Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with TV and entertainment

I know it's only November.

bent back tulips — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:40:31 -0800

What are your favourite Christmas TV episodes? This year leading up to Christmas I want to watch a load of Christmas specials or Christmas episodes of TV shows. The problem is, I can't think of that many! I know there must be lots that I'm not thinking of, but that's where you come in.

Ones that have come to mind for me so far: Studio 60, The Office and (of course!) A Charlie Brown Christmas. Are there any favourite Christmas episodes that you remember fondly? Or ones that you bring out every year at this time? What would be good for me to watch to get me in the Christmas mood? They could be heartwarming, hilarious or melancholy, all accepted. Fire away!

My new thinking technique is unstoppable!

infinitewindow — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:21:01 -0800

Recuperating from a head injury. How can I entertain myself with brain damage as a motif? Lots of stress going on right now in life, and to make matters worse I hit my head last night pretty bad. Right now I'm in the hospital under observation, and I have internet access to keep me entertained. When I get home for a day or two of bed rest, I will have no direct Internet access. I will have access to a PS3 with the Playstation Store.

Can you suggest interesting and not-stressful things to watch, read or listen to that

a. don't cost money
b. don't involve direct PC-type computer use
c. involve head or brain injuries in some way?

I have been promised a trip to the local public library, so books, audio or otherwise, are good ideas. You can check out my personal library from the LibraryThing link in my profile if you want to be a hella good AskMe citizen. Blindsight would be a great answer because the protagonist had part of his brain taken out in childhood (and because it's a kickass novel). This essay would be a bad answer because it would totally stress me out even more.

Cosy times wanted!

dance — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:32:44 -0800

Different ways to watch movies aside from unplugging and moving a rather large iMac around the house? My partner and I like to watch downloaded movies, series and DVDs from time to time. At the moment we either sit rather uncomfortably in front of the iMac in the office, or we unplug it and sit it on a chair in the bedroom, for example. Often the external hard disk comes along for the ride too. This is impractical and by the time everything is powered up with cables strewn everywhere, my partner at least is quite cross and it doesn't feel cosy and nothing like a home cinema. It was actually easier when we just had an iBook between us.

What solutions are out there that would allow us to watch more easily on a screen that we could position in the living room, but would still allow for the possibility of watching downloaded films and DVDs. We're not so into the TV.

I saw this on Thinkgeek, but it may well be overkill. What about buying a mid-size TV and neatly running a HDMI cable to it from the iMac? Any suggestions, ideas or anecdotes welcomed!

Too old to make it in TV writing?

lunasol — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:30:22 -0800

I want to write for TV. I'm 31. Is this impossible? After 6 years working on political campaigns, it's time for a career change. During this post-campaign period of unemployment, I have been writing A LOT (something I used to do almost compulsively), remembering how much I love it, and thinking about trying to write for TV.

I've been reading up: blogs (Jane Epsenson, Lee Goldberg and Lisa Klink have been particularly helpful), the TV Writer.com forums, other questions here on the green. I've started working on spec scripts for some of my favorite series.

I've read in more than one place that one shouldn't even think about moving to LA and pursuing this if you're over 30. However, this seems to be mostly for sitcoms or other comedy writing - I'm mostly interested in dramas.

I know there are a bunch of Mefites out there who write for TV - what say you? I definitely understand that this would involve several years, at least, working in the trenches. I know that my first career won't help me get a job in this industry, but I do think the skills and lessons I learned on campaigns (discretion, negotiation, the importance of working your way up) would help me once I got that first entry level job.

Also, I definitely understand that there will always be naysayers out there, and if I really have the talent and passion I should just go for it anyway, but I do want to go into it with open eyes, understanding the odds.

Who will send me TV listings like the ones in TV Guide?

reenum — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:42:50 -0800

I want an e-mail or RSS update that tells me all the shows I want to watch that day and give me a brief synopsis of said episode. Is there anything like this out there? Back in the late 1990's, I had an Excite account. At the time, I could select my favorite shows, and on the My Excite page, I could see a short synopsis for that night's episode. They had this for reruns too, so I could figure which reruns I wanted to watch. Ditto for talk shows.

I have this feature on DISH Network, but I want it in my inbox for easier processing.

I'm currently subscribed to crapimissedit, which e-mails my inbox whenever a new show is on for one of my favorites. It does half, but not the whole job. I like that the site notifies me when a new show is on, but I'm not happy that I can't get a synopsis or info on repeats.

