Another of those questions

[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?

Comments

[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!

[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!)

[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.'

[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)

[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....

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.