This week we took part in the Nielson Television ratings survey. We were chosen at random from a large group so that statistically we represent thousands of households. They sent us three booklets, one for each television, and we were asked to make a record of when the television was on, who was watching, what was being watched and for how long. There was even a space for reporting that the TV was on with no one watching for those of us who use the TV for background noise.
This week was sweeps week when the networks try to put on their best shows in order to garner good ratings by luring in the Nielson diarists. We didn't watch anything we don't ordinarily watch, though, so that tactic was lost on us.
I was kind of alarmed to see that on Thursday nights I spend a LONG time in front of the TV. It is Survivor night, so the viewing begins at 8PM. Then, it's CSI, then The Mentalist, then the news and sometimes I sit there for David Letterman, too. And if I can stay awake, I like to see some of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. No wonder I often sleep in on Friday.
We both watch CSI although we are tiring of that franchise, especially the Miami one. Lately, the science has been so poor that we spend a lot of the show guffawing and objecting. My pet peeve is the way they investigate indoor crime scenes with only their flashlights. Why don't they turn on the lights and really look at the scene?
Nova is another show we both watch although the complaint there is that our station often advertises the wrong episode so we get situated for viewing and find it's one we've seen already.
Bob watches reruns of Star Trek: the Next Generation late at night. He eats his Heritage Natural Foods almonds and Rice Dream ice cream during that and it is his little treat for the week. Simple pleasures are the best, it seems.
I like reruns of Bonanza. I remember seeing most of them with my dad and can often remember some comment he made about the plot. Dad's been dead since 1974 so it's kind of neat to recall, almost word for word something he said. I didn't realize back then how dumb some of the plots were on Bonanza and why are Ben Cartwright's "boys" still at home with Dad telling them what to do?
I also watch Desperate Housewives. Daughter Sarah got me into that one recently and I enjoy it although I hear it is going to be gone after next season. Brothers and Sisters is on after that and I usually have that on while I do other things. I like to see Sally Field since she has aged gracefully, doesn't seem to have had plastic surgery and it gives me hope that I can do the same.
My parents were a part of the Nielson ratings when I was still at home. I remember my dad wanted to be sure to watch Mort Neff's Michigan Out of Doors Show so it would be in the diary. We watched The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Laugh-In, The Monkeys, The Flying Nun, and I think my sisters watched The Brady Bunch. That year, Nielson sent a five dollar bill along with the diaries as a small thank you. We got a very crisp one dollar bill with ours. I guess times are tough.
The survey was kind of amusing and we would do it again, if asked. We don't have cable or satellite so we probably aren't representative of the average household but we got our two cents worth in, anyway.
This week was sweeps week when the networks try to put on their best shows in order to garner good ratings by luring in the Nielson diarists. We didn't watch anything we don't ordinarily watch, though, so that tactic was lost on us.
I was kind of alarmed to see that on Thursday nights I spend a LONG time in front of the TV. It is Survivor night, so the viewing begins at 8PM. Then, it's CSI, then The Mentalist, then the news and sometimes I sit there for David Letterman, too. And if I can stay awake, I like to see some of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. No wonder I often sleep in on Friday.
We both watch CSI although we are tiring of that franchise, especially the Miami one. Lately, the science has been so poor that we spend a lot of the show guffawing and objecting. My pet peeve is the way they investigate indoor crime scenes with only their flashlights. Why don't they turn on the lights and really look at the scene?
Nova is another show we both watch although the complaint there is that our station often advertises the wrong episode so we get situated for viewing and find it's one we've seen already.
Bob watches reruns of Star Trek: the Next Generation late at night. He eats his Heritage Natural Foods almonds and Rice Dream ice cream during that and it is his little treat for the week. Simple pleasures are the best, it seems.
I like reruns of Bonanza. I remember seeing most of them with my dad and can often remember some comment he made about the plot. Dad's been dead since 1974 so it's kind of neat to recall, almost word for word something he said. I didn't realize back then how dumb some of the plots were on Bonanza and why are Ben Cartwright's "boys" still at home with Dad telling them what to do?
I also watch Desperate Housewives. Daughter Sarah got me into that one recently and I enjoy it although I hear it is going to be gone after next season. Brothers and Sisters is on after that and I usually have that on while I do other things. I like to see Sally Field since she has aged gracefully, doesn't seem to have had plastic surgery and it gives me hope that I can do the same.
My parents were a part of the Nielson ratings when I was still at home. I remember my dad wanted to be sure to watch Mort Neff's Michigan Out of Doors Show so it would be in the diary. We watched The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Laugh-In, The Monkeys, The Flying Nun, and I think my sisters watched The Brady Bunch. That year, Nielson sent a five dollar bill along with the diaries as a small thank you. We got a very crisp one dollar bill with ours. I guess times are tough.
The survey was kind of amusing and we would do it again, if asked. We don't have cable or satellite so we probably aren't representative of the average household but we got our two cents worth in, anyway.
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