TV Rants
The writer's strike is paying dividends for me. I used to DRV every Tonight Show and Daily Show episode and then just watch the first 15 minutes of each. Sometimes I'd fall behind though and have to invest a couple of hours in non-stop skimming to catch up. That hasn't been a problem the past few weeks. The writer's strike means no new episodes of either show. NBC is showing really old re-runs (from 1992) and while Leno looked funny at first the novelty quickly wears off.
The result?: I stopped DRV-ing both shows. I think I've finally weaned myself off the Tonight Show. I doubt I'll bother recording it after the writer's strike is over. I can't seem to completely break away from Jon Stewart and the Daily Show though. I kind of miss that one. I might drop it as well though if the strike lasts another month or so.
My bigger gripe has to do with two relatively new networks: The Big Ten Network and The NFL Network, neither of which deserve a link. Both of these greedy networks are taking programming that was once free and making it part of a premium package on cable/satellite. The Colts game on Thanksgiving night was on the NFL network but broadcast locally so I had a chance to see this channel in action. Unimpressive. They somehow managed to find the two least insightful commentators and put them together for one game (Cris Collinsworth and Bryant Gumbel). A a bonus they periodically showed a "special new feature for the NFL Network." It was nothing more than pictures from the game. Is that really groundbreaking?
I haven't seen the Big Ten Network and it wouldn't break my heart if I never do. Gone are the local broadcasts of Purdue and IU football and basketball games. Oh well.
The bright side in all of this is that I suddenly have a lot more time to read some of the great books that have piled up at home!