I also have an account with Zap2it.com, but find it too unwieldy, plus no e-mail or RSS updates.

Are there any websites where I can have an RSS update or e-mail sent to me that lists my favorite shows that day and gives a brief synopsis of them?

I'm a Comcast customer is looking to expand my TV horizons.

bamassippi — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:27:25 -0800

I'm a Comcast customer is looking to expand my TV horizons. The wife and I are looking into DVR options. We currently use Comcast (Seattle, WA) w/HD channels and, due to our apartment complex, do not have the option of Dish/DirecTV.

I would prefer a TiVo HD recorder due to TiVo's position in the market ad an industry leader. What successes/failures/thoughts do you have on TiVos current DVR technology

Is Comcast's DVR technology worth it? Obviously, the month-to-month payment is more wallet-friendly than the investment of a TiVo, though I didn't know if the end result was any better.

Thoughts?

Looking for recommendations for a baby proof TV / entertainment centre that doesn't look too shabby.

theNonsuch — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:48:38 -0800

Looking for recommendations for a baby proof TV / entertainment centre that doesn't look too shabby. My eight-month old son hasn't started crawling yet, but you can tell he's just weeks (if not days) away, so we've started baby proofing our apartment in earnest.

One of the main problem areas right now is in the living room. I have a 32" LCD TV that sits out in the open on top of a basic TV stand and I really want to baby proof this so it can't be pulled / pushed over.

We're renting, so I don't want to put the effort into wall mounting the TV. The current thought is to get it into some kind of entertainment unit that has some kind of sliding door or glass front.

(I also have a DVD player, cable unit, Tivo, and small shelf stereo that all could use some storing, too, but the TV is the priority.)

I've seen the giant wooden units that make it look like they were carved from a massive tree trunk as well as the black particle board ones that seem better suited to a guy who insists on demoing his setup using Top Gun at full volume. But finding something that's pleasantly designed and safe seems difficult if not impossible.

Any suggestions?

ISO site that does TV recommendation based on interests

seeminglee — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:15:53 -0800

Is there a cable tv listing site that suggest shows based on interests (tagging perhaps?) My friend just convinced me to get cable so I can watch Project Runway, which is a great show. But with all these channels, I am having a tough time finding out what's on and what's not?

I have tried TVguide.com but I don't find it very useful.

There are a few criteria that I'm looking for:
+ ability to enter interests as filters
+ ability to highlight popular shows (I am a designer and thus needs to know what people are watching these days)
+ ability to see a timeline that extends for the entire week.

I would like to see a way to construct a tv calendar around my regular schedule.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
See-ming

LCD HDTV Prices: Buy now or later?

logovisual — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:35:29 -0800

What do I need to know about current LCD HDTV prices re: buying a set now or later? I'm in the market for a new TV, and obviously there's no point in a new TV if it's not going to be an HDTV. I've done enough of my homework to know that for what I can spend (under $1000, preferably under $900; I'm in my twenties in New York City at a low-paying job, what can I say) my options are all going to be sub-32", LCD panels, with more than likely a maximum of 720p HD (which is going to be fine for my needs for the next couple of years; I like movies and games, but my next system's gonna be a Wii not an XBox, and I'm not plunking down the cash for a next-gen DVD drive yet). I am also somewhat knowledgeable about what kind of brightness and contrast ratios to look for, what sort of inputs I'm likely to need, etc. etc.

What I don't know anything about is pricing: prices have obviously gone down lately (especially due to the holidays), but are they poised to drop further? Could the upper end of my price range start buying me a larger or higher-res screen sometime in the next three or four months, or do we look to be at a stable price level right now?

I'm probably looking at name-brand-ish sets here, rather than Best Buy store-only-brand kinda stuff, though I haven't heard any complaints about, say, Westinghouse sets which are consistently cheaper than most brands. If you have any personal experience with brands that give the best bang-for-buck ratio or resellers to track down or avoid, I'm open to that kind of stuff too.

rigging a used G4 as a media centre

iTristan — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:39:15 -0800

I am going to rebuild a used G4 as a media centre and have a few questions for anyone who might have done this My main concern is component output to analog TV. I'm unclear as to what is really necessary, and best, to make this work well. Is it just cables I need, or actually a conversion box, or perhaps a PCI video card?

prices?

