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» Hatrack River Forum » Active Forums » Books, Films, Food and Culture » New column: Birth of a salesman

   
Author Topic: New column: Birth of a salesman
Chris Bridges
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Birth of a salesman

Just recently my wife and I picked up the first two seasons of "Smallville" and settled down for a few weeks of four-show-a-night binging. After skipping the whole 3rd season for medical reasons we wanted to look back and remind ourselves why we watched it in the first place (Hint: Lex).

Soon afterwards the new season started and, fresh from our newly reawakened "Smallville" appreciation, we eagerly tuned in to the WB's Thursday night. And we hated it.

Not the show, mind you. The experience of regular broadcast television.

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DarkKnight
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Ya know, you just might have something there! This could be a really good idea if you think about and just expand it a little. With every DVD series you buy, you get a delivery of some product to your home and the delivery cost is free!
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Orson Scott Card
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Worst thing about regular broadcast television: Those hideous, huge promos that sprout upward from the bottom of the screen announcing some amazing feature of some other show on the same network - taking up half the screen in the process and grossly distracting from the show you CHOSE to watch.

Worst stupidity: When the sprout is promoting the very show you are watching RIGHT THAT MOMENT. How mindless is that?

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Chris Bridges
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That was almost exactly what we were thinking watching "Smallville" and getting tired of the constant strings of ads about other WB shows. Can't we finish watching this one first?

Would we see more of this episode if we caught the ads for it during another show?

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DarkKnight
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I am beginning to fear that if this keeps happening the show you are actually trying to watch will be stuffed into a bottom corner of the screen and there will be nothing but ads running everywhere else telling you where and how to buy the program you are watching now...]
or worse, they start running the popup ads on the DVD!

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Chris Bridges
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My DVD pet peeve is trailers at the beginning that can't be skipped past. Some of the Disney and Bravo channel discs are that way. Can't jump to the movie, can't jump to the menu. Very annoying.
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Anna
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Chris, you're the joy of my Wednesdays. I Hope you and Teres are well.
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solo
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quote:
Originally posted by Chris Bridges:
My DVD pet peeve is trailers at the beginning that can't be skipped past. Some of the Disney and Bravo channel discs are that way. Can't jump to the movie, can't jump to the menu. Very annoying.

I hate this. I also hate menus that have a 30+ second animation sequence before you are able to make a selection and start the dang movie. Sure they are neat the first time but when it is a movie my kids will watch daily, I shouldn't have to go through it every time.
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Chris Bridges
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The Smallville discs - and other WB TV discs I've seen - have an opening animation. If you click on Menu to skip past, it takes you to the beginning of the 1st episode which isn't always where I want to go.

Some shows won't let you skip past the theme song.

I like the Buffy discs. You can skip all over the place. And I do.

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Shanna
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I've pretty much given up on broadcast television.

It all started with my roommate having theatre rehearsals in the evenings when all our favorite shows were on. I would tap ethem each night so that we could watch them together. It is a pure joy to watch a show whenever I feel like it and without commercials.

Many weekends have been wasted on Lost, Queer as Folk, and Firefly. Though, the best experience was watching three seasons of QAF in a matter of days. Every waking moments out of class was spent clued to our pretty QAF dvds.

I'm looking forward to one day owning the entire Gilmore Girls collection if only to avoid the huge Smallville ads that pop up every five minutes when I'm trying to catch all the dialogue.

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Artemisia Tridentata
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All of the broadcast stations in our area changed the translator locations about 15 years ago. They did it one at a time over several years, so we had a chance to get used to each loss. We never did get cable. So I haven't had TV since that time. We did have VHS and now DVD technology. But, my kids all did at least High School with no broadcast TV. In retrospect, I wouldn't have changed anything. They all learned to read. And, we watched what we wanted to (from the rental agency or public library)when we wanted to. Watching TV now, when I travel, is not enjoyable at all. I beleave that the kids all have access now they are away from home. But, they do not generally watch it eather
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rivka
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quote:
Originally posted by Chris Bridges:
My DVD pet peeve is trailers at the beginning that can't be skipped past. Some of the Disney and Bravo channel discs are that way. Can't jump to the movie, can't jump to the menu. Very annoying.

This is why I turn on the DVD player (but not the TV) before you go to the kitchen to get snacks. By the time I get back and turn on the TV, it's all done with the stuff I don't want to watch. [Big Grin]

And I would debate this:
quote:
Thousands of viewers are choosing to absorb months of entertainment in long weekend runs -- especially such plot-heavy shows as "24" and "Lost" -- leaving such quaint concepts as "social life" and "hygiene" far behind while teams of trained emergency rescue personnel break out the crane-mounted reciprocating saws to cut through solidified wedges of almond roca, Mountain Dew, and kettle chips and lever encrusted viewers out of their couches before untimely bathroom-related disasters erupt.

. . . but I'm busy. Netflix delivered disk 5 of s8 today.

See ya! [Wave]

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ketchupqueen
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We just returned it. [Razz]

We have several eps. of season 9 for you, rivka, but our tv is broked so we missed the one they broadcast last week and will probably miss this week, too. [Frown]

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rivka
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I'll take what I can get, and be very grateful! [Smile]

My mom has -- quite literally -- an entire very large drawer FULL of avocados (as well as a good part of another drawer). When do you want to get together? [Big Grin] Is next Wednesday ok?

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ketchupqueen
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Wed. should be great. [Smile]

E-mail me. And remind me that day or the day before what I need to bring-- L&C and your tape of SG-1. [Big Grin]

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Miro
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Guacamole and Stargate? I'm jealous.
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ketchupqueen
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You should be.

We are also both good cooks. [Razz]

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Miro
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Tantalizing a college student who lives off of dorm food with good homecooking should fall under 'cruel and unusual'. [Razz]
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rivka
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Come to California (maybe this summer, when we're trying to get together a Con), and I promise to cook you something. I bet kq will also. [Smile]
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Miro
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Hmm... California, good food, and Hatrackers. Very tempting.
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