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Been & Going

[Lessons From The TV People] Farewell My DVR

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For this column, I scour the U-verse in search of television shows and then pass along the random treats to you fine people. But alas, the U-verse has gone temporarily dark. You see, a few days ago my DVR decided it didn’t like what it was playing for me and went insane. And no AT&T LFTTVP-DVRJanesupport lady named Jane who is three months pregnant could help me. (We had time to chit chat while they ran a diagnosis. She now knows that I had a busy week!)  So it is with extreme sadness that I report that not only am I without cable for a few days, I lost it all. Everything that was on my DVR. Every. Thing.

I’m still a little shaken.

As part of my recovery, I would like to take a moment to say a few words about some of the programs that are now in the abyss.

Marvel’s The Avengers – OK. I saw this twice in the theater but when there’s a free EPIX weekend, you’re gonna be tapin’ some shit. Amirite? Sniff. Loki is no longer a click away.

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire – Also from the gift basket of the free weekend. I actually watched these two but hadn’t erased them yet. There are some movies that I’ve seen before that I like to have on hand for when I’m cleaning the house. I also listen to music or podcasts but movies are great to distract you from cleaning. Which I am all about.

This is where I take a moment to address your comments. Yes, I’m sure I can find them online. No, I don’t want you to cry for me. All I need is a sympathetic “Such a shame” or “I understand”.

Three episodes of Garfunkel & Oates – I was a bit behind on this IFC series. Garfunkel & Oates are a great female comedic duo that sing such songs as “Pregnant Women Are Smug” and “This Party Just Took a Turn For the Douche”.  High rec.

LFTTVP-DVRDrunkHistoryOne episode of Drunk History – Luckily I had just done a marathon of about five episodes. This is a Comedy Central series that started as videos on YouTube where a comedian will get drunk and tell a historical story while actors re-enact it. Entertaining and informative. I’m not saying that I probably learned more from Drunk History than AP American History but…

Both parts of Angels In America – This had been on the DVR a long time. I just never had time to sit down and watch them again. Mike Nichols directs the Pulitzer Prize winning Tony Kushner two-part epic starring Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Al Pacino, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Patrick Wilson and other amazing actors. Damn. I should have watched this again.

The Entire First Season of The Returned – This was a French series that aired on Sundance last LFTTVP-DVRTheReturnedFall. Yeah, “last Fall”. I think I’m definitely losing your sympathy here. I was going to watch it, I swear! Anyway, it’s about some people who return from the dead and how it affects everyone. There’s a show on a network (ABC?) that has a similar premise but this pre-dates it. You can practice understanding French while being creeped out!

The Entire Fourth Season of Game Of Thrones – Watched this but wanted to revisit closer to the airing of Season Five. I know! I know! HBO will air it again around that time and yes, it is on HBO GO. But what if I wanted a quick pick-me-up by watching Joffrey’s and Margaery’s wedding?

Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover: Paris & London – I watched the London one immediately (duh) but still needed to watch Paris. I’ve watch all of Bourdain’s travel shows: the Travel Channel one, the CNN one and the other Travel Channel one, The Layover. I think that was the show I had. I can’t keep track. But it was definitely Paris and London. I highly recommend the interview with Bourdain on the Nerdist podcast. He’s an interesting guy. I can’t wait for his inevitable next series.

LFTTVP-DVREarthquakeEarthquake – I’ve never seen this classic disaster movie. I’ve only experienced the ride at Universal Studios. The ride had a surprising lack of Charlton Heston overacting that the movie had so I thought I would check it out. GUESS NOT.

A few real classic movies like The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, My Favorite Year, Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Walkabout – It’s at this point where I personally apologize to TCM. I taped these films and wanted to watch them and be a better cinephile but I instead chose to sweep dog hair to Harry Potter And the Order Of the Phoenix.

Whew. I’m feeling a little lighter now. Thank you. In fact, I now don’t have to scroll past The Returned in order to get to already-seen episodes of Doctor Who. I’m free! Until I get my new DVR!