I see they have announced the names of the stars taking part in this years TV programme, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Ten people have travelled to Australia hoping to be crowned King or Queen of the jungle. From what I gather they have to live together for a few weeks, play some games, eat some horrible things, and hopefully rub along nicely while they are doing it. Except they don't. They might fall in love with each other, but they could end up hating each other, and they all end up in some state of undress. Slowly one by one they are voted out and have to leave. But it doesn't really matter if they don't last the distance because there is a big pot of money in it for them.
Looking down the list of celebs, I don't know who half of them are. What makes a celebrity, anyway, what does one have to do to earn that status I wonder. Well I know Steve Davis, I used to be an avid snooker fan years ago. He wasn't my favourite though, Terry Griffiths was more my cup of tea. David Emanuel, I've heard of him, he's a dress designer. Matthew Wright, he's on tele sometimes. Then there's the woman who plays Mo in Eastenders, never watched that programme. And then the Olympic swimmer Ms Adlington, not a sporty fan but I've heard of her.
There you are, that's half of them. I'm pleased to say I haven't a clue who the others are. I don't mind being out of touch with what's going on. I don't have to sit in front of a box all night. I used to but not any more. When I think of all those wasted hours. I stopped watching the tele years ago, stopped paying the licence fee and got rid of the box. Wow, it felt so liberating. I was no longer a slave to it, I broke free.
So now I read bits about these programmes but don't know who's who. Don't know who skates on ice, don't know who dances around a ballroom, or who goes into the Big Brother house, and don't know those that go and live in the jungle. I don't know them and I don't care. This is a TV free house and it suits me just fine.
No Spend November? Unlikely!
48 minutes ago
Hello Ilona from Housefairy
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for sticking to what you believe in.
I do not think our family would cope well if I took the 5 tv sets away. One in every main room/bedroom.There would be shouts! The tv's are never all on at once, just as people come and go.
Me! I prefer the computer to watching tv these days.
I gave up having a TV 16 months ago. Don't miss it.
ReplyDeleteLived without a TV for about 5 years, just got one last year because my wife became incapacitated and house-bound, so it's one of the things she can do from a chair.
ReplyDeleteWe're selective about what we watch, it's not on all day like some are.
Never seen Big Brother, I doubt id I'd know any of the celebrities.
I gave away my TV in 1994: never looked back either. In the film Crocodile Dundee, the main character in one scene says "I saw TV once" he turns it on, then off again: "Yep, that's what I saw." I have no idea who any of these people are, and I wouldn't want to know either. I do watch one single show on the internet, and that is it. I go months without watching it, then catch up. On occasion I go without internet for periods of time too. It's best to not get too dependent or focus on any one thing, so we don't get too absorbed.
ReplyDeleteYes, the internet is my downfall really, I'm trying to cut down. But at least I am not dominated by what time the programme starts, and can pick bits out which interest me.
DeleteWe gave up TV nearly 2 years ago just before we went travelling. I missed it a little at first but we had not really watched much for ages beforehand, just news and few other programmes. I thought I may be able to have a sneaky i-player catchup when we were in Europe, only to find it only works in UK, so just learned to live without it. The only things I have watched recently are The White Queen and Broadchurch, which I did enjoy, but would certainly not waste any time on so-called celebrities. (like you I don't know who half of them are now, we are so out of touch!)
ReplyDeleteQuit all but five channels few years back. The children were upset at first but now they couldn't care less and prefer playing with lego to watching tv. The tv is on very little in our house and if it weren't for the nature programmes and the commercial - free channel NRK l would be more than ready to chuck the whole thing out. Pam
ReplyDeleteWe have TV but I only watch selectively. I don't watch Strictly (surely isn't its name Strictly Come Dancing?) The Dancing on Ice one, X Factor, or any other such, or Celebrity GMOOH, what you've just been talking about. I hate the name 'celebrity' too. I can't understand when people stopped admiring folk who have truly achieved something and gone on to talking and photographing these people who have just got themselves in the public eye for doing very little and getting a lot of money for it.
ReplyDeleteI do want to watch on Catch Up, the programme about Northumberland by Robson Green. I liked the last one.
We have movies on dvd, and some old vcr tapes .Almost 18 years ago, we gave up cable tv. I decided my young son was watching way too much of it here and at grannys.
ReplyDeleteHe was having night mares and sleep walking, crying out about cartoon characters.
