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| Tyler Wilson |
Television without the TV
As a hip, young person, I'd like to tell you I'm too busy for television and its repulsive commercials. Of course those who have read this column before know I have far too much time on my hands.
Honestly, I don't watch too much TV. The whole "can't afford cable" thing really makes the decision easy. But I've found paying for high-speed Internet is way better than cable any day. And thanks to the networks now offering full episodes of shows online, why give a monopoly even more money?
Of the four big networks, ABC and CBS have the best deals in terms of free content. Both offer multiple episodes of several of their popular shows. CBS offers all 12 or so versions of "CSI," as well as the whole season of the new hit "Jericho."
I personally like the batch of shows offered on ABC.com. They have the last four episodes of their most popular shows, including "Lost," "Grey's Anatomy," "Ugly Betty," and "Desperate Housewives." New episodes are posted the day after they air on television, and then they stay there for four weeks.
As a "Lost" fanatic, it's really great to have episodes immediately available for interpretation (I will mess with the antenna ears to watch it premiere on Wednesday nights too). I also like "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy," but I don't NEED to watch those right away. It's just a casual fondness. No really, I'm serious. I mean, the wife likes them. I watch for her, you know, so she'll talk to me.
The ABC content is easily accessible, and it only makes you sit through a few 30-second commercials. You can also jump backward and forward within each individual segment.
I can't speak much to the user friendliness of the CBS site because I honestly don't really like any of the shows offered. I tried doing my research for this column, but the site consistently had trouble loading the video.
Fox has the most recent episodes of several shows available online, including "Bones," "Standoff" and "Prison Break." They also offered the season premiere of "The Orange County" show a week before its broadcast premiere. Sorry, but like Michael Bluth from "Arrested Development," I prefer not to call it "O.C."
The biggest problem with the Fox site is the notable absence of Fox's highest rated (and best) show, "House." Come on people! Everyone wants to watch Hugh Laurie berate patients over and over again.
Meanwhile, NBC loves to market its 'Two Minute Replay,' but this is little more than the usual 'previously on' segments screened before new episodes. However, they do offer the latest full episodes of new shows like "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Friday Night Lights," "Heroes," and "30 Rock."
But with "Studio 60," "Lights," and "30 Rock" all struggling to find a TV audience, it probably won't be too long before it's impossible to watch these shows anywhere.
The best stuff on NBC.com are the deleted scenes from television's funniest show, "The Office." I wish they would offer full episodes, but hey, that's why I shelled out eight bucks for that antenna.
Some people probably won't like watching shows on their computer screen, and I understand the feeling. But it's getting cold outside, and paying for heat is a higher priority than VH1 or HBO.
