A conversation between Michael Mazur (M) and himself (?) on the topic of television.
?: Hello Michael. This is strange, isn't it?
M: I can't help but think of the Brian Eno video in which he interviews himself.
?: Oh well. I'm quickly realizing that formatting this interview could be a nightmare. Do I space things out nicely during composition or put words to virtual paper and figure it out later. The advantage of an utter lack of readership is the ability to make corrections without consequence.
M: You do you -- I'm just here for the ride.
?: So let's talk about television. The drug of the nation. What are you watching?
M: More films or video games than television, but let's see. I finished Bojack Horseman. I'm still chipping away at Letterkenny and almost done with season 3 of The Americans. I've been watching Curb Your Enthusiasm with dad and we're on season 7, and both really loving that show, even though after we watch an episode or two we need a day to recover. I've started Kim's Convenience with mom but we're only on the third episode. Bob's Burgers when I need a distraction. The occasional John Oliver. And does a five-part PBS special, #MeToo, Now What? count as television? I continue to avoid watching TV news whenever I can, but I have peeked at the ongoing George Floyd murder trial and...eek.
?: That's content. How do you decide what to watch?
M: Sometimes I'll try to be relevant, but usually I'm too late to watch the "hot show of the year" (like Chernobyl, which I still haven't watched but it's on the list). Sometimes I'll check something out because I read about it in the New Yorker or somewhere, which is why I'm halfway through Netflix's The American Barbecue Showdown. Usually, though, I'm simply trying to finish what I've previously started. The last season of Bojack Horseman came out a year ago and I only got around to it this week. The Americans ended...two years ago? And I've been stuck streaming season 3 for at least the past two years. OH I'm also watching and loving Cobra Kai. I need to get back to season 2 of that soon...maybe this weekend.
?: What do you want to watch soon?
M: I promised Meve I'd watch Watchmen. Uncle Glenn let me borrow his DVDs of Yes, Minister! so I should start that soon. I forgot to mention that I've gotten back into Star Trek: Picard, which means more than a year after watching the first three episodes I went and watched episode 4 last week. I'd like to complete that series. And to be honest, I want to watch more films. I still haven't seen all my Cassavetes. I haven't watched any of my Wong Kar-Wai box set. And I still haven't watched the Until the End of the World Criterion blu-ray that I had ordered at launch.
?: How do you watch your shows?
M: Sometimes I'll use my phone or iPad. I know some people are happy to use their laptops but even in college when that was all I had, I didn't like laptop viewing. The screen is meh, the battery life is meh, and TVs are better. I currently have the 48" Sony OLED TV in my office. The picture quality is really beautiful. I prefer watching things there.
?: Is there anything else you'd like to say before we end this first interview and post it?
M: In answering these questions, I started thinking about Emily Nussbaum's work in The New Yorker. I always liked her recommendations. Go read I Like to Watch!
?: Hello Michael. This is strange, isn't it?
M: I can't help but think of the Brian Eno video in which he interviews himself.
?: Oh well. I'm quickly realizing that formatting this interview could be a nightmare. Do I space things out nicely during composition or put words to virtual paper and figure it out later. The advantage of an utter lack of readership is the ability to make corrections without consequence.
M: You do you -- I'm just here for the ride.
?: So let's talk about television. The drug of the nation. What are you watching?
M: More films or video games than television, but let's see. I finished Bojack Horseman. I'm still chipping away at Letterkenny and almost done with season 3 of The Americans. I've been watching Curb Your Enthusiasm with dad and we're on season 7, and both really loving that show, even though after we watch an episode or two we need a day to recover. I've started Kim's Convenience with mom but we're only on the third episode. Bob's Burgers when I need a distraction. The occasional John Oliver. And does a five-part PBS special, #MeToo, Now What? count as television? I continue to avoid watching TV news whenever I can, but I have peeked at the ongoing George Floyd murder trial and...eek.
?: That's content. How do you decide what to watch?
M: Sometimes I'll try to be relevant, but usually I'm too late to watch the "hot show of the year" (like Chernobyl, which I still haven't watched but it's on the list). Sometimes I'll check something out because I read about it in the New Yorker or somewhere, which is why I'm halfway through Netflix's The American Barbecue Showdown. Usually, though, I'm simply trying to finish what I've previously started. The last season of Bojack Horseman came out a year ago and I only got around to it this week. The Americans ended...two years ago? And I've been stuck streaming season 3 for at least the past two years. OH I'm also watching and loving Cobra Kai. I need to get back to season 2 of that soon...maybe this weekend.
?: What do you want to watch soon?
M: I promised Meve I'd watch Watchmen. Uncle Glenn let me borrow his DVDs of Yes, Minister! so I should start that soon. I forgot to mention that I've gotten back into Star Trek: Picard, which means more than a year after watching the first three episodes I went and watched episode 4 last week. I'd like to complete that series. And to be honest, I want to watch more films. I still haven't seen all my Cassavetes. I haven't watched any of my Wong Kar-Wai box set. And I still haven't watched the Until the End of the World Criterion blu-ray that I had ordered at launch.
?: How do you watch your shows?
M: Sometimes I'll use my phone or iPad. I know some people are happy to use their laptops but even in college when that was all I had, I didn't like laptop viewing. The screen is meh, the battery life is meh, and TVs are better. I currently have the 48" Sony OLED TV in my office. The picture quality is really beautiful. I prefer watching things there.
?: Is there anything else you'd like to say before we end this first interview and post it?
M: In answering these questions, I started thinking about Emily Nussbaum's work in The New Yorker. I always liked her recommendations. Go read I Like to Watch!