TV or Not?

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like without the telly? To me it would be a much better place to live in. We'd read more newspapers and learn the real news without all the show and drama TV news seems to promote and, unfortunately,  this seems to attract viewers. We'd entertain friends or play board games more often, we'd go to the theatre or to the cinema more often, we'd attend a sporting event rather than watch it on TV. We'd even read more books or take up a creative hobby or listen to the radio every day! In short, we wouldn't be victims of passive entertainment.

In my childhood and teenage years, there was only one TV channel in Cyprus - the CyBC - Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. The programme started then at 7:00 pm and ended at 11:00 pm. And yet, there were so many TV series and cartoons worth viewing then.  As a child, I really loved : Casper the Ghost, The Flintstones, Peyton Place (possibly the first soap opera worldwide), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Well, I used to have an argument with my parents who wouldn't let me watch that! ) , The Man from U.N.C.L.E - I was in love with Robert Vaughn and hated David Mc Callum!

Back to the present. There are so many TV channels now most of which broadcast ..trash! I hate all this horde of reality shows such as Big Brother, Survivor and WipeOut   not to mention all these cooking reality shows announced on the greek TV! What I love on our TV is Greys Anatomy  , Vimata Stin Ammo based on a story by Korina Avraamides which I happen to like very much. That's all I watch on TV right now. Get On Stage 2 and Greek Idol    

Comments

[walid1949]

Habebti.
LOLOLOLOLO I did it did it sing to comment here and I did it.
Hello.T V took over Cinema.Internet took over T V .
I sill remember we use to have one Arabic Chanel and one french Chanel here in Lebanon as you wrote starts by seven close at midnight.
Curiosity kills the Cat .I put in mind I must see more Channels.I went to the roof and started turning the Antenna north west south East.Not a thing cause we use to have two Antin's on the T Lines which use to be changed by a knife switch up Chanel 7 down Chanel 9.
Back to the roof point the front up a bit down a bit turned it to the north west pointing up a bit and O M G here is a beautiful lady speaking don't know what.sit still waiting for some thing to give me a clue My father was glad lesting to don't know who playing the two pianos sitting in the middle between them.O M G it is Cyprus Chanel Derogates said they are speaking Greek.
The next day reaching home from school.up to the roof joined the G L one inch and a half pipe good so far need two antennas more one for Cyprus and one to fithel with till I got pointing it north Turkey .
There where no rotators that time four antennas on our roof every one was asking my father what are these for he use to answer them.These are channels from Mars and the the other planets.
I still remember the comedy series the news at 8pm and before closing after that the national I item with the flag.We were suppose to stand when they put the national I item with the flag.
Oh Casper the friendly Ghost Flint stone wood Wood picker.combat.mike hummer the detective.bob hob and many others.
Now I have my own satellite receiver with a dingy and four roof Dishes two are 180x220cm.one is 120x90cm and for the near by Chanel's 40cm.
Astra Hot bird Nile sat and Arab sat.I can watch more than three thousand Chanel but what for.
These days I watch Discovery National Geography Xenophon always playing symphonies Cosine cant understand french but I watch them cooking.urosport cars Cartoons are my favorite Specially Tom and Jerry.One thing hurts me we lost Hanna who do most of these cartoons He is Lebanese working in the stats Not a single news paper or t v Chanel here in Lebanon mentioned that or at least give a small summery about his life.
I never watch news at all.God Bless.
You must forgive me for this long page But at last I did it.
With all my pure LOve Walid.

[Agnes]

I hardly ever watch TV. Not sure why. But I do I like Forensic Files documentaries, 48-Hour Mystery and Dateline.

[Kofla Olivieri]

I stopped watching TV summer of 2006. To make a long story short, after four years I don't miss it. lol

[Lakis Ioannou]

I'm not a TV fan but I never miss sports shows and important football matches.

[Alexia M]

I don't watch much TV except the news when I can and sometimes Law and Order. Some music shows we have in the Netherlands are also quite interesting and etertaining.

