Friday, June 27, 2008

Free Entertainment

I provide it but I'm slow. Really slow. Start your own damn blog and you can entertain yourself for long periods of time. Or use mine and have something to read while you're on the crapper (if you have your computer in your bathroom).

So the point is, in this troubling economic time, I can stand to save money by not going to the movies. I wait for the rental. But what do I do to fill the time waiting for the rental? Two words: Hulu, baby.

It's not like having access to a Blockbuster and everything is free like I've read. Instead there are many shows and movies to choose from. But you need to lower your movie standards. Or more importantly, embrace the guilty pleasure. My best example of that is pop some popcorn, turn off your brain and enjoy Weekend at Bernie's.

Actually, Hulu is where I go to make up for those TV shows I shunned when I went through my self-important, I'm not going to waste my time on this show phase. I fought Buffy the Vampire Slayer tooth and nail, but I can no longer deny that it is an amazing show. Well, so far. Anyways, it's a wonderful place to use up your disposable time (assuming you have it. If you have a TV I can assume do.) I highly recommend it, but you should have the warnings I wish I was given:

There are three extremely frustrating aspects to be aware of.

Recent seasons have random episodes. For example, the fourth season of House has episodes 1, 2, 10 (which expires in 4 days) and 13. What the hell? So those who have not watched any of season four can get started, but then can have samples of later episodes? That's no way to go. I like to dive in chronologically, thank you very much.

Secondly, to comment on my earlier parenthesis, some episodes have a note that they expire in x amount of days. It is extremely annoying to watch my entertainment under a deadline. The once a month blog thing it about as stressful as I like to get. So if your episode has an expiration date, hurry man! Go, go, go!

Third and most frustrating, I've recently finished the two posted seasons of Buffy. I know there are five season left. Do I keep going and shell out the money for rentals (or for you Netflix people, the space in the queue), read the synopsis for every other episode, or do I find a new show to get into? Sunny in Philadelphia? Probably best to be cautious and pick shows that are no longer producing new episodes and have all of them released on DVD.

So go, enjoy the legions of free entrainment. Next week, how to syphon gas out of your neighbor's car in the middle of the night. Hey, like I said, troubling economic times.