I have never owned a television in my life and I have (so far!) steadfastly refused all offers of free TVs, which, I suppose, effectively makes me into a conversational wasteland according to modern American conversation standards.
But honestly, there are times when I wish I did have my own TV .. times such as the college basketball playoffs, the Triple Crown of American horse racing, the Presidential Debates, college football season, Law and Order reruns and, as of last night .. The Simpsons. But thanks to the magic of divine intervention in the form of my new neighbor's free access wireless internet connection, I watched last night's episode of The Simpsons on my laptop.
Commercial-free.
Oh, and did I mention that my new neighbor's name is Jesus?
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If you miss TV during Law and Order reruns, then you must miss TV 24/7. Whoops, got to go. I need to decide between watching a rerun of Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU or Law and Order: Criminal Intent.
SVU all the way. The ADA is HAWT.
I was proud of being TV-free for about 10 years. One day my uncle and my brother conspired to move a giant 40-inch Magnavox from the late bronze age (1980s) into my living room, while I was at work.
Fortunately, it won't stay on for more than 10 seconds, unless it is poked and prodded for about 3 hours. So it's only been used twice - once to play a few gamecube games, and once to watch a few movies. And, I insist, it's not mine.
Nowadays, presidential debates are usually broadcast online.
I was TV-free for ages, but now reckon I have reached the best of both possible worlds. I have a (nice) screen hooked up to a DVD player, amplifier and computer with broadband internet. I don't need to pay for a TV licence since I can't get broadcast TV (and no cable/satellite), but can watch films and decent TV programmes in high-def with no adverts, using Bit Torrent. And worthless crap like "Big Brother" never even makes it into the house.
s.
Guys, it might be better not to have a TV and cut down on American series. Have you noticed how most American scholars derive their examples and jokes from The Simpsons and their idea of a casual conversation is last nights Law and Order. Writing from London I can let you in to a secret: nobody outside the US cares and maybe they don't know what you are talking about. And yet it is taken for granted that these 'memes' are widespread and successful. I'm afraid they may not survive more than one generation.