Boiling Point: Stick to your Time Table

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 4, 2009

bp-americanidol

I recently raged against certain stations and shows not being able to string together a coherent season without interruptions.  I return again to the idiot box to once more point the finger of my rage (guess which finger) at the troubles of tuning in.  I’m a pretty busy guy.  I’ve got a lot of drinking to do, a few movies to watch, bands to rock.  I’m sure your busy too.  Thankfully, the digital demigods provided us with the DVR – a way to record our favorite shows when we’re out partying or just napping on the couch.  Could it be any easier?

Hells yes it could!  How hard is it to record a show these days? I’m having all sorts of damn trouble and it’s not that I don’t know how to work the thing.  The DVR clicks on at 8pm but somehow The Simpsons have already been on for 30 seconds?  What gives?  I check the TV Guide and Dollhouse runs from 9:01 to 10:00pm?  WTF?  Then my DVR stops at 10:00pm and guess what?  Previews are cut off.  It’s not the clock – that mother is tied to a central server and updated regularly.  It’s spot on.

What’s that, Fringe is on?  Yes, set the DVR!  Watching… Watching… This is exciting… 10 minutes left to go what will – what the fuck!?  American Idol went long and now my DVR didn’t get the whole episode of Fringe! MURDER TIME.  Seriously.  Whatever happened to shows starting and ending on time at regular intervals, ya know, on the half hour.  That’s what works.  None of this 9:01 crap.  None of this pushed for a live edition of some pisspoor reality show.

And what’s with the credit roll?  To cram more commercials in, the credits start rolling over relevant parts of the episode.  The show literally is still going on at 9:59:59 with relevant information.  BLAM DVR shuts off.  What just happened?  What’s happening next week?  Beats the hell out of me.  Seriously, cable.  Step your game up and quit screwing around with your watches.  It’s like I need a Flux Capacitor just to watch my shows from start to finish.  Anytime a show starts or ends late or early, screwing up my time table, I just set my DVR to boiling point.

What are your DVR or scheduling related horror stories?  Missed something important?


Read more articles by Robert Fure

« Previous Article | Next Article »

Related Topics:

Boiling Point, Site Features, , , , , ,

Related Reading:

Your Ad Here

Comment Policy: No hate speech allowed. If you must argue, please debate intelligently. Comments containing selected keywords or outbound links will be put into moderation to help prevent spam. Film School Rejects reserves the right to delete comments and ban anyone who doesn't follow the rules. We also reserve the right to modify any curse words in your comments and make you look like an idiot. Thank You!

  • Seaghan
    I shaking with rage right now.
    I feel your pain.
  • Venture82
    You are aware you can schedule recordings to go over by several minutes, right? I know, I know, it's principle, and I agree they should knock the shit off. But it takes 10 extra seconds to set that up. Save yourself the aggravation.
  • That was the first complaint about DVR. I still use a VCR because of that very fact. I always set it for several minuets before and after. I use my DVR for the Food Network and shows that have a set 21:30 running time. You feel violated when you miss a critical ending. Getting a play by play just won't do!
  • Cary G
    Totally agree. I mean my older DVRs are set to record and extra 10-30 minutes on some shows just in case because I've been burned by this before. Unfortunately when I get DVRs from some providers it is harder to do than on my old ReplayTV, but still usually possible.
    Unless they change up the schedule completely. Then I'm screwed anyways, since the guide is usually not up-to-date with those decisions.
  • My problem is that my DVR can only record 2 shows at once. So if I tell it to record from 9-10:05 on one channel and 10:00-11 on 2 other channels, it cancels a recording to get that extra 5 minutes. On the one or two days a week I like to watch more than 2 or 3 shows, it is impossible for me to record everything if something goes long.
blog comments powered by Disqus