Maybe it's more FOMO, or maybe it could possibly be that both my parents have extensive and experienced knowledge of cable television, but I cringe a little when I hear someone say they've gone sans cable, full streaming.
Don't get me wrong, some of my very favorite shows are on streaming services; Curb Your Enthusiasm on Amazon Prime, Portlandia on Netflix, Handmaid's Tale on Hulu, One Mississippi on Amazon Prime (which, in a surprising move of stupidity, Amazon Prime cancelled), and how far we've come as a society that not only do you not have to form your schedule around your favorite shows, but you don't even need to worry about setting the DVR to record! You can watch your shows online anytime! But there's something about the shared experience of cable, that on couches and at break room tables across the county, or country (depending on the network), others are watching the same news/show at the same time as you. It's not live TV, but it's not streaming either, it's live streaming. Pre-recorded cable shows are (in my opinion) second to live TV, which is right under live performance.
I'll use SNL as an example, here's my order: ideally, I'd like to be in the audience at a live recording, if not I'd like to watch it live, while it's happening and with the rest of the country, if that's not an option, I'd take the re-run, and last resort would be to watch it on the NBC website. At least with the re-run I know that probably several hundred other viewers across the country are watching it with me.
Watching TV is often considered an anti-social activity on it's own, but I don't think it (necessarily) is (though if you're doing it all the time, then yeah, maybe invite some friends over). Nothing's the same as really being with others, FaceTiming never compares to real life, and pictures are never quite memories blah blah etc, but I don't think tv, specifically cable tv, is so lonesome at all. It's participation in a county/country-wide activity, it's being informed and entertained and challenged in real time. You may be watching an HGTV re-run from three weeks ago, but at least you're not alone in the debate over whether Margaret and Adam are going for the fixer-upper within price range or the ranch retreat near Margaret's office. Across the country eating dinner in front of the TV, trying to stay awake in study lounges, reclining on couches, and sitting at bars that are weirdly playing HGTV, are viewers having the same debate over newly weds Margaret and Adam.
It's easy to advocate cable tv when you're not staring at the Comcast bill (or on hold on their "customer service" line), of course, and I can see why some people opt for streaming services only. But hey, at least you know you're sharing the experience of that staticy hold music with hundreds of other frustrated customers eating dinner, reclining on couches, sitting in study lounges and break rooms, and watching HGTV in bars (because their home tvs don't work) across the country.
Hahahaha been there
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