Sunday, October 28, 2007

And The Question Is...

One of my favorite bloggers is David McMahon -a great photo-journalist/author from "Down Under" and one thing he often does on his blog is ask a question for those interested to post a blog about and link back to his spot. Today, his question is "What is your favorite television addiction?"

I've had some favorite programs over the years - the kind that would compel me to make darned sure I was home, parked in front of ye olde tv at the appointed hour lest I miss that week's newest program. That was back in the days before the nifty gadget called a VCR, which - if you could figure out how to program it correctly -would record your favorite shows for you so you could watch them later at your leisure.

Back in the "dark ages" that my kids insist I have lived through - well, perhaps in terms of television viewing you could call it that since most people only had black and white tv sets and most programs were also taped in black and white too it was somewhat of a "dark" age then. But my viewing favorites of that era ran the gamut of anything from Lassie and Roy Rogers, in my really younger years to which I graduated to watching Ed Sullivan, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Red Skelton, Danny Thomas and his "Make Room For Daddy" and of course, "American Bandstand." What self-respecting teen in the late 50's, early 60's wasn't addicted to American Bandstand?

In the 60's of the mid-to-late variety, I really enjoyed programs like "Laugh-in" and the camp show "Batman" which many of the crowd I ran with at that time had to stop whatever they were doing to be sure to catch the newest adventure of the Caped Crusader in Gotham City.

In the early 70's, I got hooked the first time I saw "All In The Family" and to this day, I still love to watch the re-runs of that great show - and it really was a ground-breaking show as it touched on so many topics that had often been skirted around, considered taboo and by making fun of serious things -such as racism and ethnic stereotyping -it tried to raise the social conscience of our society. And, by and large, I think it was pretty doggone successful at doing that too!

Then, over the years there was MASH, Cheers, WKRP in Cincinnati, Taxi - to name a few that I really enjoyed. I also developed a liking along the way for various "Cop" shows too - "Hill Street Blues" was a big favorite of mine and if I could find a channel that carried that show today, I'd still enjoy watching it over and over!

My current favorite programs now are "Two and a Half Men," "Earl" and "The Office" as far as current shows but I also still love to catch reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Home Improvement." Since I am a night owl I will often tune into Nick at Night to watch more reruns of Rosanne along with Murphy Brown.

I also enjoy finding "Third Watch" whenever possible, "Homicide-Life on the Streets" along with "DaVinci's Inquest" too.

But I think my all-time favorite program has really become "Law and Order" and I watch every version of it whenever I can - whether it be one of the current season's shows or re-runs from way, way back. I watch re-runs of this show Monday through Friday - when I can manage to have the tv to myself and not have to relinquish it over to Maya so she can watch her Bratz videos (now that her Dad got the VCR up and running again) and anytime there is a marathon of "Law and Order" shows running from morning to night, you can pretty much be assured the tv in my house will be tuned into that particular channel.

I don't know what there is about this program that I find so addicting - maybe it's the theme music. Who knows? I just know that I really, really like it!

8 comments:

Misty DawnS said...

I laughed when you said that about the theme music, because when my BF's oldest son was a baby, no matter what was going on, even if he was in the middle of crying his little head off, when the Law & Order theme music came on, he would stop crying, swing his head around and just stare at the TV.

Shelby said...

awww the theme music :)

Theresa said...

yes some very good shows you listed- M*A*S*H and Taxi, very classic shows.

We have cut down our TV watching but I do Tivo 2 & 1/2 men, and yes I agree that Law in Order music is addicting. They usually have Law & Order Marathons on Saturdays on our TBS station and after one show is done they start the next one with that music - next thing you know it is 5 hours later- one of the reasons we shut down our cable.

mrsnesbitt said...

At last programmes we know...both in US and here in UK!

Iam posting on this one by the great David, but will be tomorrow.
Midnight approaches here! LOL!

dr sardonicus said...

It's that ca-chonk thing they do between scenes...

Smalltown RN said...

I went over and said hello...told him I found him via your blog...I kinda like what you do....pass on interesting blogs to us....I need to spread my wings a little bit more...thank you ...

david mcmahon said...

Hi Jeni,

Thank you for your kind words and your generous spirit - and thanks for taking part.

I do enjoy TV comedies - anything that makes me smile!

Have finished with the writing of the novel and I'm editing it now ....

Keep smiling

David

Anonymous said...

I like Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, and CSI... but when November comes, NBA games are simply irresistible.

-Saedel