Pilot Episode: About This Blog

Since entering college, I have found myself with large but random pockets of time on my hands in between classes and work. I've developed a habit of using this time host my own television "marathons", watching entire series in a matter of day. Last spring, in one week I was wrapping up David Tennant's run on Doctor Who, then immediately started Lost so that I could have it completed in time to view the series finale. I don't think this is particularly unusual of many people. There's something wonderful about sitting down and watching several episodes of a show, one after another, especially after a long day of stressful work.

However, a lot of the times watching shows in bulk means the viewer is watching them on DVD or maybe Netflix Instant, and that usually means watching a show that is at least one season if not more behind what's current. Indeed, being  fan of marathon viewing like I am makes it so that I watch a lot of television that is either no longer on TV or at the least pretty dated.

I love watching current television live, of course. There's a good argument to be made that television is best   watched on its first run. Certainly, those who care about ratings would prefer the audience watched a program live. There's an anticipation to live television that can't be replicated, an instantaneous rush in knowing you're viewing something at the same time as everyone else around the country. As soon as the credits roll, you can call up a friend and ask them did you see that? It's also possible that half the fun of some shows is the buildup of watching it week after week, tuning in to be given another piece of a plot puzzle.

The problem is, if people only watched what was on television now, many gems would be lost amongst the chaos. International hits may never be imported. Great TV from decades past that have just come onto DVD may be forgotten. Even worse, sometimes a show that you once loved loses most if not all of the elements that made you enjoy it in the first place, which makes it hard to remember the good times. Being a longtime fan of a program can be a bitch sometimes.

Thankfully, there's something about watching a show you've already viewed before long after it was ever on television that can give a wonderful sense of nostalgia, and more importantly, watching a program that you have been distanced from for some time adds a deeper level of consideration and allows for retrospection.

It is retrospection that this blog will discuss. With all the television that I watch, I find myself needing an outlet to discuss my thoughts and discoveries, which can be hard to do in a day and age where people focus more on the now and less on "then". This will not be a blog about only "old" shows. The programs discussed may only be one season behind what's current. It is in this way that I hope to make the process of viewing just as enjoyable as that feeling being completely in the dark about a show and wondering what will happen next. There are some truly gorgeous scenes that can be only be enjoyed once time has passed. It's amazing what you can learn about a show when you view television with retrospective goggles.

Fun Fact: I Love Lucy was the first show to have re-broadcasts. At the time, the network couldn't fathom the idea that people would even care seeing a show a second time around, giving up their rights to "re-runs" to show creators & stars, Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball.