My name is Donna, and I'm a TV addict. Seriously. I'd like to think I'm semi-recovering, since I no longer have two shows per day that I MUST WATCH NO MATTER WHAT. (I'm down to like one per day, and that's only during the September-December, January-May period. And I'm totally normal during re-runs.) And I used to completely freak if someone attempted to talk to me when it wasn't a commercial. The phone would ring and I'd be all, "Um hey Buffy's on canIcallyoubacklater?" I'm totally chill now...ahem, thanks to DVR and pausing live TV.
I'm a pretty particular type of TV addict, though. I rarely watch a show for the sake of watching it. Of course, I'll sit down for the random HGTV show or the always-engrossing E! True Hollywood Story, but I have too much going on to waste my time on non-obsessions. And I've seen every single Friends episode fifteen times and I'm never tired of them.
But what is it about a show that hooks me? It's the same thing, I realized, as what makes me love a book. Primarily, it's the characters and dialogue. And I'm an utter sucker for a juicy romance. Do I enjoy the random episode of Law & Order? Yeah. But I can walk away.
(Disclaimer: I didn't have cable until I went to college, so don't hate me for neglecting your favorite Nickelodeon series or something.)
So what shows can I watch over and over?
(Honestly, there are more, but this is a sampling of the best.)
~ Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- FANTASTIC through the end of season 3, still great through the end of season 5 (when it should've stayed ended). Some of the best teen dialogue out there.~ Alias -- At least until the third season, when JJ decided to turn a fantastic spy show into a prophecy-ridden mess of identity issues.
~ Grey's Anatomy -- I didn't study for my science final in colle
ge because I couldn't stop watching the end of season 1 on DVD. nuff said. Hoping it regains some former glory this season.~ Lost -- JJ, I'm trusting you not to lead me astray this time. I'm investing years of my life in this!
~ Scrubs -- Too absurdly funny not to love.
~ Friends -- My ideal comedy. I will quote it to the death. I loved the seasons when the jokes became character-centric and not just one-liners.
~ My So-Called Life -- Only the good die young. If you never saw it, it's out on DVD!
~ Desperate Housewives -- Really well written. Not enough people appreciate the quality behind the fluff.
New(er) addictions:~ Castle -- Smart, snarky, totally fun, with great chemistry. And it's about a writer!
~ Dollhouse -- I heart Joss Whedon.
~ Samantha Who -- Really really funny. So bummed it's cancelled!
... and since I write YA ...
My Favorite Teen Shows (from when I was a teen):
Buffy / Dawson's Creek / Beverly Hills, 90210 (not the newfangled crap!) / Roswell (mock me for the aliens if you will...but I also love the 10-book series) / The O.C. (again, awesome for about 2 seasons.) / Saved By the Bell (only the original class) / Party of Five / Gilmore Girls
... plus there are shows that are awesome, but didn't addict me ...
Other Really Really Really Great Shows:
The Wonder Years / Home Improvement / Fresh Prince of Bel-Air / Full House (so bad it was good) / The Cosby Show / It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia / The Golden Girls / Family Guy / Cheers / Malcolm in the Middle / The King of Queens
I'd like to think that all of these shows over the years have helped me to be a better writer. Did I learn plotting (both good and bad)? Yes. Did I hear great conversational dialogue? Totally. Did I salivate over cliffhangers? Oh yeah. (What better way to see how chapters should end?) Did I see how to draw out a romance over a very very long period of time? Yeppers. AND (the best lesson) I learned how to show, not tell. (Woo Golden Rule!)
Alright, here's your chance to agree...or argue! Do I love something you think is terrible? What did I forget to include? Comment away!
PS - A semi-inspiration for this post came from Janice Hardy, over at The Other Side of the Story. She gets you thinking!
I love Samantha Who? it's hilarious!
ReplyDeleteMy So Called Life and Buffy Seasons 1-3 FTW!!! Grey's was AMAZING season 1 and 2, but I'll never forgive the writers for the cracked out way they dealt with season 3 and I never even bothered with season 4 and 5!!! I get to passionate about this, but seriously season 3, George's dad's cancer needed to drag on and he should've died during the season finale. And on top of one intern's parents death, we had Meredith's mom die, and then her step mom die-how many times can this storyline repeat itself in one season! UGH! Now I'm fired up!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Donna! For me, I need the trifecta (I guess I have high standards?) of character/dialogue/intrigue--for a half-hour show, I only need two of the three--case in point: i LOVE The Office and 30 Rock. Intrigue? Not so much. But the character and dialogue is so outstanding, you don't need anything else.
ReplyDeleteFor the hour-long shows, though, I need the intrigue, so my favorite shows include House, Bones, Heroes (though I'm getting dubious), Chuck, etc. And all I need is a grizzly murder scene and I'm sucked into an episode of Law & Order, NCIS, Numb3rs... And let's not forget, my five year obsession with The X-Files.
Oh, My So-Called Life. A single tear just worked it's way down my cheek. I love that show. I love Jordan Catalano and I love Brian Krakow. Ugh, I miss that show.
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved Samantha Who too. And Lost. And True Blood. And Gossip Girl. And Friday Night Lights. And Big Love. And pretty much anything with teenagers and a plot. Oh and anything that Bravo craps out.
My standards are really low.
Omg, I forgot about Gossip Girl! I've only watched part of the first season, but I think I might be (shamefully) in love.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Donna. I rarely watch TV anymore... except for LOST. I'm totally obsessed. Can't stand waiting until late January for the final season.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch too much TV, which is one of the reasons I never got any writing done. Roswell was one of my favorites. And I own all the Roswell High books which were also cool and should still be in print. But My So-Called Life was the best. The writing, the acting, the characters. We can all learn from that one wonderful season.
As for comedies, do any of you remember Brother's Keeper? Another show that should have lasted longer than one season.
I don't remember Brother's Keeper at all. Thanks for all the comments guys! Oh, and I ought to mention -- some shows now that I think I'll really love, I just wait until they're cancelled or end and are out on DVD. That way, they take over my life for like a month as I watch them all back to back, but then I'm DONE! It just feels less time-consuming in the long run.
ReplyDelete