Why are you people not fast-forwarding through commercials?!

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Nick Wed, Jan 2, 2008 at 12:58 PM EST

I can't believe that many don't either! In fact if I could change anything about my DVR it would be to make it easier to stop ffing once the show comes back on instead of going to far into into it.

Emily Mon, Dec 31, 2007 at 10:28 AM EST

If I'm watching a show with my undivided attention, I ALWAYS fast-forward.

However, our DVR is in our bedroom by our computers. We are usually working on a project or surfing the internet while we watch shows. Then we sometimes forget to fastforward because we use the commercials to better focus on the internet, and read something there. While our favorite shows are on, it's more of just browsing online.

sarah j Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST

i can't remember the last time i actually watched anything live. my husband and i usually fight over the remote when the commercials start; we are each convinced that we are better at stopping just in time for the end of the break.

is anyone else annoyed at the american express ads that come on during 30 Rock that look like part of the show?? i keep falling for it every time...

Pepper Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 12:21 PM EST

'Always, always fast forward through commercials!

Lene Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 11:39 AM EST

p.s. speaking of ads - I get that EW.com has ads, I do. Hate 'em - especially the ones that install spyware on my computer, of which there are several and could you get rid of them, please? However, as long as they're clean (i.e., don't leave junk on my computer), I can live with them. However, since only paid subscribers have access to the site, can you please can that initial ad that's begun to pop up before the site loads?

Lene Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 11:34 AM EST

Fast-forward? Always. I miss the odd good commercial, but as 90% of them treat me as if my IQ is smaller than my shoesize, I refuse to wade through the dreck to find the occasional pearl.

Roni Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 09:16 AM EST

I sometimes forget until about a minute into them, but then I'll fast forward. Then if I am watching it live I try to fast forward, but obviously I can't. So, I end up pausing and doing something else, so I can. It's kinda sad really.

FYI Tasia Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 08:48 AM EST

The Ad Report Card writer has gone walkabout, so there are no new Ad Report Card entries anymore.

Working Girl Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 08:46 AM EST

I was watching 'Boston Legal' with my mom, which she records, but was starting to watch it live. I looked at her like she was on crack - everyone knows you don't start an hour-long show until 17 minutes in! And 8 minutes in for a half-hour show! Even if you sit and stare into space for the lag time, it's better than watching the commercials. DVR has given us one more tiny opportunity to fight The Man, and we owe it to ourselves to take it!

Jade Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 07:39 AM EST

i miss the days when half hr shows got about 24 mins of the 30 mins. wish it go back to that now it seems like a 30 mins show is really only 12 to 20 mins long :(. And an hr long tv show is really only 30 to 42 mins long. Its a shame we have to sit threw all the awful commericials. Thank goodness for the fastforward button/tivo and other tech. like this. Now if only we could block ads online, telemarketers, spam in inboxs and commericials on radio etc lol.

Jade Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 07:30 AM EST

If I taped something on my vcr I always press pause when the commericial break comes on. Who wants to sit threw another 5 or more mins again when watching the tape back. If I have to program my vcr to tape something while im away later on when i watch the tape back I always fast forward threw commericials. back in the day there used to be alot less commercials played during a 1 hr show and half hr show now there is so many commericials that there is more of them than mins of show. i hate 99 percent of commericals on tv/radio/online.

Fri, Dec 28, 2007 at 12:49 AM EST

i watch so much stuff off my dvr i don't even remember the last time I watched a commercial.

BrandonK Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 10:26 PM EST

I definitely fast forward through commercials, but my partner has a tendency to forget! LOL

Houstonian Jen in DC Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 10:06 PM EST

Tasia, I wish I could have fast forwarded through your comment...

judy Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 08:35 PM EST

I can't remember the last time I watched a commercial. Most times, I'll wait to watch my favorite shows after they air just so I can fast forward through all of the commercials.

Tasia Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 07:57 PM EST

I usually fast forward through commercials (20 minutes is usually the optimal time for a 1 hour show, so that you dont catch up with live TV). But as a former marketing student, I feel really guilty for the rich advertisers, so sometimes, if something seems really good (or really bad), I'll watch it just to keep up to date on the latest ads. Anyone seen the car commercial (Kia?) with the guy imitating flash dance?! Hilarious! I actually had to rewind that one. For info on the best and worst commercials, check out the Ad Report Card on Slate (www.msn.com)

Michael Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 06:53 PM EST

Sometimes. My partner and I watch the beginning and see if it is a commercial we want to see. I am particular fond of Apple commercials. He really likes that "these are a few of my favorite things" commercial for American Express. We both enjoy Target ads.

But once we a see a commercial we don't want, we always "Blip, blip" a la the sound your TiVo makes when you 30 second skips.

DifferentStef Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 04:56 PM EST

My boyfriend never fast forwards through the commercials. He says he likes to watch the "period commercials", even though we've only recorded it a week ago! Dumb, I know. We argue over it every time.

