$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 8:39:13 GMT -5
So check it out. We just got DVR (Tivo) last weekend. We were one of the last holdouts. Quite simply I was under the impression I had to buy a $100 box before making monthly service fees, but as a Cablevision customer you just switch your dumb box for free. So we should have done this a while ago...but I digress.
Thing with me is I find myself taping things I have a passing interest in, but would ignore before cause the whole operation of grabbing a videotape in another room, setting the VCR, and then not losing that show in the multitude of the other crap I tape regularly was just a big booty pain.
I may never get around to watching some of this stuff once I reach a fill limit (100 hours) and some may dangle on the vine for months, but I am filling it up with an interesting melange...methinks. What do YOU record, especially late at the night when all the cool stuff seems to be on and you're in bed?
In sumnation, I tape a lot of History and Discovery Channel stuff, a lot of forensics stuff for Dana who is into that stuff, a couple of things for not-so-little Emma, and some quirky things. Here is some of what I have taped recently...
A documentary on chupacabras documentary on Civil War foot soldier life documentary on Andersonville Prison documentary on recovering the sunken Hunley docu on space balloons docu on pirate ships docu on Port Royal, the infamous pirate port 3 episodes of Michael Waltrip racing documentary a couple of episodes of "Cheap Seats" True Hollywood Story (Dirty Dancing) - for Dana True Hollywood Story (Johnny Depp) - for Dana A docu on a Gainesville, Fl serial killer - for Dana A Scooby Doo in Mexico cartoon move for Emma A docu on the flying dinosaur, the Ptredoctyl A docu on the Titanic Garth Brooks special 2005 Country Outlaws concert Top 10 game show hosts countdown Yankeeography Catfish Hunter and Thurman Munson VH1 Classic Albums (Dark Side of the Moon)
And I am sure there is more. Thats just a little sumnation of where my trigger finger has taken me. What are you watching? Are you impressed my extensive tastes?
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 10, 2007 8:41:58 GMT -5
I'm pretty much disgusted with this list with the exception of the Scooby Doo movie.
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Post by Chris on Jan 10, 2007 8:42:52 GMT -5
You just wait Tom. As a long time TiVo-er, I can tell you that your viewing hours will increase exponentially.
As a matter of fact, Tivo has almost turned TV Watching into a chore for me.
You know how some people feel "off" or uncomfortable all day when they know they've left the house with an unmade bed or dirty dishes in the sink? Well that's how I feel when I know my Tivo box is filling up and I'm not keeping up on my watching/deleting duties. I am SO backed up on 90210 episodes right now.
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Post by Chris on Jan 10, 2007 8:43:46 GMT -5
I've had Miller's Crossing sitting on mine for almost two months now...I have to get to it soon!
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 8:46:49 GMT -5
Cho, I am already getting there. My box is only "28%" filled, but I felt like I was leaving things blowing in the wind on there, so last night after ECW wrestling ended at 11 when I would normally be hopping online or - gasp - grabbing a book, I figured I needed to make a dent into my DVR backlog. And yeah, I find I am setting aside a little time a night to watch some of this stuff. Its frightening that I am making plans in advance to watch certain things ("hey, how bout we watch this thing I taped on the 2nd Friday night after Emma goes to bed?")
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 10, 2007 8:51:49 GMT -5
Now you can make sure you never miss good shows like Friday Night Lights, 24, or American Idol! I basically just have a bunch of ongoing tv shows that I set to tape first run only. This is a handy feature in case shows are pre-empted, change days, or don't advertise premieres very well (like South Park).
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 9:07:25 GMT -5
Well, Friday Night Lights we watch live. Idol too, although I am usually reading the paper or a book concurrently. Idol is going to test my patience this year, with 11 hours of audition footage before they get down to competing for anything. 24 we dont watch, and we wont bother with.
President is speaking tonight at 9. Not sure what shows that is going to mess with. If Channel 4 decides to do a pre-speech thing tonight, that will put the screws to Friday Night Lights at some point.
I have found myself scouring TVGUIDE.COM daily for listings. I am becoming a TV whore.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 10, 2007 9:13:13 GMT -5
DVR them anyway. You could get a phonecall, or for some reason be out. It takes 2 seconds to erase a show if you already watched them. The DVR often deals with presidential addresses. I hope it does today, because I will be out during Friday Night Lights.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 9:20:55 GMT -5
Oh, I know Balls. I do it a bit differently, though....if a call comes in or if Emma needs something, I simply pause and play catch-up. No biggie.
