katiefoolery: (Bun)
[personal profile] katiefoolery
Today, I come bearing another question, albiet slightly more trivial than my previous one. Instead of pondering how one changes without noticing and how a beloved activity can become almost tedious, today I am asking: is it possible to like a TV show TOO much?

I only ask because I think I'm addicted to a TV show.

The show in question is Kath & Kim. Last Christmas, I impatiently counted the days down until I received the ABC vouchers I'd begged for, so I could buy the complete series on DVD. And believe me when I say that those DVDs have been worked hard. I watch them over and over again. I find new things each time I view them. I'm even thinking about buying Da Kath & Kim Code, despite not feeling it was that great when I saw it the first time.

In short, I'm addicted. I could watch the entire series in one day and then turn around the next and watch it again. I feel as though I know all of the characters with their silly little flaws (flaws that I have come to adore). Kath's house is as familiar as my own, right down to the recipe books in the kitchen and the pattern on the furniture in the "good room".

If I could step into that show for a day, I'd do it.

I never thought I'd become addicted to a TV show. There are certainly plenty of shows that I love and willingly drop everything to watch... unless it's something important. I even mocked the Bindi and her obsessive love of Sex and the City, which she would watch over and over again.

I never thought that would be me.

What I want to know is: is it a bad thing to be so obsessed with a TV show? Is anyone out there suffering a similiar addiction? What should I do about it?

on 2006-03-28 12:26 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] naelany.livejournal.com
*stands up* Hi, my name is Karin and I'm addicted to the A&E version of Pride & Prejudice and also all the Harry Potter movies ^_~

In short, no, you're not alone. What are you to do about it? *shrugs* I say go with the flow ^_~. HP movies are my fallback movies. If there's nothing on tv, I'll put in those movies, because I love them and can watch them again and again. I'm even worse when I have the P&P available to me. Much worse. I'll watch nothing else for days. And I mean nothing!

on 2006-03-28 03:33 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
I love the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. It's quite simply the best ever. In fact, I doubt any subsequent adaptation will ever beat it.

If only I had it on DVD and could watch the bonus "making of P&P" documentary, instead of my expensive tapes with the dodgy quality.

It's just so cosy to watch something you love, isn't it? Who cares if the world's being mean to you when you can imagine yourself into the world of Lizzy and Darcy or, in my case, Kath and Kim.

on 2006-03-28 03:47 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] naelany.livejournal.com
Exactly! Everything just melts away...just like when you read a really good book. And it's ok. We all need to loose ourselves in something good every now and then (even if the now lasts, say... a week or two? ^_~). *sigh* I wish I owned that series.... but, I can look forward to getting it on Netflix in a few weeks *claps with glee*

on 2006-03-28 01:01 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] bethamphetam1ne.livejournal.com
I've gone through several stages of obsession with various TV shows, books and movies for as long as I can remember!

Currently, I'm back to probably the most intense, Press Gang.

I don't think it's a bad thing, unless you started referring to Kim as your second best friend!

(BTW: you could do much worse than be addicted to a show like K&K, I love it, and it has so many more levels than the casual viewer can see!)

on 2006-03-28 03:38 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Wonderful icon! As I was writing this post, I was lamenting my lack of a K&K icon. I used to have one, but I don't know where it got to.

It does have levels, doesn't it? I guess that explains why I can watch it over and over and still laugh at it and enjoy it. And when I watch the extras, I marvel at the fact that they ever manage to get Madga to stop giggling long enough to actually film anything! It looks like they have so much fun putting the show together.

There were certainly plenty of times when I wished I could step into the world of Press Gang, too. I don't know how I managed to avoid taping all of the shows when I was younger. PG was probably my first, major addiction.

I'm glad I'm not Robinson Crusoe in all of this.

on 2006-03-28 04:40 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] bethamphetam1ne.livejournal.com
I made it especially for that comment! Feel free to use it if you feel so inclined.

I love the DVD extras (I only have season 1) and you're right, it looks so much fun to work on. It's about the only Aussie comedy offering since The Late Show that isn't completely cringe-worthy.