We called the cable company, they said yes, they would come and disconnect it.
A month later they still had not come, my husband told them, you either cut the line, or I will. They told him the only way they would disconnect it is for him to tell them why he had decided to. He told them in no uncertain terms he was taking a pair of wire cutters to it. Now!. They showed up a couple of hours later and disconnected iit. You could not pay me to go back to it. Once in a blue moon I will watch something on the internet,
I don't know many of these 'celebrities' either. In fact I cannot think of one single person who deserves such a title. The old style film stars might have a shout perhaps?
ReplyDeleteWell said! Completely agree! ~Pru
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a tv for decades, and don't miss it a bit. But I have recently discovered that I can watch entire series online, no commercials, for free, and I have spent a lot of winter nights watching things I find interesting. Like QI on YouTube :)
ReplyDeleteYes, yoootooob is great, most programmes get onto there eventually.
DeleteI don't know who it was who said that a celebrity is famous for being famous - most of them haven't achieved anything beyond being on TV or in the newspapers.
ReplyDeleteI now have a TV as I don't get out much, but I don't watch any "celebrity" programmes or reality TV shows - most are just a waste of time.
I like wildlife programmes and good drama.
Hi, Tele can be a good source of entertainment for those who can't get out much, as long as you don't get sucked into the mindless drivel on offer. Be selective and there are a few interesting programmes.
DeleteHi Ilona. I wonder if you know that you need a licence to watch telly on the computer? Any sort of programmes, if it's been on the television you need a licence. Regardless of what you read on Google or anywhere else. Many people think they don't need a licence but you do. There don't seem to be many prosecutions but there have been some. One of my in laws is a barrister so that's how I know.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellen. The question of whether you need a licence to watch TV on the computer comes up over and over again. I will clarify. You do need a licence if you are watching live programmes as they are broadcast, though I don't know how they can detect that without seizing your computer. You DON'T need a licence if you are watching catch up TV, on BBC iplayer, ITV player, or Channel 4oD. These programmes are recorded.
DeleteThis was confirmed as I sat in the BBC Radio Humberside studios during a live interview I did. They checked on the website while I was there, and broadcast the answer live to thousands of listeners. Tell your barrister in law to look again. I only watch catch up, which is legal.
Luckily some of us are prepared to pay the license fee ilona so you can enjoy your programmes eh!
DeleteHello Jeanette. It would be a bit silly of me to pay for something I don't need eh!
DeleteBut wouldn't you miss it if it wasn't there, the catch up service? You seem to watch a lot of programmes via iPlayer etc.
DeleteYou say that but you mention BBC Humberside, Radio 4 and BBC 4 which are all paid for by the licence fee. I much prefer the BBC to the commercial tv/radio stations and would hate to see it go.
DeleteDave
That's right Jeanette and Dave, if it wasn't for us paying our licence fees Ilona wouldn't have anything to watch. Regardless of whether you're watching it when broadcast or later it's still being paid for by the licence fees. So the ones watching "free" television are doing so at others expense!
DeleteI think you saying you watch only catchup is stretching the truth, I can clearly remember you saying you were looking forward to watching something that was being broadcast that evening, I think you actually said the time too. It was something to do with a history programme I think, you had a liking for the man who presented it.
DeleteTo Jeanette. No I wouldn't miss it. I don't watch a lot of programmes, it's only odd ones which I might watch, I can take them or leave them. My not having a television goes way back, even before computers.
DeleteTo Helen. Wasn't a history programme, it was George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, with the gorgeous William. I probably did watch it the same evening as it was broadcast, an hour later after the live programme finished. Still legal. This really bugs you doesn't it.
I've not had a telly for about 20 years - since my children were born. They never missed it and we never missed it and as far as catch up programmes, I can't be bothered.
DeleteIt bugs me? I don't understand that, is it some slang from where you live? Well Ilona if you really did watch your porogramme an hour later than the programme finished of course we must believe you, I'm sure you're not dishonest enough to break the law! What's the phrase something about I believe you but thousands wouldn't!
DeleteThen there's the one about thou doth protest too much! Folk just don't like to be caught out!
If something is bugging someone it means they have a bee in their bonnet about something. Something is niggling them. You are right, I am not dishonest enough to break the law. I know the truth, that's all that matters. I will state categorically that I do not watch live TV as it is being broadcast, on a computer, or any other device.
