Several years ago, after a friend of mine ran the Marine Corps Marathon (and I slipped on a banana peel in the finish area), she told me that the last two-tenths of a mile had been the hardest for her. She’d been so focused on getting to mile 26, she’d forgotten all about the .2, and had to force herself to mentally regroup. I wonder if we, the TV addicts, will experience a similar fate in regards to the writers’ strike. Were we so focused on getting a deal signed that we didn’t think about what would happen next: Will these final weeks until our DVRs are flooded with new episodes prove the most difficult?
According to an informal poll taken last night at my friend Sheila’s birthday dinner, sometime during the second pitcher of sangria, the answer may very well be yes. We went around the table and talked about our lowest point during the strike, when we watched a program that we never would have sat through had the season progressed as usual, and those moments were all recent. Apparently, after Sheila blew through all five new episodes of In Treatment as soon as they appeared on HBO on Demand, she found herself turning to what many of you will consider the unthinkable: Two and a Half Men (pictured). Our friend Ian, it should be noted, involuntarily outed himself as having seen an episode when he joined us in singing the "Men, men, men, men, manly men…" theme song — which we did only to prove to the other side of the table how annoying it is. As in, I used to tape the show, and the song was the reason I stopped.
My friend Robb then attempted to top Sheila’s confession by admitting that he’s seen every episode of Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle, and had just watched a 1997 TV movie called Every 9 Seconds, starring Caroline in the City’s Amy Pietz, on "one of the Lady Networks." His argument would’ve been stronger had he not added that Christopher Meloni, playing Gail O’Grady’s abusive husband, appeared shirtless.
Your turn. What has been your low point during the strike, and how do you plan on making it through these final weeks? (A new episode of Bones airs April 14, friends. We can make it if we stick together. The center must hold.)
Comments (1-30) of 86 Add your comment
Hey, people, here’s a radical thought…stay away from mindless TV channels and try turning on Turner Classic Movies to discover what truly good films are!
My low point was being WAY to excited for American Gladiators and Big Brother.
Ditto for me on American Gladiator. Their dialogue got so bad (especially “Wolf”) that my husband and I would just fast forward through all the filler and only watch the actual challenges. Atleast that was only 15 minutes worth of mindless TV…Oh, almost forgot about Miss America Reality Check too. That was pretty awful.
Thanks for the Bones shout-out, Mandi. I can’t wait for it to come back!
In answer to your questions, I have been watching Eli Stone, a show I probably would have dropped after the first episode, and started watching American Idol way earlier than usual (I usually wait for it to get to the final 12).
Celebrity Rehab. Oh, the horror! I am not sure if I can ever forgive myself.
On the bad side, I too, have watched Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle, but would not have if there was Grey’s/Private Practice and Dirty, Sexy, Money to fill the void.
On the up side, I started watching Law & Order (the original) on Wed nights, and it is Darn Good!
Still wish for new eps of Pushing Daisies, but happy The Office, 30 Rick and Grey’s will be back soon.
I have also been watching Eli Stone, a show I might not have watched at any other time, as well as catching up on TV shows like Rescue Me and Rome. Thanks Netflix!
Usually I fast forward through Connan’s monologe (a lot of silly hamming for the camera) to get to the written bits. Also skip the interviews half the time, espeically if it’s some non-interesting, non-entertaining person (i.e. models, you can watch them on FF but not have to sit and listen to them woodenly get through how they’re just a normal person). During the strike I had nothing else so I’d let those sections play, even though they were even less interesting because there were no writers.
I’ve been watching the no-kidding-awful “Sarah Connor Chronicles” just for something to fill my Monday nights, and having now watched the whole season, I’m pretty sure that show causes cancer.
Writer’s strike, you’ve got a lot to answer for.
I discovered two shows that I like: Dirty Sexy Money and Chuck. I would NEVER have watched either one if not for the strike.
After becoming OBSESSED with Bones during the strike (and devouring every existing episode with the aid of Blockbuster, B&N, and online episodes), the wait until April 14th is killing me.
Luckily, I hadn’t seen any episodes of The Closer until last week and am now planning on riding out the last month and a half finishing Season 1 and hitting up Season 2.
Out of love for David Boreanaz (and longing for new episodes of Bones), I started watching Angel at 6am, even though, as a die hard Buffy fan, I could never get into the show before.
