Donate Your Old Shirts Here
We're all about Web 2.0 here at Tuned In--you keep feeding us the ideas, we'll keep billing the hours for them! This one comes from Keith in the Andy Richter comments:
What show doesn't grow stale? I used to be a diehard fan of ER many many moons ago and everytime I see and ad, I think...is that still on? I read where Law & Order's numbers have declined this year. I still find it a great show though. Kind of like a favorite old shirt.
Keith got me thinking about my own--to steal his coinage--Old Shirt shows: series I keep watching out of habit or comfortable familiarity. One of the ways that critics watch TV differently from civilians is that we're much more focused on novelty (that's where story ideas come from), so it's a rare series that I give a Tivo season pass beyond a few seasons, and when I do, it's because I think it's still indisputably great, like The Sopranos or South Park.
But I do have my occasional Old Shirt. I'm not a fan of police procedurals, whether old and broken in or crisp and fresh out of the packaging, but I realize that I probably continue to watch Survivor for the same reason some people watch Law & Order. I know it can never really surprise me anymore, but I keep watching out of habit, for the few moments of suspense or hilarity and because it has a comforting rhythm (reward, immunity, fire-equals-life, "Survivors ready!" etc.) that I've gotten used to.
So there's my Old Shirt. What's in your closet?
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1
Mine has to be The Simpsons (and it's an old one, indeed).
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2
Right now? Gilmore Girls. The show has completely dropped off in terms of quality, originality, writing, and energy....and yet every once in awhile it gives you a good taste of witty dialogue and pop-culture-as-pop-culture-commentary.
And sadly, my watching will probably keep the ratings for GG high enough for the CW to bring it back for another unnecessary season, while they cancel Veronica Mars (which, I have railed upon frequently in this space as the best non-Lost show on television).
Other old shirt shows - Saturday Night Live (on the rebound thanks to Kristin Wiig, one of the most talented cast members they've added in years), Jeopardy (do game shows count?), and CSI (which I give TiVo preference to over Grey's Anatomy).
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3
NYPD Blue was spinning its wheels those last couple of seasons, but I still loved watching it.
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4
Stargate-SG1 is another for me. It has suffered greatly since Anderson left and Browder joined, but I never miss an episode. This is its last season which is probably a good thing. I read somewhere where it has been green-lighted for two big screen movies to tie up lose ends.
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5
Gilmore Girls
Law and Order: SVU
Nip/Tuck
America's Next Top Model
Farscape (before cancellation) -
6
I agree with Keith on Stargate SG-1. Once Anderson left, it lost quite a few steps, but was going that way prior. I still tune in though. Smallville is my other old shirt show. I gave up on The Simpsons about 2 seasons ago - it just felt like it was getting recycled.
- poniewozik Loved the season. Mrs Tuned In wd have put u on the main list RT @boredtodeath Thank u for incl us in Time's Top 10. We'll take hon mention. - 3 hours ago
- poniewozik @carr2n Virgin is the best, LAX-JFK - 4 hours ago
- poniewozik Did NPR interview abt multiscreen multitasking. After, automatically reached for iPhone in pocket. Like don draper wd have for cigarettes. - 5 hours ago
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