DeleteThink about it. Why would I want to be dictated to by a programme schedule. Why would I organise my life around what is shown on TV. Sit down at a certain time and drop what I am doing. Far better to watch on catchup at a time that suits me. That way I have more control over how I plan my day.
Thanks for the explanation but no I don't have bugs or bees in my bonnet. You seem to have decided that on the basis of two comments.
DeleteJudging by your reply I think your bonnets must be full of the bees and bugs. You can state as many things as you like "categorically" (you do need to check on the meaning of words before you use them )but it doesn't alter the fact that your other commenters were right in that if others didn't pay their licence fees there wouldn';t be any television, catchup or otherwise, for you to watch.
I rest my case and won't return to this topic. Perhapsd the barrister rests his case too, fancy you knowing more than a barrister! One word of advice is not to believe everything you read on the internet.
That's fantastic! I loathe all of these programmes and couldn't care less about any of them or any of the so called celebs who just want to boost a flagging career (but actually say they are doing it for the experience). It never ceases to amaze me just how many people must be obsessed with watching them though, to warrent having just so many of them filling up our Saturday night. Get rich, get famous quick schemes on a monstrous scale. Can't bear it.
ReplyDeleteQuite honestly if it wasn't for still having adult kids living at home I'd ditch the TV too. I'm seriously thinking of it when the last one moves out...might be some time yet, though. There are some programmes I like to watch but I could always catch up with them online. As it is half the time I miss part of a programme, anyway, because I'll be on my laptop at the same time or doing something else while its on. Waste of time and money really.
ReplyDeleteThis week I don't think there has been more that 4 things that we wanted to watch on the box, so we've got the jigsaws out and been reading, oh, and got a couple of dvd's from the library, most of the tele is rubbish or it is me?
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Now that Poirot's finished, the only thing I'll be watching is the News.
ReplyDeleteWe just don't do telly anymore and not missing it a bit! Life's too short to waste on staring at the box in the corner :-)
Phryne
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I have a TV, but no Skyor special boxes, just the bog standard TV set that my son bought for me when I was ill a few years ago, I prefere my little radio, it gives me local news etc and some of the drama plays etc are excellent. I do watch the TV but I am selective and I know what the OFF button is for. At the moment it is good to be able to watch the Rugby matches as they are takng place. I really love all the wild life programs but would not ever view this Jungle thing, as for X=Factor and Strictly Come Dancing, its boring, they are not really ballroom dancing as I know it. It would not go down well in the old Miners Hall Saturday night dance, my dad would have said they were B####y Show offs. I suppose tho I should be glued to the box in the corner, after all my age allows me to have a FREE licence from the government
ReplyDeleteDanneke
I agree, the radio is so much more pleasant! No guilt on my behalf for not paying for a tv licence. No fool am I.
DeleteWe`ve got a large TV as DB is addicted to certain programs. He used to watch 24 seven but doesn`t anymore. His TV addiction has been getting better over the years. Since he has discovered the computer and other interests he no longer watches the old goggle box so much. Would you believe it, he actually turns the TV off during the day now. What a difference this had made for me. I can actually read a book in pleasant silence for once. Reading the Magic Cottage by James Herbert at the moment. Very good read actually! And the TV silence also got his lordship out of his shell, so that we actually spend more time chatting with each other. TV can be such an antisocial device. I`m glad we manage to control it more now. When it comes to celebrity shows. What the hell are those? We don`t watch any of them, nor do we watch any soaps. Travel programs, cookery programs and documentaries are our thing. Otherwise we watch YouTube or 4 OD on the comp. People tend to forget that they are in charge of TV, that there is such a thing as an off button, and that the TV shouldn`t control their lives. Striking a balance that works for you is the secret.
ReplyDeleteTV's a waste of time and money if you have internet. I very occasionally watch things on I-player (which doesn't require a TV licence) and quite often watch old films and comedies on youtube. I have a 20 inch monitor for work, so it's about the same size as a medium sized telly. The other day an old friend came round, and we spent an enjoyable hour or so watching old comedy sketches on youtube over a couple of beers. He introduced me to some I'd never heard of, and vice-versa. We laughed like drains - and it's all free! My wife and I sometimes have 'jukebox night' where we sit round the computer and put on youtube songs we like. Best wishes, Austin.
ReplyDelete