I haven't watched TV in about 25 years. I've owned one here and there, and I've lived with roommates who've had them, but I didn't watch. About 4 years ago I bought a TV with every intention of watching movies on it. I didn't watch many movies (I bought a set of PBS Masterpiece – Mystery Series – Miss Marple movies and watched all of those, and that was about it.) I have since given the TV to my partner and it sits in the living room. At least he has agreed that it doesn't need to be on all day, every day, regardless of whether he's in there watching it or not. Which means that I can be in the kitchen without listening to guns, violence, canned laughter and commercials.
I do regret some things, though. At work people talk about shows that they watch. I miss out on that camaraderie. However, if I try to sit and watch one of the shows, I can't make it through an episode. Then, for instance, X Files came to an end and I realized that I had missed quite a bonding moment. Not only that, but it seemed like the storyline took a legitimately interesting turn. That phenomenon, from what I understand, was mostly due to the actress Gillian Anderson having a baby and having to be written out of the script for a few episodes. They decided, hmmm... this show is about paranormal activity... let's have her be abducted by aliens. (This is how it was explained to me, anyway.) Then, BAM. Instant intrigue and depth of plot, and a surge in interest.
I saw part of one episode of a show in which somebody was watching a very antiquated type of movie (like one that would be shown in a school classroom in the 70's) about having to come into a room and push a button periodically or the world would come to an end. I may be remembering it badly. But, though I thought it was actually kind of interesting, I couldn't sit still through the episode. Then, at the end of the show called Lost, the entire world was watching and talking about it, and the way they described it made it sound fascinating. And, I'd missed out again.
Oh sure, I could rent or buy the seasons and watch them, but I wouldn't be experiencing them with a group of people. I still wouldn't have the part of the experience to which I was most drawn – the interaction. I suppose that I don't miss it enough to sit down and watch the shows, though. I thought that the PBS Masterpiece series, Wolf Hall, would be interesting – and it was, very. But, after the second episode, I couldn't get myself to sit down and watch it. I don't know why. I still want to see it, and they're showing it again. Maybe this time...
Also, there seems to have been a podcast that got quite a bit of attention a couple of years ago. It was called Serial. As I write this I'm wondering whether the world would give a collective groan that I hadn't heard of it before, or a puzzled look indicating that it didn't know or care about this podcast. It could go either way. From all accounts it was wildly popular in the podcast world; I just don't know how big that world is – compared to TV-land, for instance. Nobody that I talk to has heard of it, or really understands the concept of a podcast.
I will listen to it – but again, I will do so after the fact and after everybody else who might be interested has already done so. However, there is a new one. It's called S-Town. Apparently it was released about a week ago, so when I started listening to it, it wasn't yet a week old. I've listened to two episodes so far. They have already released the whole thing, though. Like, I could binge listen to all seven episodes if I wanted. Plus, I still have a lack of people in my circle of friends who listen to podcasts, so I'm struggling to find somebody to discuss it with. I think I'll turn to social media for friends and discussion.
Quite possibly I need to get out more.