The best online video content for thoughtful adults?
March 9, 2010 10:37 AM Subscribe
Help me sell going cable free to my spouse. I understand that there are ways to get TV shows (previously) without cable, but I'm wondering if I can also tout the additional content available online that cable doesn't provide. What good video content is online that will appeal to a mature, thoughtful adult who is more interested in humanity than technology?
She pretty much dislikes anything aimed at young 18-35 males. She wants mainstream production values and relatively linear plot lines. By the time of the day that she wants to watch TV, she is ready to just chill.
Particular favorite types of shows:
* Human Drama Reality: Shows like Deliver Me and Ace of Cakes that follow real people doing real things instead of setting up contrived situations designed to provoke drama (nix Survivor, Bachelor, etc).
* Talent-based reality shows that are somewhat free of the drama like Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Chopped.
* Mainstream sitcoms that are smart and funny (e.g. Modern Family)
* Family fare that won't bore the hell out of the adults (examples: Up, Wall-E, Iron Giant).
* Biographies and documentaries that are mostly political agenda-free.
She is a proper Catholic with a concern for social justice and a pretty steady moral compass. She does not want to be sold either a conservative or liberal political agenda. She does not tolerate shows that depict degradation or cruelty (at least without some strong moral response.) She likes a good laugh but only if the above values are accommdated first.
So, how much online content can I tell her she'll enjoy? What are some good examples?
She pretty much dislikes anything aimed at young 18-35 males. She wants mainstream production values and relatively linear plot lines. By the time of the day that she wants to watch TV, she is ready to just chill.
Particular favorite types of shows:
* Human Drama Reality: Shows like Deliver Me and Ace of Cakes that follow real people doing real things instead of setting up contrived situations designed to provoke drama (nix Survivor, Bachelor, etc).
* Talent-based reality shows that are somewhat free of the drama like Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Chopped.
* Mainstream sitcoms that are smart and funny (e.g. Modern Family)
* Family fare that won't bore the hell out of the adults (examples: Up, Wall-E, Iron Giant).
* Biographies and documentaries that are mostly political agenda-free.
She is a proper Catholic with a concern for social justice and a pretty steady moral compass. She does not want to be sold either a conservative or liberal political agenda. She does not tolerate shows that depict degradation or cruelty (at least without some strong moral response.) She likes a good laugh but only if the above values are accommdated first.
So, how much online content can I tell her she'll enjoy? What are some good examples?
Response by poster: Oh yes, you're right. I do plan to stream Netflix when they offer that service for teh Wii this spring.
To clarify, I am interested in online originated content.
posted by cross_impact at 10:50 AM on March 9, 2010
To clarify, I am interested in online originated content.
posted by cross_impact at 10:50 AM on March 9, 2010
Two websites that will go a long way toward helping you sell it:
Clicker.com and TV Gorge, the sheer amount of content on these two sites alone is amazing.
Clicker is especially good for web-originated content, as I found when I searched for a vegan cooking show(!!).
posted by willmize at 10:52 AM on March 9, 2010 [4 favorites]
Clicker.com and TV Gorge, the sheer amount of content on these two sites alone is amazing.
Clicker is especially good for web-originated content, as I found when I searched for a vegan cooking show(!!).
posted by willmize at 10:52 AM on March 9, 2010 [4 favorites]
There is a lot of great stuff at the National Film Board of Canada online archives. You can stream over 850 films for free (documentaries, narrative films, animated shorts). There's a good chance your wife would be interested in (or at least not be offended by) many of the documentaries.
[By "online originated content" I suspect you may mean web-original shows, so I don't know if my suggestion fits what you are looking for. However, most of the NFB online archive is never broadcast on TV, and is difficult to get hold of in DVD form, so online is the one place you can easily access these films.]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:55 AM on March 9, 2010
[By "online originated content" I suspect you may mean web-original shows, so I don't know if my suggestion fits what you are looking for. However, most of the NFB online archive is never broadcast on TV, and is difficult to get hold of in DVD form, so online is the one place you can easily access these films.]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:55 AM on March 9, 2010
TED talks are available online but not on cable!
Hulu.com has some online-only content as well, such as If I Can Dream (sort of a reality/fame show). They also have documentaries that I haven't seen elsewhere.
posted by acridrabbit at 10:56 AM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hulu.com has some online-only content as well, such as If I Can Dream (sort of a reality/fame show). They also have documentaries that I haven't seen elsewhere.
posted by acridrabbit at 10:56 AM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
TED Talks area always interesting and engaging. Almost all of them are available on their site.
posted by DrDreidel at 10:57 AM on March 9, 2010
posted by DrDreidel at 10:57 AM on March 9, 2010
I'm cable free and have been for years. The biggest single benefit is all the time I seem to find to do things like read, listen to music, go for walks, talk to people and look at them at the same time ... hang around sites like MetaFilter.
As for what to WATCH online, lots of good ideas here already to which I'll add a fave Friday night "game" one can play with friends/family of pretty much any age. I call it YouTube JukeBox. It's as simple as taking turns digging up something weird/funny/enlightening/rude/whatever on YouTube. Played correctly, each selection is inspired by the one that precedes it.
IE: you chose Frank Sinatra singing My Way; Okay, here's Sid Vicious's version.
Countless hours of fun and friction.
posted by philip-random at 11:17 AM on March 9, 2010
As for what to WATCH online, lots of good ideas here already to which I'll add a fave Friday night "game" one can play with friends/family of pretty much any age. I call it YouTube JukeBox. It's as simple as taking turns digging up something weird/funny/enlightening/rude/whatever on YouTube. Played correctly, each selection is inspired by the one that precedes it.
IE: you chose Frank Sinatra singing My Way; Okay, here's Sid Vicious's version.