Additionally:
- I plan to add a USB2.0 card for syncing with my iPod ($80?) and possibly to hook up to some Elgato device; although PVR capabilities aren't that necessary so this is optional (optional $150 - 200)
- am leaning towards a Keyspan Express as remote control; will enable Front Row on the box to make control easy for family: $60
- will get bluetooth adapter and keyboard/mouse, to surf from the sofa: $100
- will probably eventually accelerate the box with a 1.8GHz Giga card, they work pretty well: $250

So, for roughly $500 (plus output video cost) I'd have a customized entertainment box complete with large HD etc etc

Anyone have thoughts on the output, or my specs/plans?

Help me make a DVD.

BigBrownBear — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 10:18:45 -0800

Help me make a DVD. I want a program to make DVDs. Nothing to fancy - I just want to load some avi files, create a menu, and play the disc on a standalone DVD player.

I've tried several programs, but I either have problems with multiple files or the aspect ratio options are limited (want to copy widescreen). Does anyone have any suggestions?

Would certainly appreciate some opensource options (tried AVI2DVD but can't get it to work right, especially with multiple files).

(P.S. Not doing anything illegal)

Need more TV shows to download. Recommendations please!

BigBrownBear — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 14:45:32 -0800

Need more TV shows to download. Recommendations please! Shows we like: Entourage, Lost, 24, Arrested Development, Footballers' Wives, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiam, Coupling, Weeds, Monk, Desperate Housewives, I'm Alan Partridge, The Dead Zone, Ali G.

Andy Griffith Show: only those who watched it when it originally aired, pls.

five fresh fish — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:45:57 -0800

Back in the day, what did contemporary viewers of The Andy Griffith Show feel about the show? Was it good and wholesome, or sordid and immoral? Was it 'funny ha-ha' or 'funny omg i can't believe they just did that!'? Realism or surrealism? Sitcom or soap? And all that jazz. (I got a four episode CD for a buck. Whatta deal! It has been greatly entertaining.)

BTW, only those who saw the original broadcast airing; I don't care how it's experienced in today's times, just the original times. Thanks.

Oscar Online?

Navek Rednam — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 09:55:37 -0800

Where can I watch, or listen to, the Academy Awards live on the internet? A repeat of last year's question. Has anything changed?

Where can I see "lyrical" dance being performed?

mathowie — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:32:39 -0800

Where can I see "lyrical" dance being performed? I tend to shun any and all reality TV shows, but for some reason (boring summer filled with reruns) I watched every episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Hip-hop and ballroom are nice and all, but I can't get enough of what they call "lyrical" dance. I've never heard the term before so I'm guessing it's what used to be called modern ballet? Is that correct?

Anyway, it's incredibly engaging stuff and I'd love to go see more of it in Portland, Seattle, or San Francisco, but I have no idea where to start. Do certain dance companies specialize in it? Is there a more popular name for it I should look for? Do college dance programs perform it?

Game show ideas.

delmoi — Sun, 29 May 2005 11:30:25 -0800

Imagine a game show involving two beautiful female hosts. One is the "nice girl" and the other the "bad girl". This is a goofy show like Distraction or Bonzai. Random contests, which are meant to be titillating to the viewer. Can you think up some contest ideas for such a show? Part of the idea is that the "nice girl" gives out rewards and the "bad girl" gives out punishments. I need some ideas for the actual contests though. The format is somewhat up in the air.

This is just some mindless show people will watch when they're bored. Filler Television. You don't need to worry about any network standards.

Also, if you seen some crazy game show stuff on TV feel free to mention it, or if you know of some internet site that discusses this type of thing that'd be excellent.

Which manufacturers make well-built home theater equipment at a reasonable price?

danwalker — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 19:21:06 -0800

Over the past several years, I have been burned by poor quality in home electronics from various manufacturers. I have purchased pieces by Sony (home stereo), Panasonic (theatre-in-a-box) and RCA (various pieces of junk), and all have given out in one way or another far too quickly for my liking. In a renewed attempt to build a proper home theatre system (DVD/CD, receiver, speakers, etc), and recognizing that I haven't the money for really high-end stuff but will avoid anything cheap, I seek outside opinions as to which manufacturers are making products that are of reasonable quality, and reasonably priced. Your experiences, please.