Originally posted by Marc Berman: By the way, here is my assessment of guest lecturing at the University of Arizona:
University of Arizona: What These Students Are Watching on TV
Well, folks, I am home. And I am jet-lagged after two extraordinary days of guest lecturing for the Media Arts Department at the University of Arizona. I spoke at two of Dr. Kevin Sandler’s classes about my favorite subject, television, and did my annual fall prime-time presentation to about 150 students. Needless to say, I learned a great deal about the viewing habits of today’s college student. If there is a lesson to be learned, it is this: never expect the expected.
To my surprise, the typical college viewer is not necessarily a fan of non-scripted programming. They don’t watch Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor or Big Brother, and they shook their heads in dismay when I talked about the recent network summer landscape. Other than NBC’s The Office or Scrubs, they are not big fans of network sitcoms, and they show a tremendous preference for shows on cable -- FX and HBO, in particular. Some of the common responses to what shows they do enjoy included FX’s Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me; HBO’s Entourage and Flight of the Conchords; and Showtime’s Weeds. When I reminisced about some of my favorite shows from yesteryear -- thirtysomething, St. Elsewhere and The White Shadow -- they looked at me like I had two heads!
As to what new network shows, if any, they are excited about next season, I can tell you one show they definitely will not be watching: ABC’s Cavemen. But they were more optimistic about the alphabet net’s Pushing Daisies, which was of the three shows they screened for my class. The others were Cavemen and Fox sitcom Back to You, which they were mixed on. Regarding the one show the majority said they loved, and still miss, that is Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. “They don’t make shows like they used to,” said one disgruntled student.
As I prepare today’s column under a cloud of confusion (can anyone really sleep on the red-eye flight?), I will remember this teaching gig as truly inspirational. Thank you, Dr. Sandler and everyone at the Media Arts Department at the University of Arizona. Had there not been a mirror in my room, I would have felt like one of those students. Only this time, I was without the groovy shirt and bell-bottoms!
I bet if Neilson would record college campus' viewings, NBC would be a lot higher. Especially on Thursdays.
Posts: 2650 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: 27 January 2007
Say Marc, any way we can get you to come to campus here in Iowa? I here the exact same things from kids here. I recently purchased HBO as an add on to our basic cable service offered here and everyone immediately hounded me because Showtime is "so much better". The reason? Weeds and Californiacation. I stayed with HBO however, because I enjoyed Big Love and simply feel the movies are better. One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, and Top Model are the favorites on the CW, and American Idol, Family Guy, and the other animated shows are favorites on Fox, as well as the obnoxious House. Believe it or not, my roomate, who doesn't follow TV as much as I do, even knew about the Idol knockoff Next American Band and said he wanted to check it out. Could be interesting.
Yes, I would love to see Iowa. And I like getting out there talking to people.
Thank you everyone for the nice birthday wishes.
quote:
Originally posted by mushu_jj: Say Marc, any way we can get you to come to campus here in Iowa? I here the exact same things from kids here. I recently purchased HBO as an add on to our basic cable service offered here and everyone immediately hounded me because Showtime is "so much better". The reason? Weeds and Californiacation. I stayed with HBO however, because I enjoyed Big Love and simply feel the movies are better. One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, and Top Model are the favorites on the CW, and American Idol, Family Guy, and the other animated shows are favorites on Fox, as well as the obnoxious House. Believe it or not, my roomate, who doesn't follow TV as much as I do, even knew about the Idol knockoff Next American Band and said he wanted to check it out. Could be interesting.
Originally posted by Justin: I bet if Neilson would record college campus' viewings, NBC would be a lot higher. Especially on Thursdays.
I doubt to many college students watch ER. The Office would likely be helped the most, but 30 Rock doesn't have much of an audience to begin with, so I doubt the gains would be visible there.
