Does Information Age - knowing so much about so much - make us watch differently? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

DTF955 · 07-14-2007, 09:45 AM

We know so much about everything now, I wonder if we watch TV differently because of it. let me explain what I mean.

Mary Tyler Moore Show - "I Love A Piano" is the episode. In brief, Murray is tempted to have an affair. He doesn't but buys a piano from the woman he went up to see. Last line of episode - "How do I explain to my wife I bought a piano while watching 'The Sting.'" No mention made of the piano or how he explained it again.

Nowadays - numerous TV shows where things are not explained, and fans are up in arms. I know "Full House," for instance, had quite a few retcons, which led to the Chronology of the Tanners' lives which explains them all. But, let's leave aside the fact that Jesse could have lied to everyone about graduating, including the story about his last day there. Ignore that for a moment.

Some of the things fans complain about are *just like* the MTM episode I mentioned. They say we never see Steve actually retrieve a baseball card worth $1200. So? The above MTM episode didn't seem to bother fans at the time. Or did it? It's said that Stephanie was "Yankee Doodle" in first grade. Okay, do fans realize how little of a person's lives we actually see? that's not a retcon, that's just further information about the unseen part of lives, just like we figure Murray came up with *some* way to explain.

So, my question is, do we watch sitcoms differently becasue we are so flooded with information? Because we can find out everything about a subject now with the click of a mouse, wheras we couldn't back in the '70s?

I haven't watch a first run sitcom for over a decade - watched FH and a few others I used to like on DVDs, but not much.I don't know if they explain everything or not the way some people insist.

But, i just wonder - are some of the more upset poeple nowadays upset because of the Infromation Age, and how we can't find out about things with the sitcom families we love the same way that we we can find out about anything else on the Internet? Or is there something else at work?

I'll just note for posterity that I may have a touch of Asperger's or something, as I wa sa kid when that episode of Mary Tyler Moore was on and I remember right away filling in the blanks myself as to how he explained. And, the Chronology wound up going very in depth into a lot of things, thanks to help from others with ideas. I don't know how those without the Columbo type minds, always picking out the details and filling in blanks, act, but it does seem strange that people complain now about things I can't see them complaining about years ago.

JulieSomoski · 07-14-2007, 12:30 PM

I absolutely loved this poll! I never really thought about these things before. I mean, everytime I watch a show, I automatically try to look for inconsistencies, and when I do, I point them out at these boards. In a way, its' taking the fun out of watching the show, but it also gives me something to talk about on the computer. I kind of feel immaturity levels play a part on it, but if you're a baby boomer like I am, it shouldn't.

AB · 07-14-2007, 02:15 PM

I think it does make us watch and pay closer attention to details in the shows, and that we wouldn't have given a second thought to it back in the 60's or 70's.

Classicshowsgurl15 · 07-16-2007, 08:05 PM

Not personally, but I wouldn't be surprised if some have greater need to know b/c of it

View Poll Results: Do we watch sitcoms differently b/c of the Inernet?
No, low maturity makes people complain, same people may complain about the MTM one	0	0%
Not so much that as fast pace of society - we don't take time to think up solutions like in the '70s	0	0%
Not personally, but I wouldn't be surprised if some have greater need to know b/c of it	1	20.00%
Yes, I think the Internet has influenced us some, but the maturity level plays a part, too	2	40.00%
Yes, some expect to know a lot more than before; some forget that's not what sitcoms are for	2	40.00%
Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

07-14-2007, 09:45 AM	#1
DTF955 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Posts: 406	Does Information Age - knowing so much about so much - make us watch differently? We know so much about everything now, I wonder if we watch TV differently because of it. let me explain what I mean. Mary Tyler Moore Show - "I Love A Piano" is the episode. In brief, Murray is tempted to have an affair. He doesn't but buys a piano from the woman he went up to see. Last line of episode - "How do I explain to my wife I bought a piano while watching 'The Sting.'" No mention made of the piano or how he explained it again. Nowadays - numerous TV shows where things are not explained, and fans are up in arms. I know "Full House," for instance, had quite a few retcons, which led to the Chronology of the Tanners' lives which explains them all. But, let's leave aside the fact that Jesse could have lied to everyone about graduating, including the story about his last day there. Ignore that for a moment. Some of the things fans complain about are just like the MTM episode I mentioned. They say we never see Steve actually retrieve a baseball card worth $1200. So? The above MTM episode didn't seem to bother fans at the time. Or did it? It's said that Stephanie was "Yankee Doodle" in first grade. Okay, do fans realize how little of a person's lives we actually see? that's not a retcon, that's just further information about the unseen part of lives, just like we figure Murray came up with some way to explain. So, my question is, do we watch sitcoms differently becasue we are so flooded with information? Because we can find out everything about a subject now with the click of a mouse, wheras we couldn't back in the '70s? I haven't watch a first run sitcom for over a decade - watched FH and a few others I used to like on DVDs, but not much.I don't know if they explain everything or not the way some people insist. But, i just wonder - are some of the more upset poeple nowadays upset because of the Infromation Age, and how we can't find out about things with the sitcom families we love the same way that we we can find out about anything else on the Internet? Or is there something else at work? I'll just note for posterity that I may have a touch of Asperger's or something, as I wa sa kid when that episode of Mary Tyler Moore was on and I remember right away filling in the blanks myself as to how he explained. And, the Chronology wound up going very in depth into a lot of things, thanks to help from others with ideas. I don't know how those without the Columbo type minds, always picking out the details and filling in blanks, act, but it does seem strange that people complain now about things I can't see them complaining about years ago. __________________ Full House Chronology - at the webite "Tanner Central" among others (or e-mail fullhousechron (at) aol.com. "If Baseball Integrated Early," about baseball integrated fromt he beginning, & other works at baseballwhatifs (at) aol.com

07-14-2007, 12:30 PM	#2
JulieSomoski Senior Member Watch Medium, Fridays on CBS! Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,535	I absolutely loved this poll! I never really thought about these things before. I mean, everytime I watch a show, I automatically try to look for inconsistencies, and when I do, I point them out at these boards. In a way, its' taking the fun out of watching the show, but it also gives me something to talk about on the computer. I kind of feel immaturity levels play a part on it, but if you're a baby boomer like I am, it shouldn't. __________________ Click here to view some great articles written by my husband and I! All views are appreciated! Watch: Medium, Fridays at 9pm, on CBS! Big Bang Theory, Mondays at 9:30pm, on CBS! The Mentalist, Thursdays at 10pm, on CBS! Old Christine, Wednesdays at 8pm, on CBS! ABC's Comedy Lineup, Starting Wednesdays at 8:30pm, on ABC!

07-16-2007, 08:05 PM	#4
Classicshowsgurl15 Senior Member Happy Days Join Date: Jun 28, 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,039	Not personally, but I wouldn't be surprised if some have greater need to know b/c of it __________________ “All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us.” - The Wonder Years

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07-14-2007, 02:15 PM	#3
AB Forum Celebrity Sam & Dean - Supernatural Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 25,887	I think it does make us watch and pay closer attention to details in the shows, and that we wouldn't have given a second thought to it back in the 60's or 70's.