I thought the DVR was all screwed when the President talked.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 10, 2007 9:27:10 GMT -5
That's also something to do. Tonight, my DVR actually has the speech in its tv guide, so it would know when to begin. I don't know if I have any 9pm show tonight though. The key to taping the show all the time is if you can't be there at all.
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Post by 9 on Jan 10, 2007 9:53:40 GMT -5
Chupacabras RULE!
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 10:10:52 GMT -5
In just one week I already nailed down 2 shows with Chupacabras in them. The documentary (which was a hoot) and the Scooby Doo cartoon movie, which features a chupacabra (better known as an old man under a mask scaring the locals)
My favorite recent chupacabra appearance was on "Supernatural" - a savagely underrated show.
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Post by 9 on Jan 10, 2007 14:25:26 GMT -5
Wasn't there also one prominently featured on an episode of The X-Files?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 14:32:30 GMT -5
I would not know. That X-Files ship sailed without me.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 10, 2007 14:33:00 GMT -5
I too was not an X-Files person.
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Post by Chris on Jan 10, 2007 14:41:38 GMT -5
X-Files and Survivor are two WILDLY popular shows. Both of which I have never seen a single episode.
The funny thing about Tivo is the sense of obligation you feel to not only watch, but enjoy what you'vre recorded. I remember Tivo'ing a documentary about about the mafia sometime back and it was really dull, AND it was 2 hours long, AND I found myself sitting there telling myself, "This is really interesting" all the while anticipating the END...but I stuck it out and watched the whole thing because, after all, I Tivo'd it...MUST be good!
Currently, the Top 5 Season Passes (Series Links for those of you who are DirecTV DVR users) on my Tivo are:
The Office My Name Is Earl Yankees Hot Stove Bridezillas 'Til Death
...(I think I've got somewhere in the neighborhood or 20 set up)
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 14:54:46 GMT -5
I wont season pass. I wont even save "all episodes in this time slot" cause Law and Order SUV zonked me. They are showing an episode Saturday night 10-11, and I had that time and channel earmarked as a bookmark.
I am so used to playing with the VCR so often to tape things that i like to tape on a daily basis. There are only a handful of weekly shows we taped to watch anyway, most of the shows we watch at my home we watch live. The DVR comes in handy for the oddball shows I was discussing.
Oh, another one I set the DVR for is the crazy "White Rapper" show on VH1 hosted by one of the fellows who used to be in 3rd Bass.
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Post by Chris on Jan 10, 2007 15:31:02 GMT -5
Pop goes the weasel cos' the weasel goes pop.
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Post by Furious D on Jan 10, 2007 16:39:03 GMT -5
After a little experience with the DVR, you will find that you will never watch anything "live" again. You will just record all of you favorite shows and if you want to see it the same night it aired, you just start watching it 10 minutes late for every half hour of show. This way you can fast forward during commercials and still finish on time. You may say you'll never do it, but trust me, you will.
By the way, the White Rapper Show is some good TV.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 10, 2007 16:48:09 GMT -5
Yeah, we're not there yet, in terms of starting late...but its in the back of my mind to try. It would give me an extra 20 minutes of live hockey watching time during our average 1 hour show, thats certainly true.
Last night I was playing with the picture in picture, putting the Islander/Ranger tilt in the corner while we watched HOUSE for a bit.
I already earmarked another 5 shows between the time I get home and 7 tomorrow night I want to add to my DVR roster.
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Post by JimmyBig on Jan 10, 2007 19:03:54 GMT -5
The DVR is the greatest invention for those with kids. I used to get furious at my kids when they would not go to sleep before one of my favorite shows started, now it does not matter. I just cleared some old DVR stuff out yesterday to make room for the upcoming 24, Prisonbreak, etc.
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Post by elliejay21 on Jan 10, 2007 19:10:43 GMT -5
As a matter of fact, Tivo has almost turned TV Watching into a chore for me.
You know how some people feel "off" or uncomfortable all day when they know they've left the house with an unmade bed or dirty dishes in the sink? Well that's how I feel when I know my Tivo box is filling up and I'm not keeping up on my watching/deleting duties. I am SO backed up on 90210 episodes right now.
