Put down that remote and read this book about a remote
Sometimes I suspect that I may watch too much television. We smarties are in to literature, you see - the majesty of the printed word - the theatre of the mind!
So I'm reading this book about a guy who set up 12 televisions in his apartment in 1999 and watched them all simultaneously for a week straight. It's sociology, of course. I'm only up to Tuesday in his week so far because, well, Battlestar Galactica and then 24 and then the Knights of Prosperity were all new episodes this week.
The book ("Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Jack Lechner) is good, reasonably entertaining and more or less devoid of any required analysis. However, as an historical document I did think it was interesting to contrast the experience he had eight years ago with what a similarly inclined adventurer would find in the modern era.
For one thing, his cable system then only had about 60 channels on it. From a pop culture analysis perspective, this would be somewhat analogous to studying the Bible by reading only that guy's sign in the end zone stands. For instance, how would you really understand the modern craze for real estate investment without be able to watch both "Flip This House" on A&E as well as "Flip That House" on TLC?
Also, you can tell that back in the olden days television viewing was much less efficient than it is today. For instance, Lechner on one day watched the Rosie O'Donnell Show, the daytime talk show the comedienne had back then; then The View gabfest with Barbara Walters and gals; and then later the network news. Today, he could just watch the network news, which would be all about what Rosie O'Donnell said that morning on The View. That would free up time for watching an additional "Flip That House" marathon.
By the way, try that "Knights of Prosperity" show on ABC - it's a really good sit-com about a group of blue-collar working stiffs who form a "crime syndicate" they call the Knights of Prosperity for the singular purpose of robbing Mick Jagger's apartment. It's a serial about how they are putting together their plan and it's pretty funny. Since it's a unique, quirky non-laugh-tracked show it also probably won't be on long, but I think all the episodes are available online at abc.com.
So I'm reading this book about a guy who set up 12 televisions in his apartment in 1999 and watched them all simultaneously for a week straight. It's sociology, of course. I'm only up to Tuesday in his week so far because, well, Battlestar Galactica and then 24 and then the Knights of Prosperity were all new episodes this week.
The book ("Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Jack Lechner) is good, reasonably entertaining and more or less devoid of any required analysis. However, as an historical document I did think it was interesting to contrast the experience he had eight years ago with what a similarly inclined adventurer would find in the modern era.
For one thing, his cable system then only had about 60 channels on it. From a pop culture analysis perspective, this would be somewhat analogous to studying the Bible by reading only that guy's sign in the end zone stands. For instance, how would you really understand the modern craze for real estate investment without be able to watch both "Flip This House" on A&E as well as "Flip That House" on TLC?
Also, you can tell that back in the olden days television viewing was much less efficient than it is today. For instance, Lechner on one day watched the Rosie O'Donnell Show, the daytime talk show the comedienne had back then; then The View gabfest with Barbara Walters and gals; and then later the network news. Today, he could just watch the network news, which would be all about what Rosie O'Donnell said that morning on The View. That would free up time for watching an additional "Flip That House" marathon.
By the way, try that "Knights of Prosperity" show on ABC - it's a really good sit-com about a group of blue-collar working stiffs who form a "crime syndicate" they call the Knights of Prosperity for the singular purpose of robbing Mick Jagger's apartment. It's a serial about how they are putting together their plan and it's pretty funny. Since it's a unique, quirky non-laugh-tracked show it also probably won't be on long, but I think all the episodes are available online at abc.com.
posted by Matt | 12:06 AM
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