[Anastasia]

Hi Walid and thank you very much for signing in. I hope it was fast and easy. You really made my day! I couldn't help a laugh imagining you on the roof turning the TV antena. What you got then was CyBC since we are your nearest neighbour! I was 4 or 5 when we got our first tv set which was black and white. Now I also have 2 satellite links - Nova and Cytavision and we can have hundreds of channels! Some of the movie channels are great and I don't need to rent or buy DVDs all the time. There's Avatar on at the weekend so I might watch it as I had fallen asleep at the cinema and missed most of it. The truth is I found it very boring - not the stuff I'd expect from James Cameron.

[Anastasia]

I don't watch much TV either - it depends on the mood and what's on.

[Anastasia]

Kofla, I have a friend who has never bought a tv set. She has three children aged 16, 18 qnd 21 and they say they can't miss something they've never had. The family spends a lot of time together playing chess or other board games. They have a computer but not an Internet connection. The Internet isn't much different from TV - it also promotes passive entertainment.

[Anastasia]

Alkis is a TV football freak - especially when AEK (Greece) play. He didn't miss one single match of the World Cap and he was sad for days when Greece was eliminated.

[Anastasia]

I also like Law and Order and I occasionally watch on satellite TV some of your great music shows - even if I don't understand Dutch.

[Stefania]

I love TV! I find it more entertaining than surfing the Internet. I like watching series and films most and documentaries relating to planting, gardening, animal life and travelling around the world - like Travel Book.

[Jean-Paul Bouvier]

Moi aussi, j'aime beaucoup la télé. J'aime surtout les films policiers, le foot et parfois des émissions magazine/société.

[Laura]

I always watch Breakfast on BBC One before I go to work. And I love EastEanders Revealed! Right now I'm watching Come Dine With Us. Honestly, I don't think I could live without the telly!

[Christina]

I watch tv very rarely, maybe once or twice a week. I never watch the news- I prefer to read it online - newspapers are free on the Net. So, I never buy a newspaper either! I watch tv only if there is a really good movie worth seeing.

[Lisa A]

Ciao Anastasia. I like to watch tv - it's a good entertainment after a long day at work. I love A Casa di Anna on RaiUno and Cinecittà on Raidue - well these are my favorites but I also enjoy all kind of documentary films on art. Have a great weekend!

[Jim]

I'm not particularly keen on TV but I occasionally enjoy watching The Cleveland Show and Cops on Fox. Since I moved to the US, I've been feeling a bit homesick and watch the news on BBC.

[Constantinos]

I prefer reading to watching TV. I find it more entertaining and more relaxing.

[Anastasia]

There'a a greek version of Come Dine With Us called Kati Psinetai (something's cooking). Unfortunately, I can't always watch it as it's on at 8:00 pm when I'm still at work. But I have watched some repeat episodes in the summer and got some great cooking tips!

[Sophia]

TV opens up the world, whether through watching documentaries, or drama series with multicultural characters. In addition,laughing is good for us. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. It has been found to increase circulation, lower blood pressure and more. Watching a good comedy on TV can be a great way to find something to laugh about. That's why I love watching comedies on TV!

[Andreas]

After a hard day at work , I can only relax watching a good comedy on TV !

[Phivos Nicolaides]

To TV or not TV... to be or not to be...

[Sophia]

So do I, Andreas. When I'm back from work, I enjoy a TV comedy.

[Lakis Ioannou]

I can understand Alkis. When my team plays, no one should speak to me!

APOEL, apoelara, omadara!!!

[Karolina]

TV or NOT? I vote for TV! I am a real TV freak and watch TV all the time! I love reality shows, talent shows, and movies. But when I can, I watch Menegaki as well. The only TV show I don't like in Greece is Al Tsantiri News - how pathetic!

[Mrkmakth]

Television watchers should keep a log of the hours they choose to sit in front of the "boob tube". After they experience the shock of realizing how much time they've wasted, they could then make a list of ways to use that time more productively. Some suggestions might be: spend time with family, friends, and pets; start a part-time business; meditate or pray; play a sport; or pick up a hobby. They just might discover there's more to life than what's happening on the latest reality show. You can bet when people come to the end of their life they don't regret not having watched more TV.