This week, we will be stopping to give thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives. Most of us are fortunate enough to have friends and family to be thankful for, but what else are you planning to mention as you sit down to your feast?
How about TV shows? No matter what floats your boat, if you have cable or satellite TV, it is likely you can find a channel dedicated to it, maybe more than one! We are very fortunate to have such variety, because as we have seen on this site, not every type of program appeals to all people. We all are free to choose how we want to spend our viewing time.
When we think of the term educational, it is likely the first networks that come to mind are PBS, History Channel, Science Channel, Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel. And, certainly, the programming offered on these channels is highly educational, and very broad in scope, so that no matter what your interest, you can find something to enjoy or entertain.
I tend to go for the more off beat science shows, such as Mythbusters, which I thank my son for introducing me to several years ago. These people are so fortunate to be doing things I would just love to try, although they are sure to remind us to not try it at home! Darn! And I love how they fully explain the scientific methodologies they follow to either prove or bust a myth. On a personal note, I am also very grateful to Grant Imahara for creating Geoff Peterson, the Robot Skeleton sidekick on The Craig Ferguson Show.
Finally, let me point out there are other ways TV is educational, as I pointed out in a previous article: 6 Things I Learned From Watching TV.
Have a bad day? Tired of fighting traffic, long lines at the grocery store, dealing with people who enjoy making trouble for you? Did you have a rough day at work, or are the kids driving you nuts? Never fear, TV will provide you with the much needed laugh track your life needs to get back on track!
When I’m feeling down, there is nothing like spending some time with the boys on The Big Bang Theory, and watching them as they deal with their own problems in their oh so unique way! The snark alone can make me forget about the stresses of life.
Then there is the sheer lunacy of Shawn and Gus on Psych. The two of them, especially Shawn, are so very unpredictable, you just never know when something they say or do, or the situation they are in such as ending up in a mascot suit for a minor league baseball team, will have you cracking up!
Or, spend some time with the good folks on Modern Family. This show regularly skewers the most annoying things about our daily lives, laying bare the annoyances of life and the insanity of our modern world. It helps me to know that there are others dealing with the same types of issues!
Sometimes you just need to have the living daylights scared out of you! And isn’t it better if it happens in the safety of your own home, possibly with loved ones nearby, with conveniently located shoulders to hide your face in during the worst bits?
My favorite show for being scared, and I have a rule that I do not watch it at night if I am alone in the house, is Supernatural. It always manages to scare the socks off me, whether it is the monster of the week, or the longer arcs. Being Human also can be scary, since the main characters are a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost.
I know that I am not the only one to deal with drama queens and kings every day. The beauty of TV is that the drama is engaging but not personal. You are not the recipient of the stuff when it hits the fan. Isn’t that a good thing? You can watch others get into sticky situations, and possibly find a way out, without having to put your shoes on!
I like to watch Neal and Peter outsmart the bad guy on White Collar, while still managing to have their own little interpersonal dramas playing in the background, or sometimes the forefront. And then there is Dr. Hank and his brother Evan on Royal Pains, where there is plenty of medical and non-medical drama to keep you entertained.
Ah, science fiction. I’ll admit it, I am a geek, and the original reason we got cable TV was to be able to watch Star Trek without being dependent on the weather. Any of you who used or are still using an antenna know exactly what I am talking about.
TV, thank goodness, is the most abundant source of performance science fiction – most movies deal with romance, or spies, or conspiracies, and the number of good science fiction movies is limited. Not so for TV, where episodic programming and made for TV movies are abundant, if sometimes a little. hokey, cheesy – insert word of your choice. Despite that, there are enough gems thrown in that geeks have something to be thankful for!
I find the concept of visiting alien worlds like Titan with the Astraeus mission on Eureka, hunting abnormal creatures with the team on Sanctuary, becoming part of a video game with the team from Warehouse 13, or traveling to another time on Terra Nova to be a good way to unwind from the stresses of the day.
So, there you have it – these are the reasons I am thankful for TV – do you agree, disagree, or have other things you are thankful for to suggest? Please let me know in the comments below!
Please make sure to read our comment policy before posting a comment.