It started with a little experimentation in college. Nothing major, really, my roommates would be sitting around our living room and from time to time I would join them. But too soon it began to take its toil. I got caught in an ugly web.
Iยm talking, or course, about the WB. I know, Iยve mentioned it in this column before, but that was back when I was a recreational user. Now, Iยve moved onto the big time — setting the VCR every night, scouting web sites for teasers every day. I think itยs sucking my life away.
The whole thing began with Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. A couple of my college roommates really liked it and, in an effort to avoid any semblance of work, I began watching, too.
It quickly became a ritual. Tuesday nights the roommates gathered around, friends came over, we all bonded.
But I confess: Iยm a TV junkie. And while all my friends could keep their habits under control, I couldnยt. Seeing promos for other shows made me want to find out if Felicity would ever get together with Ben, if Jill would dump his new girlfriend for Jack, if the aliens on ยRoswellย were on the verge of being discovered.
I became obsessed. Because, letยs be honest, the WB has discovered a niche. Sure, Iยm a member of their target audience (female 18-24) so Iยm biased, but theyยve also found a few key formulas that, if ratings are anything, seem to be working out for them. First off, the supernatural crime fighter (ยBuffy,ย ยAngel,ย ยCharmed,ย ยSabrinaย). Then, thereยs the continual love triangle between soul mates and could-be soul mates (think Pacey, Joey, and Dawson, or Felicity, Ben, and Noel). As well as the combination of the two (ยRoswellย). Throw in some family values programming (7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls), as well as Steve Harvey and Jamie Foxx, and youยve got yourself a network.
Oh, and did I mention that on the WB everyone is really attractive. Okay, well, on the WB everyone is really attractive. They might not always be able to act, but that doesnยt matter if youยre Scott Speedman. Not that he canยt act, but you get the point. Hot. Watching the WB made me want to watch more ร I felt like I loved everybody. But then the credits would roll, and I wasnยt as pretty as those WB people. I donยt have super powers or a could-be soul mate. The highs just got higher, the lows just got lower.
Of course then I moved to Memphis. At first it was really hard. I knew that Channel 24 played WB shows during their late night programming, but I could never remember to set my VCR. The fevers, the chills, the sweating, it all got to me. And then I got through it.
Slowly I forgot that Felicity and Ben ever existed (in that way that Felicity and Ben ยexistย). I spent evenings contributing to society. I was rehabilitated.
Then I heard from friends of mine, as well as a television critic at Salon.com, that the writing and acting on Buffy was surpassing all the other shows on television. I thought it would be okay, Iยd just watch and thatยd be it. I remembered to set the VCR.
Suddenly I was sucked back in. I decided that if I was going to tape Buffy I might as well tape Angel, the spin-off that comes on after it. I mean, the VCRยs already set up. And then Iยd sneak glances at the tape the next night and see previews for Dawsonยs Creek. Dawsonยs going to lose his virginity with Paceyยs sister? And Joey wants him back? I better tape that, too. And Charmed, yeah, okay.
Now season finales are looming on the horizon and cliffhangers are in sight. And me, Iยm firmly back on the junk, just wondering about my next fix.
( Mary Cashiola writes about life every Friday @ memphisflyer.com. Youยre invited to come along.)
