Friday Five

[author_by_night]

From The Friday Five.  

1. What's your favourite TV network?

Don't think I have one, at this point? There was a time I did well with NBC. Really well, actually. The Office, Heroes (if only the first season), Parks and Rec, Community, 30 Rock,  Now they have shows I probably would watch on Peacock. 

Oh, and I liked TGIF in the nineties, although that wasn't a network. 

 

2. If you could create your own channel, what would it be?

Not sure...

 

3. What TV show did you watch as a child, that you wish they would bring back?

I would kind of like to see shows that weren't direct spinoffs, per se, but in the same universe. I think that's what The Paper did. Or modern takes on older concepts, without being carbon copies. Although you could argue that media already does this. People talk about writers turning fanfic into original novels now, but while I think it's often less subtle and even advertised these days, there've always been clear inspirations. For instance, I believe Step-By-Step was the 90's answer to The Brady Bunch, and arguably, so was Full House. 

 

4. What show have you always hated, and wonder why they ever made such a dumb show?

I don't think I have any examples. 

 

5. What TV show's seasons would you buy on DVD?

Anything I can no longer get on streaming. I wish we hadn't killed the video star store.

Also, I love this parody.

-- 

Speaking of television: Is talking about your favorite shows and movies small talk? I recently saw it listed as an example of small talk people hate. I actually use TV shows as an example of the type of conversation I prefer to small talk.

OTOH,  you could argue there's a difference between talking about a given show for twenty minutes, and spending twenty minutes listing every show you've ever watched. Is that what people mean? 

 

Comments

[spiralsheep]

Maybe people giving surface level details of recent media consumption (especially news or regurgitating topical comedy punchlines) to casual acquaintances (such as co-workers) is relatively uninteresting (and potentially difficult to negotiate) small talk? But fans enthusing about their faves, or indulging in-depth critical analysis, or imagining their preferred outcomes, is more conversationally satisfying for people who share mutual interests?

I think this...

[chicating]

that, yeah, the guy with the latest SNL catchphrase...do they even still do that? Haven't seen it for ages. might not be popular, but connecting with folks who have the same favorites might be different.
(Although, if it's *super* in-depth, we might rival the sports fans for levels of arcana.
Well, I guess I'll think about my own answers now!

Re: I think this...

[spiralsheep]

Repeating Comedy Punchline Guy will be with us as long as broadcast mass media. :D

Re: I think this...

[chicating]

I guess! Hits close to home...my brother kind of is one.(Not that the initial choice is always a bad one, but if you even chuckle, get used to it, you will hear it a thousand more times.)

Re: I think this...

[spiralsheep]

Exactly this, yeah. Once is amusing, ten times is annoying, a hundred times has circled back around to funny (but often for different reasons). Punchlines that aren't too topical work best as ten-year old in-jokes though ime.

[author_by_night]

Yeah, I think you're right.

[spiralsheep]

It's an interesting question, and definitely worth asking, probably with as many answers as there are differing situations.

[author_by_night]

For sure!

And I also think it could be a matter of knowing your audience. To some people, even a detailed discussion of TV is going to be small talk, either because they're not as into the show as you, or because in general, they are very casual consumers. So the idea of spending more than a fleeting second on how much you like a show is lost on them. Whereas there are things people talk about all the time that I definitely consider small talk. I think "small talk" is relative to what you consider "big talk".

[ixalisse]

I don't consider talking about television shows and/or movies small talk, especially if someone discovers a mutual interest with someone else. Take the show, the Golden Girls, for example. Show was on for seven seasons, and has a massive following even today. (And it aired roughly forty years ago!) Its not difficult to find people who have heard of the show, and there's this instant understanding when one finds others who are also fans. Its a way to connect to other people you might not ordinarily connect with.

My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[chicating]

but us and that show. (they were like night and day, it was funny. Sometimes.) But, since it went off the air when I was about fifteen, I am surprised about the Thing the internet has made it into, though it was funny enough and there wasn't much on on Sunday.)

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[ixalisse]

See, sometimes shows connect people who otherwise wouldn't have anything in common. I think movies and other shows do that frequently.

The one line zingers from some of the actresses, though. XD

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[spiralsheep]

"Picture it, Miami 1985...." :D

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[ixalisse]

HAHAHAHAHA! I love it!

Thank you for being a friend :D

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[chicating]

And they did embrace gay rights and stuff before that was something everyone on TV would say. Maybe that is where the extra love comes from.
I think Dorothy was my favorite.(Although I thought that Estelle Getty did a great job acting like her mother since I think they were close in age IRL)

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[author_by_night]

I think that's a lot of it. It was quite ahead of its time.

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[ixalisse]

On a recent documentary on the show, there was a lot of talk about holding space to start conversations on matters that were ahead of its time. No one expected the show to talk about issues of the time and have it still hold water in today standards.

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[chicating]

In some ways, that conversation has moved fast.

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[ixalisse]

Agreed, it really did.

Re: My grandmothers had nothing in common...

[chicating]

Well, probably not to folks that couldn't see loved ones in the hospital or something.
But in terms of how fast social customs usually move, yes.

[author_by_night]

Exactly! I've seen several episodes and know the characters. It's a great show.

Author,

[chicating]

If I recall correctly, TGIF was on ABC.

[rogueslayer452]

Is talking about your favorite shows and movies small talk?

While I think it depends on the individuals and the level of the conversation, I personally don't think so. I'm someone who is really into media so if a conversation starter is about something like a television show or movie that is mutually liked, believe me that will not be small talk. It can open a wide range of opinions and thoughts and the conversation can develop from there.

As said, it all depends on the people involved. Some might have a completely different idea of how to approach talking about media, and so if you have someone who is extremely fannish about something versus someone who is only passively interested in it, there might be a clash of personalities. But again, IDK.

[author_by_night]

Yeah, I think that's really what it is. One person's "small talk" is boring to someone else.

And I will concede that even with fannish/media conversations, if you don't know what they're talking about, or share the same level of enthusiasm, you can feel a little lost. I was like that with a show a friend was into. We met through another fandom, so she wanted to have the same level of conversation about the new thing, constantly. In that instance, I actually did become a bigger fan, but that's because it was easier for me to adapt as someone who does enjoy those conversations.