I was just pondering my fandoms today and I realized something - all of the television shows I am a fan of, I didn't start watching until relatively late in the game.
And worse, all the shows that I have bothered to watch from Day 1 I tend to grow tired of (with a few exceptions and all of those exceptions were CANCELLED).
My theory is that any show that was hyped enough by the network for me to tune in and watch the pilot episode was probably a solid idea for 1 season, and then it all fell apart because the writers were so shocked that they got a second season.
Let's look at the list:
The Fandoms That Survived:Buffy - started to watch regularly during the summer of Season 4
Angel - started with Season 2
Veronica Mars - didn't pick up season 1 until season 2 was about to start, thanks to Joss' seal of approval
Battlestar Galactica - got the DVDs for my birthday when season 3 was wrapping up
Gilmore Girls - oh hell, that show had been off the air for a few years, I just watched all 7 seasons last year!
Leverage - managed to catch the episodes of season 1 during the marathon last month.
True Blood - tried to watch the first episode but wasn't into it...picked it up several episodes later and got hooked.
The Office - ah Netflix, what would I do without you?
30 Rock - Yeah, I'm ashamed to say I didn't watch this from day 1...why did I doubt you Tina Fey?!?
Flight of the Conchords - New Years Eve 2007, thank you for doing a marathon HBO! I had heard about it but its really not the kind of show you can describe to someone without them assuming you've lost your mind. (no offense,
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House M.D. - I don't know why I didn't watch House right away, I love Hugh Laurie...but thank goodness I didn't! Even though season 2-3 had some fumbles, this show has remained solid.
Fallen SoldiersLost - watched the Pilot, was hooked...gave up on it ever making any sense midway through season 2
Heroes - watched the second episode (some how missed premiere week) and only survived Season 2 because of the Kristen Bell factor.
Smallville - I remember reading an article about the opening sequence and how the network bumped the show because of 9/11...yeah, I gave up on Smallville after Angel was cancelled, which was season 2.
24 - an interesting idea but it wore thin after 2 seasons. I'm still waiting for the "Jack forgets to set his alarm clock" and he sleeps for the first 6 episodes.
Monk - stopped after Sharona left, but was losing interest before that...
Dead Zone - Season 1 was cool...got ridonkulus after that.
Exceptions to the ruleX Files - didn't start watching until the end of season 1...our love affair was passionate, but I eventually gave up after Mulder left...but by then the show hardly resembled what it had been...
Scrubs - suffering from similar symptoms as X-Files now...but there were several good years of comedy in there, its just these passed two years that feel like the crew is going through the motions.
Arrested Development, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Firefly, Pushing Daisies - watched all of these from day 1. Note to Networks: STOP CANCELING MY FRAKKIN' SHOWS!
We shall seeChuck - watched from day 1...still watching now and enjoying it...but I will say that last week's episode has still not been watched!
Life - watched season 1 on DVD a few months ago, now DVRing season 2...seems to be surviving okay...
Supernatural - so far so good, I'm on disc 5 of season 1 and enjoying it...
Dollhouse - I know, blasphemy! But it feels too early to say I love it.
Dexter - watched s1 and s2, but my DVR died last year and ate s3 so I'm very far behind.
Psych - still haven't seen this show but something about it seems like I will like it...a lot.
Mad Men, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother - on my list of shows to try later...the odds for me being a fan get better the longer I wait!
So if I haven't watched that show that you're ranting and raving about on your journal, just keep pestering me about it and tell me when the DVD comes out. I'll probably LOVE it.