Confession time - I fired the cable guy

[trystinn]

I just canceled the cable. The problem was pretty simple: I don't really like tv. Its almost always too damn loud, new tv shows are mind-numbingly boring and expected. The worst part - I can't seem to get people to understand a very, very simple principle. Here it is:

I do not care about the sex lives of fictional people.

Yep, that's it. Kills serials for me, always has. I have, and hope always to be, interested in the human condition. Especially so in fiction, even more so if it happens between characters I'm emotionally invested in. A delightful and witty romp in the hay on the path to enlightenment? Even better! See the difference there? Hollywood doesn't.

When I do watch tv, its usually for the news - most of which I can watch online at my leisure. And without the constant bombardment of bimbo celebrities and their endlessly exploding lives. Brad and Angelina are having trouble? Who cares? So-and-so athlete is in legal trouble again? Yeah, don't care about the professional sports industry: its corrupt, lacking of any spiritual depth and has ruined more lives than it has ever saved. And this coming from a gal who is related to an NFL player. Cousin on my mother's side. Go figure. I was shocked to see Howie on a CNN interview a few weeks ago because I had no idea he'd shaved his head. That's how out of the tv loop I am. Granted, I'm more interested in him now that I know he has OCD. Not interested enough to watch his show. Just enough to read about him on Wikipedia. Limits, people, limits.

"Oh, and speaking of confessions: I refused to watch Firefly when it was on primetime tv because it was on the Fox channel. I waited until it came out on DVD on purpose. Katie Couric must die. I hated Buffy, Angel, Hercules & Xena. Don't get me started on Desperate Housewives & the rest of the silicon drama queens. I miss the Muppet Show. The SciFi channel has gone downhill since that horrid Dune miniseries. BBC Worldwide isn't much better, frankly. I even wished that Dr. Grey had died (permanently) in the ferry accident, felt proud Seattle might have actually killed the whiny bitch. Oprah has completely sold out, but I'd still vote for her for President of the U.S., given the chance."

This is entertainment? So from now on its music, books, research & DVDs. And frankly, that's enough entertainment for me.

Good night and good luck.

Comments

[wild-heart.livejournal.com]

Jay has an embarrassingly expensive cable package hooked up here. I will watch a couple of shows on the Food Network and that's about it. I have Netflix. Last night we watched MST3K: Hercules Unchained. Now *that's* entertainment!!!

Besides, lately my life has been more interesting than any TV drama could hope to be. Blargh.

[dbmyrrha.livejournal.com]

Ha Ha. I love your icon. I'll remember that every time I say "I'm fine" (with gritted teeth.)

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Me, I'm good.

Gorgeous
Ornery
Opportunistic
Deranged

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

I think most mature people have enough drama in their lives, unwanted drama, unfortunately. Yet, time and time again, we see that manufactured drama has some sort of addictive quality for some. Unfortunately, most of the Hollywood machine seems only keyed into the that some.

Josh isn't going to be happy about this once he finds out. :)

[dbmyrrha.livejournal.com]

T.V. sucks. mostly because stupidity and mindelessness is highly addictive to people like me who suffer from an inert sort of depression. When I get depressed or feel low, I'll lay there and watch anything. I mean *anything.* The other night when I felt like such crap, I watched "Cheaters," a show like "Cops" but here they spy on cheating spouses/s.o.s and then have the offended party burst in and catch them "in the act." I also watched an entire infomercial for the H2O mop. (Which, incidentally, looks really fucking cool. I want one, and a Roomba, too.)

See? T.V. is stupid and evil. I actually prefer to watch the shows I really like (such as "Lost") once the season is released on DVD.

That said, the only reason I have cable at all is because it's actually cheaper to get internet and cable than it is to get just internet. I only have 14 channels, though. The only good one I get is Discovery.

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Josh's depression manifests the same way, which is one of the reasons I wanted to get rid of it. When he's home I want him to myself. I'm greedy.

Yes, I've seen Cheaters. I think every insomniac has at one time or another. In the end it turned out to be too depressing - garbage in, garbage out, you know?

There's a few shows I do like (House, M.D., Weeds, C.S.I.), but I prefer to watch them in a DVD weekend splurge once they are released.

I think given our furkids, steam cleaners are probably a really great alternative. I've been wanting one for years. Because of my chemical sensitivities, I tend to clean mostly with diluted vinegar (safer for the buns, too). The day Roomba can pick up dog hair and dog hair I'll probably grab one!

[bunnsidhe.livejournal.com]

Do you know the original host of Cheaters got himself stabbed? He confronted a very angry cheating husband. I can't say I blame the angry husband--that guy really got on my nerves.

[bunnsidhe.livejournal.com]

I guess you weren't a fan of Sex and the City? ;)

Okay, I'll admit it--my father and I loved Xena.

We have only seven channels. We have our BBC news, Law & Order and a few decent comedies. We're pretty satisfied.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

I hate it, too. The person who thought Desperate Housewives would be good entertainment should be shot.

However, with a toddler in the house, I'd need to buy some Little Einsteins episodes on DVD before I "cut the cord."

[winterlion.livejournal.com]

I quit cable the last time I gave away my TV....
(1995 or something like that)

To Jim Henson and The Muppets!!

PS: there's some bright stuff coming out of BBC these days I've heard... bbc.co.uk is SO helpful and is supposed to have episodes online soon (if not already) WOOT!

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Yep, I've been watching BBC Worldwide on YouTube, which I adore~! Thank you!

[nocturnalia.livejournal.com]

good for you!

we haven't had cable here since...2004? we have a TV which we use for movies (rarely) and video games and classic cartoons (much more frequently). I miss none of it.

yay books!

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Hubby's not going to appreciate my decision, but glad a few of my friends have.

Movies and books!