So What Does Your DVR List Say About You?

By Jenni Hammitt

September 29, 2008

I seriously have DVR on the brain. I was recently talking to a friend of mine about the shows he records, and as I listened to him talk a thought occurred to me. What he chose to record was actually very reflective of his personality. Even the shows that surprised me, really did match up with him. Of course, my media studies student I try to keep buried came out in full force.

As I listened to him talk, I began to critically think about his TV watching habits, and how his viewing choices created this image in my mind. Eventually it made me think about my DVRing habits…

In the past Week (yes 7 days) I have recorded:

1) NCIS

2) The Mentalist

3) Friday the 13^th the Series

4) True Blood

5) Blood Ties

6) Kindred the Embraced

7) X-Files

Without a Trace

9) Cold Case

10) My Boys

Check with me in a week and I *might* add Ugly Betty to the mix. I haven’t really decided if I like that show and if I do if I like it enough to record it. If Without a Trace continues to play its B Game, it is off the list, and I haven’t actually watched The Mentalist yet. Of course Scrubs will be added once new episodes air.

If you just looked at the list, what you could tell about me. Well aside from my slightly obvious thing for Vampire shows, I think it says a lot. What we chose to watch or in this case record to watch often times creates a pretty accurate snapshot of who we are. It tells people our likes and our dislikes. Even the shows that we don’t want others to know we watch give people little insights about us. It show people what we really do like when others aren’t looking.

After reading this list, my naming my new parakeet Mina (as in Mina Harker) will make more sense. You know…the corporate goth, just one of the guys, with a dark sense of humor, who falls in love with series that are quickly cancelled….and the list could go on and on. I watch these shows because they in some way I can relate to them. Whether it be great writing, a storyline I can get into, or literally relate to a character I see a part of me or something I hold in high regard. I’m beginning to think that maybe it is true in most people.

Yes I know, there are some people who will argue that people are like cattle. They are so media illiterate that they will watch whatever slop the powers that be put on the air. Admittedly, I cringe at the masses who watch reality television and think it is the best thing since sliced bread. However, their choice to watch those shows does say something about the person. It isn’t always a negative thing, but it still says something.

If I looked at your recording list, what would I find? What would it tell me about you?