I hate television.
I love television.

(Sigh)

I guess I have a love/hate relationship with TV.  I “gave it up” 2 years ago, and it sucked me back in in a sense.  I guess what I hate about TV (as watched through an actual television) is that it is a time waster.   I hate the barrage of commercials.  I hate that you get sucked in to watching sucky shows when you could and should be doing something else.

However, thanks the wonders of the internet (which is truly an amazing resource…I learn something new on wikipedia almost every day), TV shows are again available to me.  Free. Online.  On demand.  With limited commercial interruptions.  I love television.  I think my obvious favorite shows are the serial types that build upon each episode a la (you guessed it) Lost and Heroes (speaking of which read this interview with Lost co-creator Damon Lindeloff and Heroes creator Tim Kring).

But on the other hand I’ve gotten sucked into dramedies this year (Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty).  In my book, TV shows now have an advantage over watching a movie in several aspects:

  1. It is much easier to just watch one 42 minute episode to unwind at the end of the day as opposed to 1.5-2 hour long movie.
  2. You already know and love the characters.  It’s like revisiting with old friends.
  3. The serial aspect.  A continuing story that continues to grow.

I think we will get back into watching movies this summer when all of these shows are on hiatus.  And I think it will be tough to not pick up additional shows in the Fall, like the Grey’s spinoff Private Practice or Michael Vartan’s (Alias’ Vaughn) return in Big Shots (Both on ABC this fall).  (Can I just say how great it is to see just about all of the former cast of Alias back on the air in different shows.  It’s good to see them working again…now if only Jen Garner would return to TV or stop making so-so movies).

so.
I hate television.
I love television.
I love online television!