I stopped watching the news a year and a half ago. I decided early into the 2016 Presidential Campaign that I was not going to risk my mental health by watching the shenanigans. In fact, I stopped watching television all together because the campaign commercials became just as annoying as the news coverage. Just when I thought it might be okay to rejoin mainstream television, the election results coverage continues to spin just as nonstop as the campaign coverage. If you are like me, you have probably escaped from the traditional form of television. Thank goodness for the internet. Since mid-2014, I’ve been streaming all of my favorite shows and movies. That has helped to make being entertained much more bearable.
Television is my friend. Growing up, we only had one television in the house, and guess who had ultimate control over it? You guessed it; my dad. I absolutely hated when he would come in and change the channel when the show I was watching had only 10 minutes left. Tears. Or, when my brother, sister and I would fight over the remote control. (Can you relate?)
This is why streaming and watching shows on demand appeal to me. This option puts me in control of what I watch and when I watch…the ultimate remote control. Not only can I control what and when, I also control how much. I can start and stop at my leisure and come back to the same place in the programming as I left. Like I said, the ultimate remote control.
Whenever, you feel a stressor, in particularly the 2016 Presidential Election, use the magic of internet television to transport yourself to a place filled with drama, fantasy and comedy. You can find this escape by watching three of my favorite programs on NBC. I am literally borderline obsessed with This Is Us, Timeless and Saturday Night Live. Of course everyone is familiar with Saturday Night Live (SNL). There’s nothing better than a good laugh to help brighten your day, right? You might not however be as familiar with This is Us and Timeless both of which premiered this fall season. I promise, if you like drama, you will love This is Us. And, if you are a fan of speculative and/or historical fiction, then you will appreciate the fantasy of Timeless. Take a look at a clip from an episode of each (posted below) and decide for yourself if these are programs you might like to watch. No matter what your taste in television programming, I encourage you (if you don’t already) to stream television programs. It is empowering to be in control over any portion of your life (no matter how small). Allow great television shows to be an escape from post-election blues. Take some time to entertain yourself, and as always, let’s press on together!
This Is Us- Gift of Magic Shirt (Episode Highlight)
Timeless- Jersey’s Jersey, Even in the 1930s (Episode Highlight)