Tackling summer TV without cable
Posted: Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:00 AM by Anna Chan
Filed Under:
TV
The sun is out, the birds are chirping … and I’m fiddling with the rabbit ears on my TV. Yes, I am one of the few people in the U.S. without cable. And yes, it sucks. Especially for a TV junkie like me. It’s even worse in the dead of summer, when I’m stuck with reruns.
Before you jump down my throat and tell me to get a life rather than waste away on the couch when the weather’s nice, relax. I have one. I read, I hang out with friends, I do volunteer work. But after a hard day -- whether it’s summer or winter -- I like to unwind with a good (read: sometimes mindless, always entertaining) program. But fresh, fun shows can be hard to find after May sweeps.
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Courtesy of Wendy Diamond / CBS
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Fortunately, the networks have given me a few options that I’m trying to catch. (No cable TV means horrible reception in my neck of the woods.) Among the new offerings are “Hopkins” and “Wipeout” (best when viewed with friends and alcohol), both on ABC on Thursdays and Tuesdays, respectively, and CBS’s “Greatest American Dog,” which is also on Thursday and is the next best thing to Animal Planet for me. I’ll also catch the occasional cooking program on PBS, of course. (Oh, how I miss Food Network!) Another can’t miss is watching Michael Phelps attempt to set a new Olympic record on NBC this August.
And thank God for Netflix! High-quality shows that I would otherwise not get to see are available to me with just a click. Included on my ever-growing list are “Dexter” (I prefer the non-edited-for-network-TV version, thank you), “The Wire” and “The Tudors.” That’s some heavy summer programming, but I’m balancing that out with lighter oldies but goodies such as “Ren & Stimpy,” “Drawn Together” and “Family Guy.” (Why yes, I do like animated shows!)
Which summer shows do you enjoy that people should check out or add to Netflix?
