INCREASINGLY, people are getting rather snobbish about the telly they watch – and it shows.
Quite often these days someone will ask “Did you see that amazing documentary on global warming/mass spectrometers/particle physics?” or start a discussion with “Wasn’t Newsnight challenging?”
Of course, more often than not, I can only manage a weak “No, sorry.”
It’s become a kind of viewing one-upmanship, to see who can watch the most serious and thought-provoking TV. It’s like a measure of your brain capacity, and I’m shown to be down to the last flickering cell.
The reason this is so, and why it’s concerning, really revolves around why we watch telly. Yes, it’s informative, educational – I agree, and sometimes they can both be found in a programme that’s also entertaining. But, generally, I only watch TV to be entertained.
I know it’s probably deemed a bit naff these days to even list “watching telly” as a hobby. A bit like stating your favourite drink is “White Lightning cider” or your favourite food “fish, peas and curry sauce” (it is, actually, and it’s delicious!).
While my husband is totally hooked on How It’s Made and anything explanatory, I love watching America’s Next Top Model or Call The Midwife.
There doesn’t even seem to be any need to justify this choice – except that it’s hard to introduce it into a conversation and sound like someone who discriminates between good and bad telly.
Frankly, I can’t be bothered discussing the finer points of Tyra Banks’ clever use of “smizing” (smiling with your eyes to any non-ANTM fans) or even the latest birth problems experienced in 1950s’ London.
This is because TV viewing is of-the-moment, the entertainment is encapsulated in the programme’s length – and it doesn’t necessarily have an accompanying seminar the following day, or ever.
No. Why on earth can’t we just accept TV for what it is and forget the scintillating subjects it raises? Sometimes, it does have something riveting to say and, yes, it can explain complex situations or theories.
But, it can also be simple and one-dimensional. If I’ve had a busy day and just feel like putting my feet up, I want to watch films like You’ve Got Mail or Sleapless in Seattle or any of a number of comforting, non-confrontational programmes that I just don’t have to think about, simply enjoy.
And I make no apologies for this. So, please, if you want to feel superior by showing off about the high-brow stuff you watch in your living room, knock yourself out. I’ll be relaxing with Tyra and the girls.