Nowadays, as you well know, there's a myriad of ways to watch our favorite shows: Netflix, the internet, On Demand, the list goes on and on. No longer do we have to watch a TV show when it's on or risk never seeing it again. Even if we don't have Netflix or what have you, most people have DVRs and can just record their shows and watch them later...and skip commercials. And here is where my rant comes into play.
I LOVE commercials. 'What?' you say, 'who the heck loves commercials? Who has time for them anymore?' Well, let me tell you why.
1
Need I say more?! Oh sure there's the pause button but it's a lot harder in an intense show to make ourselves push that pause button. See? Commercials give us that excuse to be kind to our bladders.
2 I hate, HATE when I see a hilarious commercial and ask someone if they've seen it and not only do they say , 'no, I don't watch "regular TV"' but they look at me like I'm the scum of the earth for still doing so! Well, sorry! Forgive me for not wanting to fork over thousands of dollars a month on instant gratification!
Uh, so anyway, the point is that while most TV commercials are maddening there are some hilarious ones that, more often than not, are funnier than the sitcom I'm watching. And now there's so few people who can even enjoy a laugh with me.
3 I love music. I'm always looking for some new song to discover and blast from the speakers so many times it becomes annoying, even to me. And where, you ask, do I discover these new (to me) songs? Why, from commercials, of course. I have 40 songs on my iPod that were discovered from commercials. And even more if you consider it introduced me to, not just the song, but to the band.
4 Yeah, alright when you're really into a show and there's some big gasp moment and then it goes to commercial it can drive you crazy, but isn't that half the fun? Don't shows lose some of their excitement when there's no break? If you can just click a button and skip the commercials, or the commercials have just been taken out all together, then what's the fun? Where's the tension?
5 Commercials are meant to advertise and I, for one, have found some fun things because of them. Remember the yummy 5alarm burrito from Taco Time. Yep, commercial. How do I know that Blizzards at Dairy Queen are buy one get one for 99 cents through the month of March? Commercial. Hmmm, upon second thought, maybe I don't like what these commercials do for my waistline. ;)
I highly doubt my rant has converted you into watching commercials and that's fine but could people please stop looking at me like I'm crazy when I mention a funny one?!
Phew! Rant over.
I love commercial breaks! Gives you a chance to go grab something to eat, go to the bathroom, get a drink, etc etc. I don't have a DVR so I can't pause! If there were no commercial breaks, I'd have bladder problems :)
ReplyDeleteI also agree that if you take out breaks, you take out tension. I sometimes go on a TV show binge on Netflix but it isn't the same. I can just find out what happens next instantly. Although sometimes I'm really, really happy I don't have to wait a week between episodes!
Yes, not having to wait between episodes is very nice, I'll admit.
DeleteMy husband also loves commercials. He'd almost rather watch them than the tv show. I'm on the fence with them. I don't love them, but I don't hate them either. If all commercials were good, hilarious, and awesome, then I'd be all for them. Unfortunately, you get a lot of stupid ones too and I'd rather not wade through them to get to the good ones.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the stupid ones ruined it for the fun ones. ;)
DeleteOK, I do not like commercials. I have been known to yell at them when they come on to interrupt what I'm watching. But I loved all your reasons for loving them and read this with a big smile on my face:) I do however LOVE movie previews!!! I don't know what that says about me.
ReplyDeleteI love previews too! I'm glad I at least made you smile. :)
DeleteOMG, the best commercial in the world is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeChAbQYSOU
ReplyDeleteSo, of course I love some commercials, but I want to watch them when I want to. Not usually while I'm watching a show. But, bathroom breaks are so important to me, I have to agree with you on that one. Commercials are mostly important and you DO find out about stuff that matters.
Great rant, I have to say.
