Apart from BtVS I'm not much for buying DVDs either. Not just because they're expensive if you aren't going to watch them over and over, but also because of the clutter. In ten years I bet none of us will own anything -- it'll all be on-line and available at the press of a button.
I think you are partly right about time shifting fragmenting the water cooler talk -- but I also think it's been the increase in niche entertainment. Back when there were only four channels (one of which was PBS), it wasn't like you could skip to the food channel if you didn't like what was on TV. I think that's why some shows were able to give the sense that *everyone* was watching. The last episode of MASH was a national event... bigger than the superbowl or at least right there with it.
It's true though that on-line makes it much easier to watch series that are still on the air, though. I love not being totally tied to the broadcast schedule. And the internet allows us to find the other people in our niche so there is a sense of enthusiasm. I'm not watching Glee and I definitely feel a bit cut out. I still am not much on the waiting though. If I had Dexter season 4 on DVD, it'd be done by now and I would know what happened!!!
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Date: 2009-10-13 08:51 pm (UTC)I think you are partly right about time shifting fragmenting the water cooler talk -- but I also think it's been the increase in niche entertainment. Back when there were only four channels (one of which was PBS), it wasn't like you could skip to the food channel if you didn't like what was on TV. I think that's why some shows were able to give the sense that *everyone* was watching. The last episode of MASH was a national event... bigger than the superbowl or at least right there with it.
It's true though that on-line makes it much easier to watch series that are still on the air, though. I love not being totally tied to the broadcast schedule. And the internet allows us to find the other people in our niche so there is a sense of enthusiasm. I'm not watching Glee and I definitely feel a bit cut out. I still am not much on the waiting though. If I had Dexter season 4 on DVD, it'd be done by now and I would know what happened!!!