Holy shit, ChO, I feel your pain! I got so backed up during finals that I have been watching hours every night to delete below that 50% mark...lol I did finally get caught up on 90210 last night. Scheduled to record on my box: All, first run only: 24 Lost Grey's Anatomy ER Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip The Office Scrubs Brothers & Sisters The Sopranos I'm also recording 90210 2x/day from SoapNet and JAG 2x/day from USA... when I am through all of those, I will pick up some other series in reruns, either something I used to love like 90210 or something that caught my interest, but I missed on the first run, like JAG... I also sporatically record the Law & Order shows, depending on how busy I am and how much room is on the box, as well as an occasional chick-flick I stumble across.
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Post by JimmyBig on Jan 10, 2007 19:13:18 GMT -5
The Pink Panther cartoons are one of my favorite DVR's
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Post by Jackass on Jan 10, 2007 19:26:04 GMT -5
I saw every episode of X-files and yes, el chupacabra was a subject one episode.
I love my DVR. The only thing that I watch live now, is sporting events.
I received a DVD recorder for Christmas and I can now dump entire seasons of shows onto DVD. I have seasons 1 & 2 of Trailer Park Boys, Seasons 1 & 2 of Little Britain, and Seasons 1 & 2 of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia saved on DVR to dump.
Along with INDEMAND, I can also burn entire seasons of HBO and Showtime series. NICE.
I found some great software on line that allows you to save the DVD to your hard disk, edit out commercials and then burn to another DVD (I record from my DVR on erasable / re-usable DVD's and then burn to a regular non erasable DVD after editing). This software also allows you to convert to any other video output so you can download to an IPOD, ZUNE, ZEN, or other portable device. Another nice thing with this software is the ability to capture an image from a DVD and save it as a picture. I ripped some great shots from Reservoir Dogs for my daughter.
I love my DVR and I love my DVD recorder.
I can see DVD's of an entire Angels Season recorded off of my Season Ticket Package in my near future.
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Post by Chris on Jan 11, 2007 4:10:55 GMT -5
"I'm also recording 90210 2x/day "
Me too!!! My weekends have be reduced to 90210 marathons!
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Post by elliejay21 on Jan 11, 2007 13:37:05 GMT -5
Not sure if Tivo works the same way, but when I record the syndicated shows that cable networks play a couple of episodes each day, I only have the option of recording weekdays in ONE time slot or all episodes on a given channel. With 90210, for example, I get my weekday episodes and then 3-4 hours out of sequence over the weekend. I do get a strange sense of accomplishment, though, when I delete the extra episodes, and then check what percentage of the box memory is full.
I am eagerly awaiting FiOS, because it is my understanding that with the boxes Verizon uses, you can get one box and play back recordings on any TV. Currently I only have one box, and it drives me nuts that I can't pause or ff through commercials in the living room, but I refuse to give fuckingcablevision ANOTHER 10 bucks a month for a second box...
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Post by Chris on Jan 11, 2007 13:51:59 GMT -5
I don't record those weekend episodes.....I can't deal with Val and Gina and Noah and Matt while I'm busy concentrating on the Brenda Years during the week. The weekday episodes just finished up all the post-Brenda episodes all the way up to the last episode, and then recently re-started with episode one.
It's a never-ending loop!
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Post by Chris on Jan 11, 2007 14:11:40 GMT -5
Tom - is that Chupacabra documentary going to be rerun? What channel?
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Post by yanksgooner on Jan 11, 2007 15:55:40 GMT -5
everyday I DVR:
COPS on Court TV COPS on FOX Sky Sports news on fox soccer channel
i recorded Dazed and Confused the other day and i'm gonna keep it on there until it decides to take a walk on me one day.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 11, 2007 15:59:51 GMT -5
Cho, I am sure it will be replayed. I will keep an eye out for it....one of the downfalls to this new toy of mine is me scouring the tv listings for 20 minutes a day, making sure I dont miss anything. Its part of a series of "Is it Real?" documentaries, including some on UFOs, Bigfoot, Atlantis, all kinds of crap. But it was the chupacabra that sold me.
Gooner, after a while all those COPS shows look the same to me. But back in the day I'd put it on, crack open a can, and play some death metal music and put the action to the tune. It was fun stuff.
Its funny, on the DVR now I have a couple of things that I really dont think will ever be seen. I'm interested in how long they sit there, entombed and ignored.
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