Twitter has changed how I watch TV

I’m not a big consumer of television. A few favourite shows capture my attention: House and Modern Family among them. Others, like Mad Men, I watch on DVD. But in the past year or so I’ve found myself compelled to tune into certain “big events” on the small screen, knowing that I can share the experience with my Twitter friends.

Last night was a case in point. We decided to watch the closing ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Normally I would not pull out my iPhone while sitting on the sofa with a loved one; it seems rather rude in an old-school way. But this was different. Halfway through the closing ceremony, around the time O Canada was being mangled by a teen pop singer, my fingers were itching. After a knowing glance from my partner, I grabbed the iPhone and checked the Twitter stream. Sure enough, it was filled with witty observations from the likes of Dave Jones (aka DoctorJones)

 
Bonnie Dean

and Jian Ghomeshi

Suddenly, there weren’t just two of us in the living room taking in the show. I felt as though we were at a neighbourhood pub, sans the drunks and the noise.  I read the tweets aloud and we laughed together. Such is TV-watching in 2010.

Has Twitter transformed YOUR TV viewing?

Comments

[Lauraldawn]

I totally agree with you on this.
I tweeted throughout the Olympics. I won't do that all the time, but when I was watching figure skating with a spouse who was actively avoiding figure skating, it was wonderful to hop on twitter and chat with friends.
And make fun of costumes.
And laugh at the commentators.
I actually heard myself say "why is there no official hashtag for these Olympics?" (and then I tweeted it)

[Donna Papacosta]

Good points! And I do remembering seeing a tweet of yours during the Olympics re: the strangely feathered skirt on one of the singers.

[Amanda Laird]

Yes, Twitter has totally changed the way I watch TV. Not my every day Seinfeld reruns, but like you, the "big events" on the tube. During yesterday's hockey game I couldn't help but fire up the iPhone to see what others were saying. I read the funnier tweets out loud and we had some good laughs. By the end of the second period our guests were even asking, "what's the world saying, Amanda?"

[Donna Papacosta]

I can identify. During the U.S. presidential debates, I remember checking Twitter to see what the world was saying.
Thanks for commenting, Amanda.

[Ajit Khubani]

What ever happened to actually watching things WITH the people you want to talk to? I understand the whole convenience thing, but there's still something about the inconvenience thing of having people over and kickin' it old skool.

[Ineteye]

i love twitter. its a great place and people share their things at one platform.