Must-See TV

I love my television, and now that I own a PVR, I love it even more. It seems like everyone around me is watching TV in new and different ways.  Even my parents have watched shows online. 

Before tonight, it had been a while since I'd streamed a show online.   I'm very happy that television networks have gotten with the program and starting streaming shows on their sites.  If I forget to record an episode, I no longer have to wait for it to come out on DVD.

Tonight, I was catching up on a show on the Space website. Space has 30 second commercials that run where commercial breaks would regularly run on TV.  The problem is, every commercial was for the Save Local TV campaign.  Definitely an important issue that everyone should look into (especially since now, Shaw is  running counter ads that spin the issue in a completely different way), but I really started to get annoyed after seeing the same two commercials cycle on a loop for eternity.  Hyperbole... isn't it grand? I'm not sure if Space regularly sells this space to advertisers, but if I have to sit through a 30 second commercial, some variety would be nice.  Perhaps it sounds crazy that I'm advocating for more commercials, but really - advertising is what pays for shows, and I'm a fan of creative advertising. Which is exactly the type of advertising that belongs online- commercials that are cutting edge and bursting with creativity. Give me something I'm going to remember because it's unique - not because you're repeating it over and over again.  The alternative?  Product placement. Which I think we can all admit is just lame.

10 Reasons I Love Glee!

1) It's subversive. The show comments on everything that's wrong with high school while at the same time, creates this utopian school and makes you wish you'd gone there.

2) It breaks stereotypes. Jocks can be in the glee club, glee club members can be on the football team. The gay kid comes out to his tough, football loving dad, and the dad's perfectly ok with it! Awesome!

3) The adults are just as interesting as the teenagers. When does that ever happen?

4) It's just a little bit absurdist. Terri is absolutely ridiculous, and yet I'm riveted to see how her schemes turn out.

5) Two words: Jane Lynch. Awesome to see her in a major role.

6) It's inclusive. Black, white, brown, gay, straight, fat, thin. People with disabilities and people who struggle with mental issues. Everyone's represented and everyone gets a voice.

7) Kristin Chenoweth is on next week's show. Yeah!

8) The cast is stacked with Broadway talent. What's not to love?

9) They took a risk in the way that they introduced the show and it totally paid off. They aired a 'sneak peak' in the spring, and then let the hype build all summer before the season premiere. Brilliant. (Of course, in order for that to pay off, the product had to be good, which thankfully it is.)

10) The writing. Those snappy one-liners (Often delivered by Ms. Jane Lynch) are very quotable. Lady justice wept today!