Do you have shows you watch just because others have convinced you they are good?
#1
DVD Talk Special Edition
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Do you have shows you watch just because others have convinced you they are good?
I try to watch pretty much all new shows that come out that I even have a remote interest in to see if they are any good. But some I just never really can get into, but I read so much praise about them, that I keep watching them, thinking they are really good and I'm just missing something. Eventually I'm finally forced to give up on them, but not before watching way more episodes than I would have otherwise. I was talking to someone else a while back and he said he kind of does the same thing. Good proof that tons of hype actually does sell shows. Also helps to explain the success of a lot of crappy sitcoms/reality shows that people watch just because everyone else does.
The 2 that stick out most in my mind are Rescue Me and the new Battlestar Galactica. Rescue Me I honestly don't see what the hype is about, but I watched 6 episodes of it when normally I'd have given up after 1 (I eventually did ditch it). BSG, I'm still working my way through the first season as I got behind on my recordings, but I just can't get into it at all, but so many people love it that I keep watching. Yeah, I shouldn't let others influence me, but I just can't help it. This revelation came as I was watching another episode of it last night and again questioned myself as to why I was still watching it.
The 2 that stick out most in my mind are Rescue Me and the new Battlestar Galactica. Rescue Me I honestly don't see what the hype is about, but I watched 6 episodes of it when normally I'd have given up after 1 (I eventually did ditch it). BSG, I'm still working my way through the first season as I got behind on my recordings, but I just can't get into it at all, but so many people love it that I keep watching. Yeah, I shouldn't let others influence me, but I just can't help it. This revelation came as I was watching another episode of it last night and again questioned myself as to why I was still watching it.
#3
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The Office (US). Won't watch it next season. It wasn't bad, but there just weren't that many funny moments IMO.
The classic example for me: Six Feet Under. I watched all of S1 based on the hype. It was like a death march. Reality example: American Idol.
However, there are some shows where the exact opposite happened (hype making me tune in) - the quality lived up to the hype (in here):
Coupling-UK
The Shield
Gilmore Girls
The Amazing Race
The classic example for me: Six Feet Under. I watched all of S1 based on the hype. It was like a death march. Reality example: American Idol.
However, there are some shows where the exact opposite happened (hype making me tune in) - the quality lived up to the hype (in here):
Coupling-UK
The Shield
Gilmore Girls
The Amazing Race
#6
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I do this way too much. The major reason is that some of my favorite shows of all time are shows I didn't like at first. I can think of 3 shows (MSCL, Freaks and Geeks, Scrubs) I forced myself to watch that are now series that I not only like, but I love pretty much every episode.
The best example of shows that I trudge through despite not really liking would be some HBO shows. I've watched all of Sopranos and I actually ended up liking seasons 3 and 4 much more than the first 2, but I still never liked the show that much. I watched the first 2 seasons of The Wire and it seems like something I would like, but I have trouble getting into it for some reason. I still can't decide if I should give Deadwood another shot or not. I can check out the dvds from the library, but I couldn't find anything to like about the couple episodes I saw.
The best example of shows that I trudge through despite not really liking would be some HBO shows. I've watched all of Sopranos and I actually ended up liking seasons 3 and 4 much more than the first 2, but I still never liked the show that much. I watched the first 2 seasons of The Wire and it seems like something I would like, but I have trouble getting into it for some reason. I still can't decide if I should give Deadwood another shot or not. I can check out the dvds from the library, but I couldn't find anything to like about the couple episodes I saw.
#7
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by otmetrud
Can you say The West Wing?
I watched almost a whole season, but finally decided that no matter how many Otters like it, it's not my kind of show.
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Originally Posted by tasha99
"The West Wing"
I watched almost a whole season, but finally decided that no matter how many Otters like it, it's not my kind of show.
I watched almost a whole season, but finally decided that no matter how many Otters like it, it's not my kind of show.
But outside of a couple of nice things here and there, I was seriously underwhelmed by it all.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
No, I'll pass on anything that doesn't grab me, no matter how highly it is praised. Shows that I think might be good have 3-4 shots at making me a regular viewer, but after that I quit.
(It's not as if I won't have anything to watch! )
(It's not as if I won't have anything to watch! )
#10
DVD Talk Legend
I watched about 2/3rds of a Season of ER (don't remember which one, but Clooney and Edwards were still both in the cast) because people kept telling me how "great" it was...in short, it wasn't.
#11
DVD Talk Hero
If I don't like it, I don't watch it. And if by the end of the first episode I watch, I'm not into it - I won't be watching any more.
So far, seems to have served me well.
So far, seems to have served me well.
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by das Monkey
How would you know?
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by das Monkey
But if you don't watch them after the first episode, how do you ... oh, nevermind.
das
das
I understand crappy episodes of great shows (believe me, I watched 7 years of Buffy) but there was always SOMETHING that compelled me to watch the next in the series.
