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If you want to enjoy television don't have start a marathon

BY Alyssa Kleven  on July 10, 2012 @ 12:24 pm (Updated: 6:21 am - 7/11/12 )

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Slow down on "Dexter." A writer at Slate wants you to stop binging on TV.

We don't have to wait months to find out what happened to JR on Dallas.

The days of cliff hangers are over. Many people now consume their TV on demand, stream it online, or watch DVD-box sets.

When the cliff hanger comes and you're eager to know what happens, instead of "tuning in next week," all you have to do is click next, and you're sailing through another television favorite.

WHOAH! Slow down! Binge TV watching might be taking the fun out of television watching, at least according to Slate writer Jim Pagels, who joined Dave and Luke.

"Cliffhangers," he said, "they try to draw that out from you, and make you have to endure before you get the answer to your questions."

Simply going on to the next episode is instant gratification, like drinking that entire bottle of wine, or having a second dessert even though that first cupcake was delicious.

Pagels recommends taking the time to contemplate each episode before moving onto the next. He says that it will help you enjoy the three arcs of a television show. The first arc being the 30 or 1-hour arc of the episode; the next being the story arc of a season; and lastly, in the cases of shows like "The Wire" or "Breaking Bad," the arc of the whole series.

While Luke enjoys TV-binging, the conversation did take him back to a time when watching TV was an event. He would have people over to his house for a big Italian meal to experience the most recent episode of "The Sopranos."

Pagels has five reasons for giving episodes space, so before your next binging session of "True Blood," "Dexter," or even something more light-hearted like "Parks and Recreation," consider slowing down so you don't become TV-obese.

Alyssa Kleven, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Alyssa Kleven is an editor and content producer at MyNorthwest.com. She enjoys doting over her adorable dachshund Winnie - named for Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler.
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Comments (3)


  • Add A Comment

  • ron prevost wrote...
    DAVE ! Stop madness.
    July 11, 2012 5:27 am
    No more Luke posts!

    Tune in next week to see if Luke Burbank continues to ruin the Dave Ross Show.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Seattle is a cesspool wrote...
    Already tuned out...
    July 11, 2012 6:07 am
    Luke already has ruined the show.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Luke Luke Luke and more Luke..
    July 11, 2012 7:17 am
    Is he trying to help Dave save his voice for somthing later? It's non stop Luke this and Luke that. The man hardly takes a breath. Does he even take pee breaks? It's like sitting around the table after a big Thanksgiving dinner while the men-folk discuss the issues of the day. Except its just one man doing gthe talkng..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }