Buffy The Vampire Slayer

University of Arizona : What These Students Are Watching on TV

Well, folks, I am home. And I am jet-lagged after two extraordinary days of guest lecturing for the Media Arts Department at the University of Arizona. I spoke at two of Dr. Kevin Sandler’s classes about my favorite subject, television, and did my annual fall prime-time presentation to about 150 students. Needless to say, I learned a great deal about the viewing habits of today’s college student. If there is a lesson to be learned, it is this: never expect the expected.

To my surprise, the typical college viewer is not necessarily a fan of non-scripted programming. They don’t watch Survivor, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor or Big Brother, and they shook their heads in dismay when I talked about the recent network summer landscape. Other than NBC’s The Office or Scrubs, they are not big fans of network sitcoms, and they show a tremendous preference for shows on cable — FX and HBO, in particular. Some of the common responses to what shows they do enjoy included FX’s Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me; HBO’s Entourage and Flight of the Conchords; and Showtime’s Weeds. When I reminisced about some of my favorite shows from yesteryear — thirtysomething, St. Elsewhere and The White Shadow — they looked at me like I had two heads!

As to what new network shows, if any, they are excited about next season, I can tell you one show they definitely will not be watching: ABC’s Cavemen. But they were more optimistic about the alphabet net’s Pushing Daisies, which was of the three shows they screened for my class. The others were Cavemen and Fox sitcom Back to You, which they were mixed on. Regarding the one show the majority said they loved, and still miss, that is Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. “They don’t make shows like they used to,” said one disgruntled student.

As I prepare today’s column under a cloud of confusion (can anyone really sleep on the red-eye flight?), I will remember this teaching gig as truly inspirational. Thank you, Dr. Sandler and everyone at the Media Arts Department at the University of Arizona. Had there not been a mirror in my room, I would have felt like one of those students. Only this time, I was without the groovy shirt and bell-bottoms!