Countless hours of fun and friction.
posted by philip-random at 11:17 AM on March 9, 2010
I haven't had cable since 2004. Totally don't miss it. Netflix + Bittorrent + Windows Media Center means I can play pretty much any video I like on my TV, either using my DVD player or my XBox 360.
posted by valkyryn at 11:28 AM on March 9, 2010
posted by valkyryn at 11:28 AM on March 9, 2010
willmize: "Two websites that will go a long way toward helping you sell it:
Clicker.com and TV Gorge, the sheer amount of content on these two sites alone is amazing.
Clicker is especially good for web-originated content, as I found when I searched for a vegan cooking show(!!)."
Just a heads up that it appears (in terms of traditional network generated content) Clicker.com links to legal sources (Hulu, network sites, and Amazon.com) whereas TVgorge links to illegal sources that don't reimburse the content creators.
I think she might enjoy some of the netflix streaming content, especially if you pair it with an easy-to-use Roku box.
posted by sharkfu at 11:29 AM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Clicker.com and TV Gorge, the sheer amount of content on these two sites alone is amazing.
Clicker is especially good for web-originated content, as I found when I searched for a vegan cooking show(!!)."
Just a heads up that it appears (in terms of traditional network generated content) Clicker.com links to legal sources (Hulu, network sites, and Amazon.com) whereas TVgorge links to illegal sources that don't reimburse the content creators.
I think she might enjoy some of the netflix streaming content, especially if you pair it with an easy-to-use Roku box.
posted by sharkfu at 11:29 AM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't know why anyone has cable these days. You can find everything that's shown on TV online with very little effort. Youtube, Veoh, and many other sites have documentaries of every conceivable variety readily available. Although it may not be precisely legit, you can also find movies on these sites that you would struggle to find on TV--I've seen childhood favorites like Watership Down and many a Disney movies on these sites. While this may not count as internet-unique content, it is content on the internet that you're unlikely to find elsewhere.
I don't know if she's into audiobooks or not, but I'd just like to plug this site as one of the many reasons why I love the internet as a form of "just chill" entertainment. Great alternative to T.V. Also, this site has some interesting stuff, depending how interested she is in more academic-type lectures. Really, I find this question hard to answer because there's so much to watch/ listen to that it's hard to fit what's available into a list of potential resources.
posted by _cave at 11:39 AM on March 9, 2010
I don't know if she's into audiobooks or not, but I'd just like to plug this site as one of the many reasons why I love the internet as a form of "just chill" entertainment. Great alternative to T.V. Also, this site has some interesting stuff, depending how interested she is in more academic-type lectures. Really, I find this question hard to answer because there's so much to watch/ listen to that it's hard to fit what's available into a list of potential resources.
posted by _cave at 11:39 AM on March 9, 2010
Excluding pirated material (it's not terribly difficult to find good sites specializing in brainy cinema and documentaries) - since you specify 'online originated content':
Kevin Pollak Chat Show: kind of familiar character actor conducts lengthy interviews with various minor celebrities. Like LeVar Burton and Illeana Douglas.
UCTV, Research Channel: Academic lectures to more broadly-accessible programming. Margaret Atwood toying with her interviewer like a cat plays with a mouse.
C-Span's BookTV: navigation's kind of hard, but they've also got a vast archive of long, casual interviews with intelligent people.
posted by unmake at 3:59 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
Kevin Pollak Chat Show: kind of familiar character actor conducts lengthy interviews with various minor celebrities. Like LeVar Burton and Illeana Douglas.
UCTV, Research Channel: Academic lectures to more broadly-accessible programming. Margaret Atwood toying with her interviewer like a cat plays with a mouse.
C-Span's BookTV: navigation's kind of hard, but they've also got a vast archive of long, casual interviews with intelligent people.
posted by unmake at 3:59 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
My partner hates cable, and wishes we didn't have it (or even a tv). I, on the other hand, am reluctant to let it go, even though I rarely turn it on, and already watch most things online.
Are you sure your wife wants to keep cable because she is interested in specific content? Or might she like the...comfort that being able to turn the tv on brings sometimes? I am definitely in the second category. Every so often I just want to sit down and flip channels, and I often settle on shows that I either didn't know existed, or that I wouldn't bother downloading specifically, but am happy to watch one-off. Also, if I'm home alone and doing the dishes, for example, it's nice to be able to turn the tv on as background, rather than being invested in a show to the point where it makes multitasking difficult.
Sorry, that didn't really answer your question, but my partner has used the same arguments that you do in trying to get me to ditch cable, but it's the reasons above, not the content per se, that make me want to keep it. The same could be true for your wife. YMMV.
posted by just_ducky at 10:42 PM on March 9, 2010
Are you sure your wife wants to keep cable because she is interested in specific content? Or might she like the...comfort that being able to turn the tv on brings sometimes? I am definitely in the second category. Every so often I just want to sit down and flip channels, and I often settle on shows that I either didn't know existed, or that I wouldn't bother downloading specifically, but am happy to watch one-off. Also, if I'm home alone and doing the dishes, for example, it's nice to be able to turn the tv on as background, rather than being invested in a show to the point where it makes multitasking difficult.
Sorry, that didn't really answer your question, but my partner has used the same arguments that you do in trying to get me to ditch cable, but it's the reasons above, not the content per se, that make me want to keep it. The same could be true for your wife. YMMV.
posted by just_ducky at 10:42 PM on March 9, 2010
Also, for your convenience, after you build a list of favorite sites, maybe think about a PC remote? Might help with the inconvenience of having to sit at the computer to entertain yourself.
posted by _cave at 10:12 AM on March 10, 2010
posted by _cave at 10:12 AM on March 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Perplexity at 10:40 AM on March 9, 2010