“I don’t watch TV.” Millennial co-worker
by Walter G. Tarrow
Again, the question is no longer so much what you are watching but HOW are you watching. And this question is most meaningful now because of massive technological and cultural changes brought on by tectonic shifts in the foundations and businesses of our nation. Total abandonment and even destruction of traditional ways of life exacerbated at the speed of light by an irritating, annoying and bothersome microbe we call COVID.
One thing’s.
for certain, as we snap out of this nightmare, things ain’t ever gonna be the same.
And that pesky invention of Al Gore’s is not only here to stay, it’s in our collective DNA whether we wanted it injected or not!
The reason I raise the question of HOW is because the present and future of viewing options is virtually endless and will expand from that. And how you decide to watch, even if you care to watch at all, will make much of what I’ll share with you very worth your while or possibly meaningless and a total waste of time.
My millennial co-worker quoted above then proceeded to comment on the most recent episode of Game of Thrones. Forgive the confusion of a Boomer, but I had to make sense of that declaration. She clarified by sharing that she never watches TV, or movies for that matter, on a television set but instead watches on her laptop or phone.
On the other hand, my father-in-law never turned off the TV. He never really watched it. It was comforting, I guess, to have regular visitors. Well, he did like Gunsmoke a lot.
In October 1999, three of my co-workers, at my invitation, joined me on a crisp autumn afternoon at a local movie house for a showing of “Fight Club.” That was the first of more than 100 trips to the cinema for the Tyler Durden Movie Club. The group ebbed and flowed from the original four to a one time max of eight members and back to the current five.
The last movie we saw in a theater was “Parasite.” That was November of 2019.
That theater is now closed awaiting demolition.
The last movie we saw was “The Irishman.” On Netflix at my home on my TV.
By the way, that’s pretty much the only way you could see it.
That was December 2019.
So, excited about my new 65” UHDTV and Atmos theater sound system, I invited two of the group, the two others were either reluctant (COVID y’know) or unavailable, to my home to enjoy some movie worthy of this epic display, perhaps “Lawrence of Arabia” or “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
On the patio, we chatted, drank some beers, laughed at past stories and funny anecdotes about other friends, had a light lunch, relaxed, and when it came time to watch a movie, they dismissively said no.
No.
Neither has cable or home internet. Jim has a DVD player. John does not. John watches broadcast TV, the local over the air channels we’ve had for the past 75 years, and prefers PBS and MeTV over the others. He watches on a 23-inch computer monitor (mind you he doesn’t have a computer) with the simplest of digital antennas. Jim has a 32-inch flat screen TV and a digital antenna. He watches DVDs from his local library.
But still. No.
So, for someones, for some of you Johns and Jims, what I’m sharing will be of no. No interest. No value.
Nonetheless, for those of you who care, who enjoy expanding horizons and exploring all that’s out there that entertains, educates and informs, off we go.
I’m starting you off, the most adventurous of you, with a homework assignment. Visit JustWatch.com or go to the App Store on your mobile device and get the JustWatch app. In the app, tap on the Settings button in the upper right corner and start exploring Streaming Services. The app lists almost 200 different streamers, sources for movies, TV and other content, from Netflix to Disney+ to HBO Max to free services like Crackle and FilmRise and even YouTube.
And for all of you, don’t forget that your library continues to be a treasure trove, an endless cornucopia of delights, both in hand and online.
As an example of the absolute power of your friendly neighborhood library, a friend from New York, with whom I swap movie and TV suggestions, suggested a Tyrone Power drama, “Nightmare Alley.” I searched Just Watch and came up empty. None of the hundreds of streaming services could come to the rescue.
Then I searched my local library online catalog and, faster than you can say J Jonah Jameson, old reliable came through.
For those of you who go online, check with your library to see if they offer Hoopla or Kanopy which are streaming channels for movies and television and more, including music and books. It’s free!
So put aside your cares and woes and have fun!