How To Get Through So Much TV

It's often said... so many options, not so much time.

In a vast television landscape, with so many options, it can become quite a challenge for the average TV-viewer to watch everything that has caught their fancy. And, while it is true that a lot of sub-par entertainment is offered, good TV is available everywhere; if one is willing to seek it out.

So how does one go about making the choice? Especially in the September and January months, which is typically when a myriad new shows debut, one can feel at a loss with all the new options. Scheduling conflicts between shows, busy social schedule, kids--a plethora of reasons can get in the way. So, there's a few easy suggestions that can help out:

1. Choose the two or three shows that interest you the most. 
The truth is, most of us do not have the time to watch as much as we may be interested to. So take a look at the options and select based on personal preference and availability. Also, look into various reviews in an attempt to get an idea of how the show is being received. Naturally, critics often have very different opinions than the general public, so it could be helpful to find a critic or two that you usually agree with. Also, good word of mouth may be a great help in deciding.

2. Take advantage of the free screenings online
Not everyone can afford a DVR or a TiVo so a good way to catch up and not have to worry about being in front of the TV at a certain time would be to go online and catch up like that. It's free, it takes less time (because of shorter commercial time) and is easy. It also helps with the show's ratings, which can definitely be a plus when one likes a show.

3. DVDs
A lot of people tend to not watch a show for the whole season but wait until the season is released on DVD. Once they have it, they devote 1-2 days in order to watch the whole thing at once, thus catching up and not having to worry for another year. While marathon viewing can be tiring (and, not to mention, time-consuming),   it is a viable solution to keep one up to date.