Mood:
coolNow Playing: Ben Lee (and that has nothing to do with that damn Dell commercial)
So I have DVR now, and like anything else, it's a blessing and a curse. I'm a big fan, obviously. I never have to settle for second-rate television. Or, more accurately, when I watch second (or even third) rate TV, it's of my own accord.
So you may think that this novelty alone is enough to make a girl indulge in incredible amounts of television. But that's not it exactly. Here's where the addiction comes in: DVR makes me feel efficient at television watching. Without the commercials or boring parts, I can burn through twice the programming in half the time. So when I sit down to watch, say, a guilty pleasure like Project Runway, instead of an hour going by, I only drop 40 minutes on it. So, what do I do with that extra 20 minutes? I start something new. And therein lies the second pitfall of my DVR addiction: sense of accomplishment. The collection of shows my DVR has thoughtfully recorded for me is not just a meaningless menagerie; it's a challenge. A veritable on-screen To Do list that must be conquered. Yes, it's practically daring me to watch all five episodes of the Simpsons that air daily. I don't, of course, I can't.
Sometimes I force myself to watch "live" television, just for the thrill of the hunt. But it's sort of dull to me now, much like years of burned mix CDs have ruined the thrill of the radio.
Now I'm sorry, but I really have to go. There are episodes of Dick Van Dyke and ESPN's NFL Yearbook: Pittsburgh Steelers that are just daring me to watch.
