why you shouldn't tell me to watch you show before it starts...

[orangerful]

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, faeriesfolly)
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 Soldiers
Lost - 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 rule
X 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 see
Chuck - 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.

Comments

[ladynaberrie.livejournal.com]

I tend to walk in late in the game myself.

[impalalove]

I'm the reverse sometimes-- early on in the game. But lately, I'm late in the game.

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

Ooh, someone else who watched Wonderfalls and Firefly from Day One! Yay! Although, sad.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

yeah, at least we have the DVDs. And at least Brian Fuller had a bad feeling and was able to sort of wrap up Wonderfalls in a quick & dirty way...*sigh*

[mfirefly10.livejournal.com]

I watched all of the Whedonverse shows from Day 1 based on my love of BTVS. Dollhouse is the only one I'm not completely in love with but I think that'll change after this episode.

Like you, I was turned onto VM thanks to Mr. Whedon and I started watching sometime in season 2. It's now one of my favorite fandoms.

I made a deal with a friend that if she watched Firefly, I'd watch BSG. We've both been very happy ever since:) I was so impressed with 33 that I went right out and bought the first 2 seasons on DVD and had a marathon month of viewing just in time for the 3rd season opener. BSG is now tied with Firefly & BTVS as my favorite fandom(s) of all time.

I watch HIMYM and Supernatural on DVD so I'm about a season behind on those two but I like what I've seen so far.

It takes a lot for me to give up on the shows I really love. I still watch Lost in spite of the fact that we rarely get any actual answers and it took me 5 and a half seasons to give up on 24:)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Oh I still watch Lost and Heroes...I just snark for most of the show. I stopped watching 24 when I realized I was fast forwarding through most it...and when they bumped off Tony & Michelle (the first time).

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

Big Bang Theory...How I love thee...
Geeks ftw. They are so adorable and nerdy and I just want to put them all in my pocket.

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

Oh and also? I am almost always late in the game when it comes to movies.

Of course, I still think you need to see Repo! if just for the awesomesauce that is massive amounts of badass, singing Giles. XD

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

Also...while I am spamming...

I am 14 caps away from finishing our challenge. lol.
I am enjoying it far too much, and we must make a habit of this.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

That is what I will be doing tonight while AD raids. Looking forward to it! :D

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Oh I know I will be seeing Repo, one of my friends saw it and said he would have a Repo party as soon as the DVD was out haha.

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

He better have a party soon then. ;) It's been out and Wal-Mart actually sent their copies back to the distributor already! (The day before I went in to buy my copy. Stupid dumb luck.)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

well, frak! He's been gearing up for a trip to Canada to see some musical about Charlie Brown (Dog Saw God?) so he might not be aware. I should remind him.

[faeriesfolly.livejournal.com]

haha. I saw it on OnDemand twice. I really want the soundtrack. If he has OnDemand it's like $3.99 to rent for 24 hrs. I could have watched it over and over again if I had a choice either time. I'm asking for Repo! + soundtrack and Dr. Horrible + soundtrack for my birthday, I think.

[lostacanthus.livejournal.com]

omg I am the same way! This makes me feel better about myself lol. I mean, I didn't watch Lord of the Rings until all three had been out on DVD and I didn't really touch Harry Potter until two years ago, and I didn't even know about Firefly until it was over D:

Psych is awesome omg. So freaking hilarious! Its hard for me to remember to watch it though, since it comes on Fridays (I think? lol i don't even know!) and I'm still living in the stone age of electronics. Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother are fantasticccc. I've been into HIMYM since Season 1, but I've just started watching BBT.

lol is Dead Zone even still on??

I think you should try Burn Notice. It's like, USA's version of Leverage (Or the other way around...since Burn Notice came first..) but with spies instead of thieves! And more explosions! Season 1 is on Netflix-I just got myself caught most of the way up.
Also, Robin Hood(BBC) is like freaking crack.

I kind of want to make my own list like this x)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Oh I forgot 'Robin Hood'...that might have to fall under "exceptions" because I Netflix'd season 1 after it was out but got royally frustrated with season 2...and after I found out the big spoiler at the end, I refused to watch it.

I'll have to do Burn Notice over the summer...and Psych.

My problem with sitcoms is canned laughter. I can't take it, and both of those shows have it so I'm not sure I can watch them. I wish there was an option to turn it off. I mean, it's not REAL!

[lostacanthus.livejournal.com]

omg I know, season 2 was so frustrating but I can't stop watching! I am so excited for next season even though it is likely to be a trainwreck *_*

You will totally love Burn Notice. I can't begin to describe how awesome it isss <3
lol it makes me want to move to Miami! Even though I know it's freaking hot there, and I could barely take it last week when it was like, 60 degrees. What makes me think I would last in Miami?? But BN makes it look soooo nice xP

I think the laugh track is worse on Big Bang Theory (I hardly notice it on HIMYM). Sometimes it's really loud and distracting :(

[yssim999.livejournal.com]

Don't tune into Castle, because I want it to last one season at least ;)

...Actually all my shows that I watched (Twin Peaks, Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, Futurama, UCB, Mr Show, anything with Andy Richter in it, The Riches, Knights of Prosperity, Home Movies, etc) always got canceled, and usually due to ratings. Or the humor was too bizarre for everyone.

Psych is fun and it's on dvd!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I remember watching all the Andy Richter shows...not sure why as I wasn't a huge fan, but the first thing they did with him was so funny and they cancelled it almost immediately. I'm so grateful that Arrested Development got 3 seasons, especially on FOX!

