Have you ever watched The Big Bang Theory? I ask because I was recently at a trivia night and won the round because I knew the name of Raj’s dog. (The answer will be revealed at the end of this post.)
No one else at my table knew the answer, and so I proved my value as a member of the trivia team.
Here’s the problem. The Big Bang Theory is one of the few shows I enjoy watching. If the trivia questions had been about much more popular shows from recent decades, like Ted Lasso or Suits, I would have been an embarrassment to my teammates.
Why? Because I’ve never seen a full season of either show, nor many others that my friends have loved and begged me to watch. (I’ll pause briefly here for you to pass judgment on me.)
And it’s not because I don’t have streaming services. We have all the biggies: Hulu, Netflix, Prime, and Apple+. If the show doesn’t catch my attention–or even if it does–I probably won’t make it to the end. I’ll be asleep by 9:30 pm. So, I would much rather read my book, catch up on emails, or be productive around the house than sit in front of the television.
Additionally, I’d rather watch the Phillies game, which is a three-hour commitment at the very least. When the game is over, I need to get up and move my body. I’m too antsy to sit there for another few hours and watch a show.
Finally, I don’t watch a lot of new TV because I would rather re-watch episodes of shows I’ve loved and missed, such as The West Wing, Mad Men, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, This Is Us, and the aforementioned Big Bang Theory. In a world full of uncertainty, I enjoy the comforts of television shows where I know how it ends.
The only exceptions I make are shows like The Great British Baking Show and The Amazing Race. I quite enjoy picking favorites and see if they make it to the next round.
For the record, I do watch late night television like The Daily Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. That’s because I am tired of all the political pundits and need my news fed to me with a healthy side of comedic timing.
Here’s the thing. As a writer, I need to watch more TV and become more in tune with 21st-century pop culture. One client asked me to help her write a speech that included humorous television references to shows like Breaking Bad and Stranger Things. And guess what….these are also shows I’ve never watched. (I know! I know!).
So, I guess it’s time to sit in front of the TV and pick a show that is new to me and will solidify my reputation as a good trivia player. (By the way, Raj’s dog’s name is Cinnamon.)
And also, so that I don’t have to turn down freelance work because I’ve never seen Squid Game.
What shows do you watch and can’t believe that other people haven’t seen them?
XO,
Elisa
I recently discovered a podcast that I think everyone would enjoy. It’s called “What It’s Like To Be…” from bestselling author, Dan Heath. In his podcast, he interviews someone from a different profession, such as a deli owner, a hospice nurse, or a couples therapist. Each episode gives a behind-the-scenes look into their work lives. He asks the questions that many of us want to know, and his guests are ready to share their stories. The host ends these podcasts with a lightning round of questions. I’m good at lightning rounds, so I thought I’d give it a shot from my perspective as a writer and content creator.
It all started at 6 am when I had a great idea for a blog post. And then I went back to sleep. When I woke up, I couldn’t remember it.