Thursday, August 30

Girls Just Wanna—Stay Home and Watch TV!




One of my favorite things to do after a long day of writing is either read or watch TV. I know, exciting right? And you thought the life of an author was glamorous. Trust me, my best friend’s the glamorous one, juggling a social life so frenetic and busy it makes my head spin. While I—well, I really hate to miss my shows.

I’m fiercely loyal to my favorite programs, some might even say obsessive. I care as deeply about Vince and Ari, as I do Pam and Jim, (and just in case I’ve already lost you, I’m referring to Entourage and The Office respectively).

I get character crushes too, though not on the one’s you might think. Because in a room full of Brad Pitt and George Clooney clones, I’ll take James Roday, the guy who plays the fake psychic on Psych—but only if he stays in his Shawn Spencer character—any day.

I love Bill Henrickson’s sense of place and duty in a life so crazy I can’t even fathom it (Big Love), Tommy Gavin’s struggle with addiction and survivor’s guilt that somehow comes off as humorous (Rescue Me), Mr. Monk’s longing to be normal as he’s trapped in a mind that’s anything but (Monk), Wayne Malloy trying to do what’s best for his family even though it’s all based on deceit (The Riches), Alison Dubois doing the dishes while talking to dead people (Medium), believe me I could go on and on, referencing Dirt, My Name is Earl, Scrubs, Damages, Extras, and back in the day—Gilmore Girls . . .

But that’s what a good TV show does, pulls you so far into the character’s lives, you not only feel like you know them, but you also think about them when they’re not around, and then you go on to discuss them with your friends.

A good book does that too. And the other night, after all my shows were over and I went to bed, I ended up finishing my book. And as I closed the cover I turned to my husband and said—O—my—God!
And he went—I know. Can you believe it? (He’d read it before me)
Then we spent the next fifteen minutes discussing the character as though he was real.


What about you—what characters do you wait all week to see, or think about well after their story has ended?


PS- The book I finished was Shutter Island, by the amazing Dennis Lehane.


And speaking of good books—I’m blogging over HERE today to celebrate the release of the lovely Sara Hantz’s debut novel, THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN (talk about a great title!). My post is just under the amazingly prolific, Lauren Baratz Logsted, and anyone who leaves me a comment will be eligible to win a free copy of my September release, SAVING ZOE! Hope to see you there!

20 comments:

Erica Orloff said...

Hi Alyson:
I spent years sick and bedridden and so TV was good company . . . so once I started feeling well, I pretty much gave it up. However, when I have one of those really bad weeks where I am exhausted and the four kids have driven me slightly insane--or more insane than usual, depending on how you look at it--and I don't even have the energy to knit or even speak to my significant other . . . I will watch Law & Order, which manages to be on some channel in the universe 24/7. :-) And of all the characters on all the shows, I like Bobby on Criminal Intent . . . and Mucnh on SVU. For their oddities.

Aside from that, my only other show is about a character--a real one. I LOVE Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel and intend to run off with him one day. :-)

E

Jessica Burkhart said...

I understand about TV loyalty! ABC is my fav network and I feel almost guilty for watching CBS or NBC sometimes. :) I adore Grey's Anatomy and often wonder what the Desperate Housewives are up to off camera...

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

I can't wait to watch Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, and Heroes! I'm glued to my seat to see what happens next and sometimes I'm up all night to finish a series book. :) :) Love, love characters. Guess we're in the right type of work, huh? haha!

Alyson Noel said...

Erica- I have the BIGGEST crush on Bobby- forgot to mention that! And I want Anthony Boudain's job- or rather I want my husband to have his job since he's the foodie in the family, and I'll just tag along with him!

Erica Orloff said...

Alyson:
I'd just like to party with him. Now THAT guy is a character. :-) Smart and subversive--just the way I like my men.
E

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Jessica-
Yup, I have channel loyalty too-- I really love FX, USA, and HBO!

Alyson Noel said...

Kelly-
Nothing like a book that keeps you up past your bedtime!

Lauren Baratz-Logsted said...

I stay home and watch GENERAL HOSPITAL every day. These days, Jason Morgan does it for me. :)

Alyson Noel said...

Lauren-- It's been a long time since daytime TV and I last met . . .sounds dreamy!

Gerb said...

I'm woefully behind on American television. Yay for boxed sets. I just can't wait for Lost season 3 to come out on video so I'll be ready for the new season!

I also dearly love House, mourn the passing of Gilmore Girls and am started to get sucked into Grey's Anatomy. Oh, and Heroes!

So many good shows, so little time...

bevrosenbaum said...

Can I just say I was a Dennis Leary fan *before* Rescue Me?! These days, pretty much all I watch is that and Heroes. I was deeply into Gilmore Girls....am somewhat lost without it these days...

Alyson Noel said...

Gerb- I remember when I lived in Mykonos and all the American shows on TV were about four years behind—I learned to read Greek by watching ancient versions of 90210—and remembering everyone begging me to tell them what happens with the whole Brenda, Dylan, Kelly love triangle! Did I just hopelessly date myself or what? Oh, well.
Here’s to boxed sets!

Bev- Yup, me too, me too! I LOVE Dennis Leary—and I happen to think he has the best hair on TV! I once read a hilarious interview with him where he referred to couples that do everything together as Kool Aid couples—so that’s what my husband and I call ourselves now, since we’re definitely part of that nauseating breed!

Jessica Burkhart said...

Lauren, I'm absolutely addicted to GH. Got hooked 4 years ago and can't stop! Loving Jason, too! :)

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Erica-
I ate at his restaurant, Les Halles-- he wasn't there-- but the food was good!

Wendy Toliver said...

OMG, I've got so much TV to catch up with ... someday! Haha. But I think my favorite character is Bree (sp?) on Desperate Housewives. She's so funny and so different from me and I just eat her up. Another of my favorite characters is Spongebob, which I'm sure I watch more than any other show (thanks to my rugrats.)

Fun and interesting post, Alyson.

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Wendy-
Yup, crisp, tidy people like Bree fascinate me too!!
And I LOVE Sponge Bob-- he truly rocks!

Sara Hantz said...

I am a total TV addict. Though I tend not to watch day time TV.... makes me feel too guilty... I know, but I'm fighting it.....

And like you I think about my fave shows during the week and wonder, or guess, what's going to happen next. And I've been known to text my friends to see if they agree with me.

Alyson Noel said...

Hey Sara-
I know daytime watching makes me feel guilty too-- like I should be doing something else, like, I don't know--writing??

Amanda Ashby said...

I'm still so sad that Friends is finished. I just loved that show so much and it never fails to make me laugh, but I can just never decide who I love best in it. It always starts out with Rachel and then of course Monica does such a Monica thing and of course Phoebe and Joey, when left to their own devices are too funny for words, and then. But how can you forget about Ross and Chandler? See, I still can't decide!!!

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