I hadn't seen that commercial. That's hilarious! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI just got cable TV with a record and skip button and I gotta say, it's the best thing I've ever done. I imagine that the commercials we get in Australia are much different to the ones you guys get but regardless, commercials drive me insane. I don't have the time to sit there watching them because I could be doing something else productive (blog stalking!). TV is already enough of a time waster. Although, I don't get junk mail at my place so I do learn about some sales via TV so you have a point there!
ReplyDeleteLOL! See, I just watch TV and surf the internet at the same time. I use the commercials to focus more on the internet.
DeleteYeah, and I've found that I can accomplish almost three times as much during a commercial then I can if I have nothing to hurry for...of course then I don't find out about great deals on blizzards or anything like that but then who cares I live in LOA!
ReplyDeleteYeah, when I worked at the hotel and got to watch TV I'd use the commercial breaks to go switch the laundry and do other things. There quite handy aren't they?
DeleteHa! I love your rants! And while I am one of the ones that does not watch "regular TV" and therefore has not seen a commercial in many years, I do miss them. I do particularly miss the break. To get a snack or go to the bathroom or just chat or rest the brain. I also agree with you about commercials being a good source of music.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you admit to missing the benefits of them. ;)
DeleteUm... LOL? I have a suspicion this whole post came from our convo yesterday? :) Ha! But I can be swayed by all your arguments EXCEPT #4! THAT, I can do without! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I've discovered many songs through commercials, all my "new to me" songs are discovered on Pandora lately it seems... or through blog posts!
Nope, cause I don't remember our conversation. :)
DeleteYou don't? Yes you do! The song by Fun... as seen on a commercial? And I said.. "what commercial?" :)
DeleteLOL! Oh yeah. Well, that wasn't what encouraged this post. Oh dear, I think I'm losing my mind.
DeleteI don't watch a lot of TV, but I do a couple of nights a week (for Amazing Race and Survivor - sooo glad that annoying little slime Colton is GONE!) I don't love commercials in general, but I appreciate the well-done ones. One of the funny ones I've seen recently is the (Geico?) commercial where the single guy sings his "date-me" classified at a karaoke bar to the tune of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." It cracks me up.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Yes, I've seen that one and it's hilarious. See? We shared a laugh over a commercial. ;)
DeleteWow, I can't believe you not only WATCH commercials, but also LOVE commercials. Crazy. I can no longer stand commercials thanks to DVR, but I do sort of miss playing "Guess the Product" with my husband. It was a fun way to make commercial breaks go faster!
ReplyDeleteYes, playing the guess the product game is a great way to make it through the bad commercials.
DeleteYou are not alone! I LOVE commercials! Only when they are on the television though...not radio or internet commercials. Many of the reason I like them is the same as what you have listed...such as...the fact that I can run to the bathroom or make a snack, I get TONS of good song recommendations from them....and they are occasionally good for a laugh or two. During the various seasons of the Bachelor and Bachlorette, my friends and I always get together on Monday nights to watch it with each other. Without the commercials we'd have to hold in all of the comments and thoughts that we have until the two hours are up! It would be impossible to stay quiet that entire time! So yes...I do enjoy commercials!
ReplyDeleteYes, I forgot that reason but I meant to add it. They ARE the perfect opportunity to discuss.
DeleteI always love your ranty posts!! I quite like commerical breaks too, one for the tension (and the chance to go and get a snack or go to the bathroom) but also because it's time to TALK about the show!! I love when I turn to my boyfriend on an ad break and we both say the same thing!
ReplyDeleteThe Cait Files
Exactly!
DeleteWhile I don't know that I can say I love commercials, I do enjoy them on occasion. There can definitely be some really funny ones that deserve watching sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHah. I love number 5. "How do I know Blizzards are buy one get on for 99 cents?" So true! How am I supposed to know about anything if somebody doesn't tell me about them?? Commercials do a good job of keeping you in the loop.
They do keep us informed, don't they? ;)
DeleteYour points are nice, and truly describe the necessity of commercial ad in general use.
ReplyDeleteMedia Buying Agency