The internet has completely swallowed up all the time that I used to spend watching television, and for the most part, I don’t feel bad about it. Why bother watching the entire, painful 90 minutes of Saturday Night Live when you can just catch the occasional honestly funny five minute bit on the internet the next morning? I watch some series—Breaking Bad, The Office—on DVD*, but I don’t regret my choice to not upgrade to digital broadcasting.
Except for one thing: I used to be totally addicted to America’s Next Top Model. Season two, in which Shandi was robbed of the title, was one of the only non-Joss-Whedon-related TV shows that I was actually eager to watch every week. But ANTM quickly declined in the quality department, and I stopped watching it. But recently, I discovered the pleasures of reading fourfour‘s weekly blog recaps of each episode of ANTM.
This week’s edition of ANTM on fourfour covers the Blackface Challenge on last week’s episode, and it’s illustrated with many of the same awkward screencaps and hilarious animated GIFs that it delivers every week. The commentary is often laugh-out-loud funny and more thoughtful than ANTM deserves. I quickly realized that I enjoy reading fourfour’s roundup more than I ever enjoyed actually watching America’s Next Top Model in the first place. I suggest that you go back and read the archives; like me, you’ll be dying to find out who wins just for the pleasure of hearing fourfour’s opinion about the winner. It’s damn fine television blogging.
* There is a timely reason that I’m thinking about television: I’m intrigued about tonight’s premiere episode of V, the ABC relaunch of the old sci-fi television miniseries. I’ll watch the first episode and get back to you here on Slog soon after.
You’re just now reading fourfour? Welcome to 2006.
I kid. I don’t watch ANTM, but I go there regularly to admire Rich’s gift for gifs.
Yes, I’ve never been a fan of ANTM but I read Rich’s recaps because he’s a fucking hilarious writer. Actually, I don’t care much for hardly any of the stuff he likes, but I read his blog anyway, for the writing, and of course the gifs.
everyone’s watching V – expect for those of us doing the election parties.
Jennifer was my best friends college roommate… watching ANTM is totally surreal when you’ve seen one of the contestants in a Lillian Hellman play.
Also, Winston.
I’m still waiting for the new thread on the re-imagined V.
My opinion? Ok, not great, not terrible. Much too early to pass judgement of course. I got a republican-friendly feeling from it… the visitors are offering universal health care, and it’s presented very fearfully in the episode.
Meh… tee-vee entertainment. I loved the original V when I was a kid, probably because kids are easy to please (e.g., Disney). Of course, the networks replayed the original, because they’re whores for your viewing time, and I hung my head in shame at the sight of the original. Very 80’s. Big hair, long mullets, bad clothing, not-so-great special effects.