watching expired appliances align

i'm calling it "the device"

I can’t help it. I’m totally in love with the digital video recorder that now serves as my cable box. During the past few days I’ve combed the surface of the internet looking for a good website that lists EVERYTHING that’s worth recording on television for a given day. So far, I haven’t found it. I don’t think I’m up for the task of creating that, but I do want to share what I’m recording and what I’ll be recording in the near future.

Time Warner Cable’s DVR is set up into three sections – Series Manager, Saved Shows and Scheduled Recordings.

As of Wednesday evening, here’s how I have the device’s Series Manager set up:

Degrassi: The Next Generation - I never watched the original Degrassi and, frankly, I’m embarrassed that it’s not part of my tv knowledge. Now I’m hooked on this latest important from Canada. Network: The N. New Episodes: Friday nights

Gardening by the Yard – The host, Paul James, is completely ridiculous and over the top but I’m hooked on this show. I don’t have a garden, but all the tips seem really helpful. Zipping through this show with the remote is ideal for weekend mornings. Network: HGTV. I tape episodes on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Track 2- I’m not really sure what this show is. I saw it listed on the guide and thought it might be worth recording. I’ve got the device set up to record new shows only. I imagine I’ll check to see what artist is on, and then delete the show without watching it. Network: mtv2. I have no idea when this is on.

The OC – I have no idea how I’m going to handle October when this show is off the air! Network: Fox. New episodes on Tuesdays (moving to Thursdays after the baseball playoffs).

Unwrapped – I grew up watching “Double Dare” on Nickelodeon. How can I not watch Marc Summers presenting stories about classic American foods? Network: Food Network. New Episodes: Monday nights

Dinner for Five – Jon Favreau hosts a roundtable discussion, usually with film-related guests. It’s a fun show. Network: IFC. New Episodes: Monday nights.

The Screen Savers - I’m hooked on watching this show late at night while I’m at the computer working on my website. I don’t watch every episode, but the “witty banter” between hosts Leo and Patrick is fun and informative. Network: TechTV New Episodes: Daily.

Breakthrough Video - I’m not really sure what this show is. I saw it listed on the guide and thought it might be worth recording. I’ve got the device set up to record new shows only. I imagine I’ll check to see what artist is on, and then delete the show without watching it. Network: mtv2. I have no idea when this is on.

Subterranean - I watch this show with my finger hovering over the fast forward button. The show is an hour long and usually there’s only one or two videos worth watching. One out of every six episodes will have a musical guest worth watching. Unfortunately, the host of the show asks pretty lame questions. Network: mtv2 New Episodes: sometime during the weekend - Friday nights, maybe?

The Simpsons - I programmed this into the device because it seems like it should be there. I’ve got it set to record new episodes only. I imagine we’ll be waiting until November before anything actually gets recorded. Network: Fox New episodes: Sundays.

King of the Hill – I programmed this into the device because it seems like it should be there. I’ve got it set to record new episodes only. Network: Fox. New episodes: November 2nd.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy - I guess this was the show of the summer. It’s usually on the funny side. But I’m often cringing in horror. I’m glad there aren’t too many people examining the way I live and dress. Network: Bravo

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - The device is set to record new episodes but it never records any of them. I’m not quite sure what the deal with that is. Network: Comedy Central

Food Finds – Ideal for interesting food related nuggets. Network: Food Network

Once and Again – I probably watched ten episodes when this show originally aired on ABC a few years ago. A few nights ago I watched three episodes in a row! It was incredibly relaxing. I’m much more into this show than I should be. Network: Lifetime Real Women

Keeping Time: New Music from America's Roots – I started recording this on Sundance and now I can’t stop. The opening title sequence is gorgeous. The segments about various musicians are also pretty interesting. So far I’ve managed to catch a segment about the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players and a segment with Gillian Welch talking about the religious influences in her music. I have no idea how many episodes are in this series or how long it will run. I’m also frustrated that the cable’s online guide doesn’t tell me anything about the individual episodes. Network: Sundance

Extreme Homes –I recently added this to the series manager – but only to tape new episodes. I have been taping random episodes every so often. Like a lot of shows, it’s a fun twenty minute diversion worth watching with your finger hovering over the fast forward button. Network: HGTV

Coupling - I raced out and bought the first season on DVD as soon as it became available. I’ve missed episodes from seasons two and three. Dan, Sujan and I can’t get enough of this incredibly funny British sitcom. Network: BBC America

A Cook's Tour – Sujan recently added this to the list of shows to record on a regular basis. I’ll probably watch, but I’m afraid it’ll just remind me that I’m really not a “foodie.” Network: Food Network

Book Television – I stumbled over this show when setting up the dvr. I’ve watched two episodes so far, and I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve found. One episode featured a segment on Michael Chabon. A second episode featured a segment on Paul Feig of “Freaks and Geeks” fame. The Paul Feig episode was about his book “Kick Me” and was filled with photographs taken of him while he was growing up. Like “Keeping Time,” I wish the television guide let me know the content of the segments before I started watching the show. Network: Trio

Everwood – New episodes from the second season start Tuesday! Network: The WB