I think I memorized every episode of “Family Guy” and “Still Standing” during the first part of the strike…then my boyfriend got me hooked on “Six Feet Under reruns. We were halfway through Season 2 when the strike ended. I just wish I hadn’t ruined it for myself by going on Wikipedia & finding out how it all turns out.
I made it through December alright because every there are repeats every December so it was nothing new. Then came the new year and remaining episodes of Cold Case were the only things keeping me going. When they stopped, I tried to watch some of my old favorite networks, particularly MTV. To my horror, I came to the conclusion that I am too old (and not shallow enough apparently) to watch MTV. Its nothing but badly staged dating shows and spoiled rich kids (I can’t wax nostalgic about the good old days of 24 videos on MTV because the MTV I grew up with was video countdowns inbetween Beavis and Butthead, Daria, pre-shanky Real World, Road Rules, and Singled Out but seriously – do they even pretend the M stands for music anymore?) I do like Rob and Big however).
This isn’t embarrassing, but I’m finally catching Mad Men on AMC. Don’t know why I held out, but glad I joined in.
I don’t have cable, and I’m using that fact to justify my action . . . I actually watched the last 20 minutes of “Girlicious” this week. OH GOD I feel so dirty.
I watched HGTV ALOT…
I swear….since the strike my kids have taken over and if I see another Disney show again the TV is gone…HURRY UP GUYS AND GET WRITTING!!!
I watched LA Ink and now I’m a total fan! I love Kat Von D. Plus, I want to get another tatoo.
Been glued to the Fine Living channel…that Sarah Richardson on Room Service and Design Inc does terrific shows…
I actually have been using the strike for good – I watched shows I’ve always meant to. I spent all of December watching Supernatural, and read about Jericho. Now I’ll spend the next month or so watching season one to tide myself over until new episodes.
After re-watching every episode of all the L&O franchises on every cable channel, I have discovered the joys of How I Met Your Mother (very cute show) and Criminal Minds (since Mandy Pantkin left). I did enjoy Cashmire Mafia as a guilty pleasure but I still want my Dirty Sexy Money back!
Actually I’m proud to say I didn’t change my viewing habbits at all.
Then again considering some of the shows I do watch Smallville, Supernatural, Moonlight, this may not exactly be a good thing.
To Alli-
You won’t regret watching The Closer — it’s so good, I’ve been watching the repeats (even though it’s not as fun when you already know who did it).
This is why PBS rocks so hard…I’ve DVR’d all the new (and classic) Jane Austen adaptations and “America’s Ballroom Challenge” (DVR necessary to fast forward through all the scary Jasmine Guy segments). Thus I am slowly turning my husband into a chick.
But hey, it’s better than “Moment of Truth,” right, P-Dubs? Right?!?
After not watching American Idol since Kelly Clarkson won the first season, I have now broken down and started watching this year. I hate myself for caving but when my viewing choices are limited this is what happens. I blame the strike. April can’t come fast enough when some of the shows start coming back.
What was the name of that show on the CW with mother and daughter teams of beauty pagent contestants? Yeah, that show was heinous – and yet I saw it several times.
Upside: I, too, have been watching old classics on TCM, just like Eric. Ahh, Gregory Peck…SWOON.
Downside: CSI Miami & Cold Case. Compared to the shows I love like Bones & Law&Order:Original Flavor, Miami & Cold Case are truly awful, totally predictable, and horribly written. SCHLOCK!
Upside to downside: Hearing from folks who’ve gone back to Law & Order (the original IS the best) & LOVE IT! (I’ve been trying to tell you people!)
It’s been bad. I’m now addicted to Biggest Loser, and I swore I’d never watch it, prestrike. Remember the Miss America show hosted by the cute guy from Ugly Betty? I watched every ep, but thank God, wasn’t distracted or dazed enough to actually watch the pagent. Like others, we caught up with some movies we wouldn’t have seen otherwise & we discovered Torchwood on BBC America.
Can’t wait to see how shows like Life and Reaper will turn out. And always hoping for greatness from Heroes.
I ended up watching Top Gear on BBCA, which was actually really good. I’m not into cars at all, but I can understand wanting to take a car and see how many donuts you can do beore you throw up. The new season just started this week, I’m so excited! Hopefully that will hold me ’til Bones.
I actually watched an episode of Dr. Phil from beginning to end. I will never do that again. EVER!!!!