51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

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  1

  MoneyMama

  05/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  51 1/2 hours, eh? That's crazy. But Adam Lambert was worth it!!
  
  Thanks for the challenge -- I am not going to fill the void with another TV show (all the good seasons have ended anyway).
  
  I have really enjoyed your blog posts, Robert. Thanks for keeping us motivated to use our other 8 hours.

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  2

  Robert Pagliarini

  05/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @MoneyMama My pleasure! So, how will you fill the void?

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  pieterbpm

  05/21/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  There are many things one can do with 51 hours but I think I've wasted much more surfing the net, reading useless information and getting lost in front of my computer screen. Sometimes 51 hours of good entertainment restores the balance. Pity about Adam.

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  4

  jcourtney

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  Thankfully I didn't waste 51 Hours with American "Idle". Instead I opted to read some good books to keep my mind from becoming a mass media programmed mush.

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  5

  lease777

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  I don't have a TV. I walk/jog, and can fit into clothes from high school (35 years ago). Read a lot of books, go to grad school, engage in several hobbies (gardening, sewing .. ) and make time for friends and family. I hear all the "scoop" on the radio the next morning, don't feel like I'm missing a thing!

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @pieterbpm There's no shortage of things that can slowly sap our time. As long as we are consciously making the decision to watch, surf, etc, it's fine, but I think for many, we let these activities take our time without putting up much of a fight. (Adam got robbed!)

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @jcourtney That is genius--American "Idle." So true...

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @lease777 No TV? It sounds like you've filled your nights with other activities (congrats on your health!), but do you have a time wasting substitute? In other words, what's your time drain vice?

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  9

  Canadian_A

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  Whether we choose to admit it or not, AI (and the equally mind-numbing Canadian version) and 99% of the rest of what's on TV is simply a diversion that is sapping us of energy and soggifying our brains. All the while very important events are unfolding around the world and we the people can't be bothered to educate ourselves about them or get involved.
  
  Everyone grumbles when our city taxes go up but how many people actually go and confront their civic representatives for an explanation? How much of our tax dollars are being used to fight wars or bail out unethical financial institutions when an ounce of those funds could feed school-children across the country a nutritious breakfast at school that their parents can't afford to give them at home?
  
  Use the 51.5 hours to actually engage with your world and demand accountability from our governments and our industries. Otherwise, you can just sit at home and shout at the evening news, continuing to complain but not ready to do a thing about it.

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @Canadian_A Mind numbing is right . . . research shows watching TV produces a near coma-like state. So the million dollar question is why don't we get involved? Why don't we invest 30 minutes a day exercising to get healthier? Why don't we do what we know we should do? I think the short answer is we do what gives us pleasure. Watching TV makes us feel better right now. Fighting city hall is painful and the gratification of winning is uncertain and could take months. The only way we'll take action is if we can build up the perceived future reward or the future pain of inaction.
  
  It reminds me of the bumper sticker "If you're not angry you're not paying attention." We first must really care about something--lower taxes, better health, etc. before we will take any steps toward it. That's one of the reasons why watching too much TV is so damaging because it (a) causes us not to think about what really matters--ourselves, our life, our friends, our health, etc. and (b) causes us to think about what doesn't matter--the lives of fictitious characters or celebrities.

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  11

  bholaway

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  The same was said of fans of Shakespeare in his day. I watch American Idol for the same reason millions of football fans watch the NFL, because everone likes a good story. Human beings are hardwired for story. The producers of American Idol are masters at getting viewiers to ask the question, "what happens next".

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  12

  darrell@...

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  Get a Tivo do it in 8hrs.

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @bholaway Good stories are good, but here's the rub for me. I talk to a lot of people who want more . . . money, energy, relationships, success, etc but these same people spend 4, 5, or more hours a day watching TV. TV can be a relaxing hobby--I watched AI this season--as long as you do it purposefully and leave some time for other pursuits.

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @darrell 8, huh? That's impressive. I NEVER watched it live either and was able to condense three hours down to about an hour or so.

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  Stacey Bradford

  05/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  I tend to think of my evening television viewing as my time to relax. But now that you've pointed out how many hours are dedicated to following a reality show, I wish I had picked up a new hobby instead. There's no way I'm going to watch the new AI season!

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/26/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @Stacey I'm all for relaxing and I enjoy watching TV, but like you I was blown away at the amount of time spent watching AI. This post has made me make a more conscious decision about the time I do watch TV and what I'm giving up by doing it.

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  drose123

  05/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  I think most people would be surprised that they have used 51.5 hours of their time watching a television show, since it's served to us in small weekly doses. I know I've always wished for more time to learn something new or get my daily tasks done! Thanks for opening my eyes as to where I can gain back some time into my life. My guilty pleasure wasn't AI, but DWTS (which I took a pass on watching this season) and guess what...didn't miss it at all.

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  Robert Pagliarini

  05/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: 51 Hours Later: Filling the American Idol Void

  @drose123 I think you discovered the secret. Nobody would take a week off from work to watch 51.5 hours of AI, but they don't think twice when they get small doses of it. The trick then, is to use this to our advantage. Got a big goal? Don't get hung up on all the time it will take to reach it. Instead work on it in small chunks of time and before you know it, you'll have achieved it.