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Waiting for DVD | August 08, 2006
So, one of my most favorite people, Isabel (I love her even though she has admitted to not watching Big Brother), asked a very interesting question in the comments recently. She wanted to know what I think about those "viewers" who don't watch TV shows until they're on DVD. She uses the example of Arrested Development as a show that so many people waited to watch on DVD -- and we all know its fate, of course.
My answer has two parts:
1. I can't blame people for wanting to watch a show with so much continuity, such as Arrested Development or Veronica Mars or even Lost, on DVD. After all, then you don't have to wait for a week (or often longer) to see the next episode. So, I understand it. I have thoroughly enjoyed many shows that I first started watching on DVD (examples: Farscape, Buffy, Battlestar Galactica, The Shield). On the other hand...
2. I do believe that as a fan of a show such as Arrested Development, you have an obligation to watch it on TV and to pressure as many people as possible into also watching it on TV. When a show is critically acclaimed and adored by its fans but can't muster up 5 million viewers a week, there's something wrong. That something wrong is people who complain that a show is about to get canceled when those very same people have never watched an actual episode on TV. It angers me. Grrrr.
So, I guess, to sum up, if you want to wait until it's out on DVD, I don't want to hear you complain about its cancellation. I wish Farscape and Freaks & Geeks hadn't been canceled, but I didn't watch them yet, so I don't complain about those rat bastards who canceled them -- or even worse, stupid viewers who didn't watch -- because I didn't watch either! Everwood, Firefly and Arrested Development on the other hand? I will yell at you all for YEARS, and call the studio executives idiots for the rest of my life! Hey, I earned that right. Right?!
8 Comments
I am sorry for not watching BB. But if it helps, I watched my first episode of "How I Met your Mother" last night and it's awesome.
I watched AD on TV, but only the last season. And I tried SO hard to convince others to watch it. I really did.
So, I guess we do need to support the shows that are on TV and to get others to watch them.
Which is exactly what you do every week. You are always trying to get me to try new things!!
Posted by: Isabel | August 8, 2006 12:05 PM
What good does it do if me and my homies watch something - we are not nielson raters. Is there a new system now for determining viewership?
Posted by: Jason Gallagher | August 8, 2006 12:55 PM
What? I thought I was your favorite. I am sulking now (okay, not really).
Well, I am hooked on Veronica Mars now so that is good. I am doing my part, right?
Posted by: DM | August 8, 2006 02:09 PM
Nielsen is supposed to start measuring on-demand and DVR viewership, so at least there may be hope for shows in the future.
Posted by: Jay | August 8, 2006 02:36 PM
YAY Isabel. She's my favorite. Oh, but we were talking about tv shows. What was the topic?
Posted by: HollowSquirrel | August 8, 2006 07:20 PM
Yep, I am one of those DVD people. So far I have watched
sex and the city
sopranos
weeds
six feet under
veronica mars (last season provided by you on vhs)
firefly
grey's anatomy (season 1) saw 2 in real time
wonderfalls
dead like me
the l word
i am sure there are others. you will note most are cable and i am not in agreement that i have an obligation to sign up for cable and watch these shows. i am happy to watch if someone else wants to pay for my premium cable. plus i am not eligibl to counted in the ratings anyway...
Posted by: lynne | August 8, 2006 10:36 PM
I'm one of those DVD people, too, because I don't subscribe to cable, nor do I bother with an antenna for basic reception. A few years ago, I lived with my dad, who not only had TV but had hi def on a big screen (nice!). I watched the first season of Arrested Development. Very good show. Then I moved out and did the no TV thing and missed the next season. Whenever I catch an episode now (when my boyfriend watches the DVDs), it loses me. Too many inside jokes that I don't understand because I had missed several episodes. So, that's my theory about the show's demise: They made it too hard to pick up in the middle of a season, so people didn't bother. People don't want that from a sitcom. But the show might have had a fighting chance if Nielson had a broader rating system, as Jay mentioned.
Posted by: | August 11, 2006 11:19 AM
The thing is, aren't ratings still based on antiquated Nielsen-family homes? If we got everyone we knew to watch great shows like Arrested Development, Firefly et. al, how much does it matter if they aren't Nielsen homes?
By the way, I also rely on DVD because I refuse to spend money on cable just to be more of a TVVeggie than I already am!!!
I have books to read and workouts to do!!!!
I can blast through BSG or Nip/Tuck in a day and a half or so on DVD.
Posted by: | August 14, 2006 05:23 PM
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