Mum and I are both big fans. Even Dale has been known to do the "Jatz, Ritz, Clix" line if we're preparing appetisers!

on 2006-03-28 01:43 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] air-and-angels.livejournal.com
Simultaneously glorious and hilarious: On the wall of Kath's 'good room' is a small picture-box which contains a little line-up, from tallest to smallest, of several little carved wooden elephants. (By picture-box I mean it's in a picture frame but contains three-dimensional objects.) We spotted this in the background once and went absolutely wild because my mother has exactly the same picture-box hanging on the wall of her living room. It was a gift from a friend who lives in Sydney, so obviously it's an Australian Thing. Every time we watch Kath & Kim and someone spots that, it gets a cheer.
I think the final sign that you love a show very much is when its catchphrases become, not just something you repeat for a joke, but part of your everyday language. 'Look at moiye' has definitely become one of these. And our house has a 'good room' like Kath & Kim upstairs, and a 'pool room' like The Castle downstairs. Meanwhile, my mother has taken to calling the local seamstress shop where she gets her hems raised 'Kath and Keem' because its real name is 'House of Kimi and Kelly.'

on 2006-03-28 03:40 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Goodness, do those catch-phrases ever take hold! Whenever Bindi and I tell our cats off, or praise them, it's always "norty geeerl" like Kim, or "good girl!" like Kath. And the "noice, different, unyewsual" routine comes out whenever the situation calls for it.

I shall look out for those elephants when I next watch the show! It will be a good excuse to pop the DVDs in again...

on 2006-03-28 01:44 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] charliemc.livejournal.com
I'll chime in with total agreement with the other two comments here and say it's not a bad addiction and you're totally normal!

I've been addicted to one (or more) TV shows my entire life and have never seen anything at all wrong with it. TV and movies -- and the fanfic I've written about many of the same -- have driven me to increase my reading and research, believe it or not! This was true from the time I was a kid and could barely read, actually. I recall so many times that our family would watch a movie on TV and Dad would say something like, "I read the book. This part is different..." or "In the book such-in-such happened..."

I was so impressed by that! (smile)

Good shows and good characters are all about life, anyway. It's like observing the people around us in many ways.

I'm in my 50's. I've been hearing how TV was 'bad for me' since I was a small child. I just have yet to see exactly what bad thing happened to me, though... (I've got a huge circle of friends both on and off line, I'm an active volunteer and am socially aware and involved, I'm over-the-top happy and satisfied with my life and I could go on and on in that vein. So...)

Go with the flow. How can it possibly hurt you?

(hugs)

on 2006-03-28 03:45 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
I've been thinking about your words, good Charlie, and wonder what sort of impact this particular show has had on my life. I came to conclusion that it does many things for me but the most important one is that it inspires me to write. It shows me how well stories can be told and this results in my wanting to write stories that well, too.

It is good to know I'm not alone, though. There are plenty of less-desirable addictions out there than poor old TV.

on 2006-03-28 05:50 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flippyfrog.livejournal.com
*hands up*

Oh stargate... you and i should never part...

It's when you start dreaming about it for a week straight that you know you're in trouble :S only i can't stop.

I don't know if it's a bad thing, but i don't think it's a good thing either. The only thing i could do about it was give the DVDs back to my brother and try to ignore the Atlantis ones i downloaded....

on 2006-03-28 07:56 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
You've been very strong, good Flit. Unless, of course, you've been sneaking the DVDs back and failing to ignore your downloads. I've come to think that, if you enjoy it, then how can it be bad?

on 2006-03-28 05:57 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] the-kaytinator.livejournal.com
*raises hand*

Oh Firefly, how I love thee.

Though my brother owns the lot on DVD, I'm going to buy it so I don't have to BORROW it ever again.

on 2006-03-28 07:57 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
I need to watch Firefly again, I think. It's been quite some time now.

So many good stories to watch! How can it be bad for us?

on 2006-03-28 07:59 am (UTC)
ext_1836: (Default)
Posted by [identity profile] rigel-7.livejournal.com
*waves hand about*

Yay Gilmore Girls - we all know my obsession there...
*shakes fist at channel nine for not finishing the series off* I tell you, one day I'm going to just give up and illegally dowload them all.

