With the advances of technology, watching TV has become one of the easiest ways to procrastinate. Hundreds of shows and clips are just a few clicks away for anyone with internet access, so you can keep yourself occupied for hours instead of writing that paper.
But when I read critics' reviews on websites like Vulture or the New Yorker blogs, I like to think there is something to be learned from TV shows. It's interesting to see how the ideal American family has changed and not changed from 'Leave it to Beaver' to 'Modern Family'. And even if 'The Hills' was one of the most unreal "reality" shows of the past century, I learned a lot from the characters' interaction with each other.
Sure, America's getting more obese every day, and TV probably isn't helping. But it's also not the root cause. Laziness is the root cause. You can watch network TV with headphones while at the gym. People blame TV watching for mindless eating of junk food, but why not use TV as a way to force yourself to eat more vegetables? America needs a change, but we can still enjoy TV.
TV gives us something to talk about with strangers as well as friends. It teaches us lessons about how to behave and not behave in social situations. It entertains us, moves us, makes us think. A good show will provoke intellectual debate, not mindless couch potatos. There are plenty of shows that will do just that—take TV greats like 'Lost' or 'M*A*S*H', for example. And with more and more A-list celebrities turning to TV shows instead of movies, we can continue to expect great things.
