Why I'm frustrated with TV

Perhaps we’ve become spoiled; perhaps we’ve spoiled them. But either way, the television/entertainment industry is getting on my nerves. For years I was fine watching very little television. My computer kept me entertained and I didn’t have to worry about missing a week of a show and being lost. During my time without a lot of TV, I still enjoyed watching the Sopranos, which may make one believe I am a hypocrite. But, I am a hypocrite with a point and that is what this is about.

Once we started using DVR my TV series watching dramatically increased. I began adding shows such as the Office, House, Heroes, Battlestar Gallactica, and Grey’s Anatomy etc. to my list of favorites. I could tape them on my DVR and watch at will. (I’m not sure if “tape” is the correct way to express what you do with the DVR). I never expected that these shows I loved would turn the tables on me.

Last night we watched House, on the night it aired for a change. I was excited. We’d been waiting for this show because they’d been on a break. That’s when I found out next week there would not be a show. They aren’t the only ones doing this. Several of my favorites are taking extended breaks in the middle of the season. This has me really frustrated. I no longer watch Grey’s Anatomy because they came back on a different day and for some reason my DVR didn’t record a few episodes. There were so many repeats I just gave up. I really like House, but I’m afraid it’s going down that path as well. I’m also sick of the BattleStar Gallactica extended breaks. It’s like we don’t have any real series shows anymore. Or maybe I’m missing them. People were worried about the bad effects The Sopranos would have on viewers. It seems it had a worse effect on creators of other shows. Now, they all seem to think it's okay to take long breaks and leave viewers hanging. Every episode of a series cannot be the "Who Shot J.R." episode from Dallas (I still don't remember who did that because I stopped watching that one too)

When I was a kid, I remember all the good shows used to break for the summer, but now it seems they break all over the year. It makes it hard to establish a good, loyal viewing routine. And, maybe that’s why so many of us are just playing on the computer instead.