I'm terrible when it's on. I won't answer the phone and will glare at people who dare to interrupt me during the show.

on 2006-03-28 08:03 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Isn't it shocking when people talk over your shows? Years ago, my brother's old girlfriend was staying with us and I had just sat down to watch a TV show I waited for every week. She sat down too... and talked the whole way through it. Gah! I couldn't even sneak glances at the show. And then, when she finally paid some attention to the TV, she started asking me what was going on. I wanted to scream: How would I know? You've talked over the whole damn thing!

Neither can you depend on commercial television stations to do the right thing, alas.

on 2006-03-28 08:48 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] saltedpin.livejournal.com
I don't think it's a bad thing until you start, say, conducting conversations in a Kath and/or Kim tone of voice or citing Kim as your role model, or refusing to leave the house in favour of watching it. Basically as long as you maintain your grip on reality, what's the harm?

I never really get the 'it's bad for you!' thing. If it makes you happy and makes you laugh, then where's the harm? (especially if you watch or discuss it with friends. There are few things more fun than squeeing over your obsessions together :DDD)

At least you are addicted to a show with actors and a satirical element. I'm addicted to a cartoon set in feudal Japan :(((( And the character I have a crush on turns into a giant dog.

on 2006-03-28 10:44 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
But it's OK if I do the Kath and Kim thing intentionally, isn't it? Or is that going too far? I wouldn't say Kim's my role model, but that certainly appears to be the case for many people out there. It's just scary, sometimes.

The good thing is that Bindi, who lives with us, also likes K&K and when there are two of you, it's much easier to re-create scenes when something in real-life reminds us of them. 'Tis fun!


...A giant dog, you say?

on 2006-03-28 11:48 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] saltedpin.livejournal.com
Oh yes! Intentionally is fine. I just know some people who talk like that unconsciously (they even pronounce 'affluent' like 'effluent'). It frightens me, so it does.

It is fun! I don't really see why talking about TV is so bad, if it makes you happy :)

Did I say giant dog?? (http://www.lostwindchime.net/ig/sesshomaru/a/11.jpg)

on 2006-03-29 05:44 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] saltedpin.livejournal.com
Which cartoon? InuYasha. Sesshoumaru is the character I have a big crush on.

on 2006-03-28 09:43 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] violetcreme.livejournal.com
I don't think being addicted to a TV show is any different to any other addiction, and I think addictions are part of being a human being. In many ways it's the best addiction there is becuase you dont put on weight, it's not harmful, it gives you a whole universe to step into and in many cases, aspiratinos and inspirations. Even with a movie - it lasts two hours and has a very self contained story and beginning an end but a TV show has a much broader scope for your imagination.

I've been addicted to Press Gang since I was 11 and can still watch an entire series through having watched it God knows how many times in the last 17 years (!). I'd rather be addicted to that then heroine. I think there are limits, as with all addictions, but the majority of peopele don't 'go there'.

Enjoy it - when something touches you like that, just sit back and let it.

on 2006-03-28 10:45 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
You're right - as addictions go, it's a pretty harmless and enjoyable one. The one-off cost was quite reasonable and it has yielded hours of pleasure and fun. And yes - it does manage to inspire me on occasion.

on 2006-03-28 12:04 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] tim-of-oz.livejournal.com
The Amazing Race!

I'm very very very angry that they wasted a season on the stupid family edition which stayed mostly in the US. And they didn't even air it here, I downloaded it.
Plus I've downloaded all the past seasons.
I just hope they never get rid of it...although I know it can't last forever.

So yeah, I know that 'can't get enough' of a TV show feeling.

on 2006-03-28 10:41 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
This is why the commercial stations are being so stupid. By stuffing up the screening of TV shows, they cause people to buy DVDs of their favourite shows (or download them) instead, which takes them away from free-to-air TV. So what are they thinking when they make stupid decisions like that?

I guess we'll never know.

on 2006-03-29 05:30 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] tim-of-oz.livejournal.com
That's a good point. They DID make it clear they weren't airing the 8th season though (and I see why, because it wouldn't be of much interest to Australians), but the early seasons were only run really late at night...so I didn't even discover the show until its 5th season. Hence why I downloaded them because CHANNEL SEVEN IS STUPID!

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