I need to get Freaks and Geeks. I watched the first few discs via Netflix but then I got distracted by movies or something.

[admackbar.livejournal.com]

We have a lot of shows in common. But you gave up on Lost before it turned totally awesome! Season 2 was the worst of the show. But since then the show has been firing on all cylinders. :D There is always DVD.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

oh I'm still watching lost...but mostly so I can complain about it later. I had such high hopes when Brian K Vaughan joined the team, but no, just didn't do it for me. But I've invested this much time in it, I'm gonna find out the damn ending!

[girly-scribbles.livejournal.com]

I'm going through this list one by one as I can't believe how many frakkin' awesome fandoms we share!

This could take a while lol!...

Buffy - started at the movie and never quit :-)

Angel - from episode 1

Veronica Mars - still need to watch this - Joss' seal of approval is always a good sign :-)

Battlestar Galactica - Got into Battlestar Galactica in 2007, when I rented the mini-series. Season 4 is the only season that I've watched in line with its transmission dates.

Gilmore Girls - Recommended by my friend as "they quote buffy in it" I watched all 7 seasons online in the space of two months last spring :-)
Leverage - never seen :-(

True Blood - watched the few few episodes and then gave up in a state of anger and disgust when Sookie cried into pie (beautiful scene) to then miraculously be dressed in a long flowing white dress as she ran across the grass towards vampire bill -vomits-

The Office - Picked up the US version due to my love of the original.

30 Rock - I've only just started watching this!! Catching up though - watched the whole of season one in three days last week lol!

Flight of the Conchords - not much for the singing thing, but I've only heard good about this so I may have to check it out.

House M.D. - They don't show this over here (at a decent time anyhow - I think they show it at like 2pm in the afternoon :-() should really try and watch this.

Lost - Come back!! Season two was slightly dodgy, but it's grew to total awesomeness through season three and four... mainly because they had Sawyer shirtless in every other scene lol!

Heroes - I would say that season three is alot better - which it is, but it's going downhill again so ask me again in a few weeks :-)

Smallville - the theme song and that lana chick bug the hell out of me - think I watched the pilot.

24 - I know that if I watched this I'd be hooked... so I've never attempted it lol!

Monk - never watched.
Dead Zone - never watched.

X Files - mulder left... so did i.
Scrubs - I watch on and off.
Arrested Development (LOVE LOVE LOVE), Dead Like Me (LOVE, LOVE), Wonderfalls, Firefly (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), Pushing Daisies (Meh - Anna Friel rocked though)

Chuck - never watched
Life - never watched
Supernatural - LOVE, LOVE - I'm on season two now (bought the season 1-3 boxset for £25 - bargain!!)
Dollhouse - the love is developing nicely heehee!!
Dexter - Brillaint, but I'm slow with this - still only watched season 1.
Psych - Pilot was AWESOME!! Need to watch more.
Mad Men (want to watch), Big Bang Theory (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), How I Met Your Mother (never watched)

Done!!

to add to your list of awesome shows...

THE WIRE.
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
SEINFELD.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Oh who HASN'T watched Seinfeld. It's on every 5 minutes over here. And any episodes I missed, my boyfriend (AD) has made me watch because we had a few months where we watched 2 episodes before bed on weeknights.

I've seen a good chunk of 'Curb'...not sure where we started or stopped. I own at least one season.

I should be watching the Wire, isn't it set in Baltimore?

I had the same reaction to True Blood when I watched the first episode. I gave up on it. But then AD had insomnia and ended up watching the show and eventually I came back mid-season and it was a LOT stronger, so I didn't see the episode you're talking about haha.

Leverage is just REALLY fun. Plus, it has Lindsay from Angel and Jane from Coupling! It doesn't take itself seriously at all and it's relatively self-contained. If you can snag an episode from somewhere, I totally suggest it.

Flight of the Conchords is too funny, but as I said, you can't really TELL anyone about it. They just have to experience it.

House is one of those shows that I wouldn't watch if it wasn't for the Hugh Laurie love (I was obsessed with Blackadder as a kid). I don't do doctor shows...but it's really not a doctor show, it's about House and the "cases" are just a beard for the really frakk'd up stuff that goes on with him.

I still watch Lost, I just complain a lot more now. Same with Heroes too. The only reason I survived season 2 was my Kristen Bell love. And now I've gotten through most of this season because we keep calling Peter "Jess" and asking if he's seen Rory...season 3 is better than season 2...but that's not saying much. Made the mistake of rewatching season 1 because AD missed it and it made it more painful to watch this season.

I have a big issue with laugh tracks/canned laughter which is why I haven't been able to watch Big Bang Theory or How I Met Your Mother. I know I'd love the shows, I just can't stand that fake laughter. Why can't they make it optional on the DVDs????

If I had to pick my all time shows, BSG is totally on that list now. I'd probably cheat and say Jossverse and BSG are the top dramas, while Arrested Development and 30 Rock are my favorite comedies.

[girly-scribbles.livejournal.com]

Seinfeld was never that big here, I ended up buying all the boxsets lol! My fella I did the same sort of thing - a daily seinfeld ep with our morning coffee lol!

Curb rocks!! Plus if you hate canned laughter this is perfect for you :-)

Yep the Wire is set in Baltimore. Five seasons of pure Awesomeness!

I doubt that I'll go back to True Blood now, out of principal more than anything else... it was so cheesy!!

I'll look out for Leverage - thanks for the tip.

LOL!! Milo was too adorable as Jess - his hair was so big! haha!

My all time favs are pretty similar to yours though, I would include the Wire and South Park :-)