Scott K Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 04:49 PM EST

I always fast forward the commercials. Sometimes I start recording a show just so I can watch it without commercials. I'll watch something else I've recorded and go back to it. I Fast forward so much, I instintually press it whenever I see a commercial, even when I am watching something live!

Jennifer Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 04:48 PM EST

My husband and I always say, "FFPA" for "Fast Forward Please, Alan" or "FFPJ" for "Fast Forward Please, Jennifer" the second a commercial starts. It's fun :)

Dana Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 04:41 PM EST

I always fast forward through commercials. I DVR most of the shows I watch even if I am home. That way I can do laundry or clean and watch them later without having to sit through the commercials.

Corinne Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 04:16 PM EST

I always FF. My husband just plain forgets. That is why I am the boss of the tivo remote. Now since the writers strike we have nothing saved on tivo, this is the first I have seen commercials in prime time in like 2 years. It is driving me crazy!

jaime Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 03:49 PM EST

Why wouldnt you that is crazy isnt that why they invinted DVR...jk but no for real i alway FF b/c that is 15 mins of my life that i can do something else with!!!!

BLM Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 03:35 PM EST

My husband always forgets to FF on DVR. We'll be sitting there watching a DVR'd show and he'll be holding the remote and a commercial comes on and... nothing. I'm sitting there watching a commercial for no reason! I yell at him to FF quick. "Oh, I forgot," is his response. I should be in charge of the remote--he sucks!

TsuKata Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 03:34 PM EST

It depends on the show. If I've just got a show on while I do other things, I let the commercials run. This is usually Mythbusters or something, so the commercials are interesting at least. When it's a show that I'm actively watching (e.g., Lost), I skip through the commercials and only stop if I see a Mac vs. PC ad.

idigress Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 03:33 PM EST

I fast-forward through most ads - I have a 7-year-old daughter and if I did not fast forward, her Christmas list would have been at least 2 full pages long!

cranberry Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 03:20 PM EST

I want to FF, really I do but sometimes I just forget and have watched a few commercials before I realize "hey - I can just fast forward." Sad, I know. : )

TVSlave Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 03:07 PM EST

Samsara has the right idea....you can watch in almost real time and avoid those commerials. I always FF. I just wish I had the 30/60 sec FF on my DVR - but noooo, Charter Cable does not offer it on the digital boxes....boo...hiss!

Stef Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:56 PM EST

There are a couple of commercials that I have seen over the past year since getting a DVR that I have noticed I cannot fast forward through successfully. Most specifically there was a sprite commercial that while it was moving very fast, it was looping over the commercial repeatedly and I couldn't ff past it, I HAD to watch it in order to see the next part of the show! Other than that I religiously ff the commercials.

Patty Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:40 PM EST

I think I use the FF/rewind feature most often, then pause, then record. I very rarely let me husband have the remote during a playback, because he tends not to FF unless I nudge him. I think he just forgets sometimes that he is not watching live and can FF, maybe that is all those peoples' problem as well.

Houstonian Jen in DC Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:33 PM EST

I fast forward religiously. In fact, I am in the 15-minute delay crew--even if I have nothing to do, I will find something to do just long enough that I can avoid the commercials when I watch my recording.

I have been known to stop for the occasional local news preview. They usually happen right before the show begins again. They are hilarious. "Two monkies spend the night in a mall...more details tonight at 11!!" Comic gold!

Shirley Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:18 PM EST

Mandi I think we might have been separated at birth, I will pause anytime I see a commercial if something interests me as I'm ffing thru like the Mac commercials or an upcoming theatrical release I want to see. If I really want to see the program live I will waite 15-20 minutes so I can still ff.

Samsara Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:06 PM EST

If it's a good TV night I will set recordings for all the shows I want to watch that night. I will busy myself around the house - cleaning, laundry, etc. Then at about 8:30pm (CST), I will sit down and watch my shows so I can FF through all the commercials. By 11pm I'm done and ready for bed!

Stephanie T. Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:04 PM EST

If I had a DVR I would because some of these commericals are really annoying. For example, if you live in New York City, there is a commerical for IO Digital Cable. There are two guys(one loks like a bootleg Daddy Yankee)performing a fake Reggetone song in what looks like a cheaply made video.

Rich Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:02 PM EST

I have both a TiVo and a DVR... with the TiVo, when I fast forward I can see a part of the commercial, if it looks interesting (like a trailer, new product, or funny like beer ads) and I haven't seen it before, I'll watch it, otherwise I'll keep fast forwarding... as for my DVR it has a 30 sec skip, so I don't watch any... believe it or not, I prefer my TiVo, that way at least I'm upto date to any recent developments... i feel w/ my DVR... I'm missing something... my main point is that I am willing to watch a new commercial, but just once...

Rich Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 02:02 PM EST

I have both a TiVo and a DVR... with the TiVo, when I fast forward I can see a part of the commercial, if it looks interesting (like a trailer, new product, or funny like beer ads) and I haven't seen it before, I'll watch it, otherwise I'll keep fast forwarding... as for my DVR it has a 30 sec skip, so I don't watch any... believe it or not, I prefer my TiVo, that way at least I'm upto date to any recent developments... i feel w/ my DVR... I'm missing something... my main point is that I am willing to watch a new commercial, but just once...

