Why I Make Time for TV
For a long time, I didn’t watch much television beyond my soaps. When life got really, really busy in the past few years, I pretty much gave up those as well, watching intermittently rather than religiously every day. Then a few years ago, I noticed that what I like to call my cultural literacy was starting to drop. People were talking about lots and lots of shows that I wasn’t watching. Lost. Gray’s Anatomy. Even Veronica Mars. I liked all these shows when I watched them, but I wasn’t “into them” enough to talk intelligently about them.
Now, I’m not a hugely social person. Like most writers, I’m an introvert who can act like an extrovert when necessary. (Those of you who know me are laughing at this statement, thinking I’m the biggest extrovert you know. Trust me…I’m not. It’s not an act, but I can only be extroverted in short bursts.)
Anyway, television, to me, has become a social thing. Television gives me topics to blog about and to talk to the other moms about after school tomorrow as we wait for our kids. Sure, we have other things to discuss, but I find the discussion of television shows fascinating because it allows me to talk to people about the real things I love–characterization, plot, theme, tone, dialogue, etc–without necessarily talking about books.
There are so many books out there that it’s hard sometimes to find someone who has read the same book you have. A few bestsellers here and there, but I don’t always get to read what’s super-popular. Television allows those same conversations within a different context, with the regulars who people my day. My daughter’s soccer coach’s wife, for instance. She loves to read, but she’s a super busy working mother of two and generally only gets to read on the holidays. She’s fascinated by the fact that I’m a writer, but honestly, sometimes I get very tired of talking about myself and my work! Tonight, we got into a great discussion about my new favorite television show, HEROES. We talked about the plot, the characterization, the pacing, the blurred lines between good and evil and the amazing marketing strategy. (Save the cheerleader, save the world is brilliant!) It was a great conversation. It wasn’t about kids, grocery shopping, laundry, school or any of the other minutae that makes up the life of a literal soccer mom like she is and like I am.
Television leads to intelligent conversation! Who knew?
It leads to laughs and it sparks ideas. I once wrote a book based on the inspiration of a soap opera character who I didn’t think the writers gave enough good storyline to. Another book was based on a character I loved. If I didn’t tell you, you’d probably never guess the connection, but the inspiration helped me create a story I really enjoyed telling.
I noticed in Karen Rose’s post that a lot of people don’t watch television. I certainly don’t watch a lot (though TiVO helps me watch more than my fair share) but I’m glad I have this medium in my life. It’s can be more than mindless entertainment…though sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with that, either!
So, readers…what shows spark (or have sparked in the past) your imagination, your conversations, your life?