#17
Retired
No, I'll watch a couple episodes on a friends recommendation, but it doesn't grab me after 2 or 3 episodes I give up on it. I'll give up after 1 if I think it's absolutely terrible.
I don't have a lot of time for TV watching, so I have to be efficient in maximizing my enjoyment. Even with Tivo, just not enough hours in the day for me.
I don't have a lot of time for TV watching, so I have to be efficient in maximizing my enjoyment. Even with Tivo, just not enough hours in the day for me.
#18
DVD Talk Godfather
I didn't watch the first two season of the X-files. A couple friends kept recommending it and everytime I would catch an episode those first two years it would be one of the stinker episodes. So I wasn't compelled. I gave in and started in season 3. Now I am a huge fan.
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My only disappointment so far has been Wonderfalls. I blind bought the set when it was released on DVD since many DVDTalkers loved it. I didn't think it was bad, but it didn't live up to the hype for me. The dialogue was alright, but there wasn't enough else to keep me interested.
I have checked out other a few other series on DVDTalk recommendations, however, and loved them. The Wire and Freaks and Geeks come to mind.
I have checked out other a few other series on DVDTalk recommendations, however, and loved them. The Wire and Freaks and Geeks come to mind.
#20
Well, people here convinced me BSG was good, and I'm not a SciFi guy at all. I just happened to catch it in the program guide a few weeks ago the day before they had the entire first season on. I Tivoed it, loved it, and am hooked now. Have a two eps to catch up on though.
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I don't own it, but I started watching nip/tuck after all the hype I was hearing on here. Now I've seen them all and can't wait until next season.
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by Jeraden
BSG, I'm still working my way through the first season as I got behind on my recordings, but I just can't get into it at all, but so many people love it that I keep watching. Yeah, I shouldn't let others influence me, but I just can't help it. This revelation came as I was watching another episode of it last night and again questioned myself as to why I was still watching it.
I didn't like the new Battlestar Galactica mini-series very much, but still started watching the spin-off TV series version. And it took about 4 or so episodes of the TV series before I was hooked.
(when Starbuck had to
Spoiler:
It just got better from there and now it is one of my favorite shows.
I think it can take about half the First Season (say 6 or 7 episodes) to get hooked. So if you're still near the start, keep watching.
Last edited by dhmac; 08-03-05 at 11:02 PM.
#24
DVD Talk Legend
I don't think I have run into this problem, but I have kept watching shows because I was too lazy to delete the season pass.
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Yes, I always try to find out about shows that I initially had no interest in, but if it comes highly recommended, I have to try - because obviously I've missed something that everyone gets.
I normally give shows a chance by watching at least 2 episodes before I can decide if it will be worth continuing to watch
Shows that have come highly recommended, but they just didn't keep me interested:
West Wing - solid show, but it just didn't move me
ER - I could barely get thru the first 4-5 episodes - I still revisit it every once in a while, but a no go for me
Gilmore Girls - I'm missing the allure
Everwood - *yawn*
However, these shows have really drawn me in based solely on recommendations as I had no interest in these shows:
American Idol - This was the first season that I watched it (reality TV normally wears thin on me) and was addicted - I immediately felt that I'd been missing some great TV - watched every episode and those that I missed, I tracked them down
CSI - Awesome TV for the first 2 seasons, I grew tired after the 3rd season, but continue to watch...
The Apprentice - Missed the 1st season (the whole reality TV thing), but thoroughly enjoyed the 2nd season - hated the 3rd season - had to tune out after 3 episodes (reminded me why I don't like reality TV) - it will be a hard sell to get me to watch this again
Overall, I have an idea of what I will like based on the setup for a show and after watching the first 2-3 episodes once it premieres. Otherwise, it has to be superhyped to get me to watch it
Now, I must check out the Wire and Babylon 5, they're highly touted on this board
I normally give shows a chance by watching at least 2 episodes before I can decide if it will be worth continuing to watch
Shows that have come highly recommended, but they just didn't keep me interested:
West Wing - solid show, but it just didn't move me
ER - I could barely get thru the first 4-5 episodes - I still revisit it every once in a while, but a no go for me
Gilmore Girls - I'm missing the allure
Everwood - *yawn*
However, these shows have really drawn me in based solely on recommendations as I had no interest in these shows:
American Idol - This was the first season that I watched it (reality TV normally wears thin on me) and was addicted - I immediately felt that I'd been missing some great TV - watched every episode and those that I missed, I tracked them down
CSI - Awesome TV for the first 2 seasons, I grew tired after the 3rd season, but continue to watch...
The Apprentice - Missed the 1st season (the whole reality TV thing), but thoroughly enjoyed the 2nd season - hated the 3rd season - had to tune out after 3 episodes (reminded me why I don't like reality TV) - it will be a hard sell to get me to watch this again
Overall, I have an idea of what I will like based on the setup for a show and after watching the first 2-3 episodes once it premieres. Otherwise, it has to be superhyped to get me to watch it
Now, I must check out the Wire and Babylon 5, they're highly touted on this board