Ceballos Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:42 PM EST

Whoa...definitely used one (or two) too many exclamation points in that last post.

Ceballos Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:41 PM EST

Mandi,

Sure! I've got nowhere else I have to be. Looking forward to it!

LadyTiger Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:36 PM EST

I always fast forward, and sometime feel left out of the pop culture loop when someone asks "have you seen the commercial for such and such -- it's a good one!" I usually stop for the Mac vs. PC guy commercials.

Britt Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:35 PM EST

I always ff, I can't even watch live tv I record it and find something else to do until enough time has passed so I can ff.

Mandi Bierly Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:34 PM EST

el, i should have thought of that! if that's the case, i LOVE these people.
Ceballos, same time same place tomorrow?

TiaMaria Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:30 PM EST

I have to admit, I don't always ff through commercials. Sometimes, I want to multitask -- like read a magazine (EW, of course!) -- so I use the commercial breaks to read an article or two. I find commercial breaks nice. I don't, however, pay attention to the commercials -- I just use them as a breather from the show. I know, I'm crazy. What can I say? :-)

Kelly Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:28 PM EST

I always FF as well. If I'm watching something at its regularly scheduled time, I pause it for 15 minutes or so and go do something else so that I will have room to FF - or I switch back and forth between two different shows and pause the one I'm not currently watching. I tend to be slightly obsessive about making sure I don't watch the commercials - why else pay the cable company to have the DVR in the first place.

Zoot Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:27 PM EST

First? I think those people are crazy. Second? I do the same not-pause think when I have to go to the bathroom during commercials as well!

drella66 Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:27 PM EST

oh, and if i, god forbid, have to watch live tv, half the time I still try to fast forward the commercials(and then Im mad I have to sit through them)

drella66 Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:25 PM EST

OF COURSE. I am so not watching commercials that if I am home, and could start watching Survivor as live TV at 8, I will sit and wait until about 8:10-8:15 so I can watch the currently being recorded Tivo'ed version and get to fast forward commercials...

NineDaves Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:23 PM EST

i don't understand why you wouldn't fast forward through commercials? if you don't, you shouldn't even own a dvr in the first place!

Christa Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:20 PM EST

I always do, unless I'm knitting and I just can't stop to pick up the remote.

Nicole Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:19 PM EST

I always fast forward through them but I know both my mother in law and father in law forget alot of the time that they are watching something dvr'd and i or my husband have to remind them about it.

Chris Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:17 PM EST

Most of the time, if I'm not FFing through commercials, it's because I forget that I'm not watching live TV.

donner Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:14 PM EST

Good Lord, YES! YES! I always FF thru the crummy commercials (thanks Ralphie!)...I also like to rewind during LIVE viewings so that I can jump thru them when I'm just watching a show that I haven't recorded...ironically, I watched the Funniest Commericals of 2007 last night on TBS...and they were pretty funny...but they are the rarity, I know...

Tuzo Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:05 PM EST

That is insane! The only thing I can think of is that half the people don't know they can fast forward?!?

Ceballos Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:05 PM EST

Yep, another VCR person here, and I not only fast forward through commercials when I have the remote (most of the time), but I get seriously annoyed when others don't. Yes I have a problem.

By the way Mandi. It stinks that it appears you're the only one in the Popwatch offices today, but thanks for writing to keep me (and others) entertained (since I'm the only one in my office today).

Sarah Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:04 PM EST

I don't know how to explain it but...You know how "Home Alone" or "A Christmas Story" or some movie comes on TV and you watch it even though you already own it because watching it with commercials is different than watching it on DVD? That's the same with TV shows. If I wanted to watch a show without commercials, I'd watch it on DVD and it would be a way different experience.

el Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:04 PM EST

Maybe the people resonding to the survey have heard the concerns about DVRs ruining typical advertising based TV programming, and are trying to convinve the advertisers that they are still getting their money's worth, so that they don't pull their ads and ruin TV as we know it. If that's true, awesome. The only time I dont fast forward the commercials on my DVR is when I am watching something live and CAN'T. For this reason, if we want to watch something when it is on we usually wait until it is about 15 minutes in.

Adrienne Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 01:04 PM EST

I always fast forward. I can't stand commercials (though like Jen, I do think Mac ads are funny). Occasionally I even catch myself trying to fast forward through a show I'm watching at it's normal time.

Sally in Chicago Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 12:59 PM EST

I record with good old fashion VHS and yes I fast-forward through commercials.
Could it be they don't fast forward bec. they walk away from the set and do something else when commercials come on?

Earle Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 12:59 PM EST

I usually do unless I am distracted. One reason I might not FF is that if I go to far, then I have to rewind. How lazy can I be!

Jen Thu, Dec 27, 2007 at 12:52 PM EST

I fast forward through commercials, but I stop for Mac ads and Above the Influence spots. I love when the little dog says things like "you dissapoint me."