there’s “House” and the other two “L&O” versions. Monday’s all about the Bauer hour.
I beg to differ. On Wednesday night, I don’t watch anything except for “Top Model,” so my life is easy.
For me, Thursday is always bad. I want to watch the NBC comedy line-up, my roommate wants to watch ABC, and what gets watched first depends on who gets home first. We watch either “Earl” and “The Office” or “Ugly Betty” (one set first, then the other) from 8-10 pm, because I hate “Grey’s” and she hates “Scrubs.”
I like Tuesdays because I come home early from work the next day and on a non-repeat Tuesdays, there’s “House” and the other two “L&O” versions on the DVR for me to enjoy. Monday’s all about the Bauer hour.
Yeah, I noticed this morning that my TiVo has recording nothing this week and tonight it is like a glut of 6 shows.
BUT, I have to watch Friday Night Lights in real time. The best and my favorite show on tv right now, so it works out.
I’ll be watching Survivor, taping Bones and AI. Need my smart-alecky Probst comments.
We have three Tivos and two VCRs. That solves most problems.