How the XBox Will Change the Way You Watch TV, + "Modern Family"

I don't watch sitcoms. At least not regularly, and certainly not when they are aired on network television or from my Tivo list, since I don't record them. Therefore, this post is for all of you (the three of you) who have asked me to say something about several Sitcoms, most notably The Office, 30 Rock, and Modern Family.

First, The Office: I can't watch this show ... in any format. I have a real problem with second-hand embarrassment that prevents me from watching people, even fictional characters, from shredding their dignity in deliberately awkward situations. In The Office, that's the whole point. Though I love Steve Carrell and his movies (yes, I have to hide my eyes frequently), I can't squeak through an entire episode of The Office because it makes me want to stab myself in the eyes with a fork. There you go - The Office ... covered.

30 Rock: I really do like this show. It is campy (which I find is an exception to my aversion to awkwardness), cute, and unapologetically intelligent. If I ever meet Liz Lemon in real life (bizarre secret single behaviors and all), I see an instant marriage proposal unfolding. I did not (and do not), however, watch this show in broadcast. I stream the episodes from my XBox through Netflix. The episodes are one season behind - think of it like DVD release time - but I am able to watch many episodes at a time, which overcomes one of my great dislikes of sitcoms in general: they are only 22 minutes long! How can you engross yourself in the characters in only 22 minutes every few weeks? You sitcom afficionadoes out there might be able to manage it, but I have a plodding, over-considerate brain that takes more time to process a story. So, while I love 30 Rock, I won't be discussing last night's episodes at the water cooler (do they still have water coolers in offices these days?).

Modern Family: If I know you and respect your opinion, you have invariably told me to watch this show. I haven't, of course, because I don't watch sitcoms over broadcast. If Modern Family makes it to the streaming content library over Netflix, I promise I will watch it and render my opinions. Realize, of course, that means I will be a season behind. Patience is a virtue!

A word on the XBox: The streaming content from Netflix that I mention above can be had through your Tivo, over the web on your computer (or on web-enabled TVs), or from your XBox or PS3. I have tried streaming the content online, and while it seems to work fine - I don't prefer to sit in front of my 21" computer screen when I have a giant (let's not start a TV/penis competition here, by the way) 49" Samsung LCD begging to help heat my living room. I've also tried streaming Netflix to my HD Tivo, and that was an abject failure. The picture was certainly not HD (when it should have been), and the Tivo couldn't keep up with buffering the content. It was constantly stopping and starting. And before you criticise, yes my internet provider and wireless network are perfectly capable of streaming the HD content with plenty of speed to spare. I have therefore found the XBox to be the best mode of streaming content. For you PS3'ers out there, I'm sure it works just as well.

How will this change how you watch TV? Well, the streaming content library continues to grow (it's difficult to get an accurate count of titles, since some are available for a limited time, and more titles are added continuously; the count is certainly over 20,000 however), and the options for watching that content on your TV are expanding like a Biggest Loser contestant the year after the show. While the new fad is stand-alone stream-to-tv devices like the Roku or LinkTheater, multi-tasking devices are my bet for the future of TV. After all, who would invest in a Roku when they can get an XBox and play Halo after watching an episode of Lost?

I also think Microsoft is headed down the right hardware path here. Sony has invested beaucoups bucks in BluRay technology - winning a format war with Toshiba, the pioneer of HD DVDs - betting that BluRay discs will be the format of choice for HD content. I beg to differ. Um, hello? BluRay is wicked expensive and has a major weakness ... it requires a disc. Doesn't anyone remember what happened to VHS? And cassettes? And 8-tracks? Microsoft is betting that when presented with the option to free ourselves from the physical remnant of content-delivery, we'll choose the streaming content every time. If the quality starts to rival BluRay, which it will soon, Sony is going to be sucking hind [edited for propriety] in this battle because they will be left holding the BluRay bag, while their streaming content is still the neglected step-child of the PS3.

A sidenote to networks here: the clamor from viewers to start throwing their favorite shows into the streaming library sooner than the DVD release is going to finally drag you into the 21st century, forcing you to find new ways to produce television entertainment. It won't be long before we will be watching all of our TV over a streaming device like the XBox.

Conclusion: if you like to buy stocks, Microsoft and Netflix will be good long-term investments. And yes ... I will eventually watch Modern Family

P.S. -

Erica Durance, I love you.