Family TV Addicts » Internet TV

Hulu is a Summer Television Lifesaver

Karla Bond — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:28:30 +0000

Hulu has to be one of my favorite sites. I have a very complicated DVR system and it tends to not record what I want. When that happens it’s Hulu to the rescue.

Great for summer watching

Summertime is a great time to catch up on shows you may not have thought about or didn’t have time to watch. Hulu also has some of those made for TV movies. New shows and episodes are getting added everyday. Don’t forget to subscribe to your favorite channels so you don’t miss out.

Relive the older shows

This week is camping week on Moms Talk Network. Trying to find a good episode was not hard with Hulu. This great Monk episode where Monk tries to go camping. I never did catch Monk before it was cancelled so watching this episode makes me want to try to catch more episodes. Hulu has episodes of some older shows that you may have wished your watched before they went off the air.

Four Thumbs Up

If I had four thumbs that is what I would give Hulu for one of the best TV site out there. So what are you waiting for? Skedaddle on over there and watch some of your forgotten shows.

Don’t forget to come back and let me know what you are hooked on.

Kids and TV: Know your TV Ratings

Karla Bond — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:40:53 +0000

This is part three of a four part blog series

Know the Ratings

In order to know what your kids are watching on TV and weather it’s age appropriate, you need to understand the rating system. This will help you with your parental controls that many TV are equipped with.

And the Ratings Are

TV-Y suitable for all ages of children
TV-Y7 for children 7 and older. Has some mild fantasy and comedic violence. Could scare children
TV-Y7-FV Intense fantasy violence could occur in some programs
TV-G suitable for the general audience. Not for a certain age could but contains no violence, sexual nature or strong language
TV-PG parental guidance suggested. Not suitable for younger children as it could contain violence, sexual situations or strong language.
TV-14 suitable for children over 14, parents are cautioned. Programs could contain one or more of strong language, sexual situation or violence.
TV-MA suitable for adults only. Contains strong sexual activity, crude language, and graphic violence.

V-Chip

This technology allows you to control what your kids can and can not see. Back in 2000 it was required that all television set 13 inches or large include a V-chip. With that said, only 15% of households actually use this technology. The FCC requires that the V-chip follow the age guidelines so parents can block out what their kids to see.

The new V-Chip

The new V-Chip technology decodes the rating data transmitted with the signal and block out content you ask it to. This new technology is designed to change as the rating system changes based on the broadcasters content.

Would You Pay For Hulu?

Karla W — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:52:28 +0000

I watch a lot of TV shows and I don’t even own a TV! It’s possible because of the internet.

I love Hulu!

Recently I learned of HuluPlus. Basically, for $9.99 a month you are able to watch Hulu on any device. They have also included more shows. Instead of only being able to get the 5 most current episodes you would be able to view the whole season.

The downside is that they still include commercials. I’ll say it again in case it didn’t come across clearly. The $9.99 a month HuluPlus still includes commercials.

In the Hulu discussion forums there is buzz about a higher tier paid subscription that would not have ads. The comments are varied from, “It’s a good idea” to “If we let this happen the internet as we know it will be over!”

Let’s compare this to iTunes. You can " target="_blank" class="broken_link">buy tv shows with a season pass that averages around $50.oo or you can buy just one episode for $2.99. Of course they will play in any device.

If you’re willing to wait you might be able to watch the show through Netflix for a $9.95 a month plan after it comes out on DVD.

The bottom line of all this is that you pay for the convenience of watching when and how you want. If you really love the show wouldn’t you watch it when it comes out on TV – for free?

Fantastic TV Link Love

Karla Bond — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:00:26 +0000

Ausiello Files

Michael Ausiello is the king of TV news. I first found him on TV Guide and followed him to EW. He is witty, funny and he knows A LOT of stuff when it comes to TV and gossip. Every Thursday he has a Q&A column you don’t’ want to miss.

TV Squad

TV Squad is a fantastic resource for spoilers, gossip, and guide to what is on TV right now. They do recaps of your favorite shows in case you may have missed it, or your DVR messed up. They do have a section where you can watch full episodes if they are available.

TV Commercial Blog

I for one record my shows just so I can skip the commercials. If you are among the people that enjoy commercials, like my husband, then check out this site. They are commercials from around the world and a variety of products.

What’s Alan Watching

Alan Speinwall blogs about all things TV. What I really enjoy is his rewind posts. He brings back shows that are dead back to life with his blog. It’s great to reflect back on the great shows of the past.

Days Talk

I am a Days of Our Lives fan. I record it everyday so I can get my fix. Amy and James Plouf bring daily recaps of the show along with their honest opinions. If you have been a lifer of Day of Our Lives Amy and James will stroll down memory lane with you with some great old footage.

Big Brother Updates

If you are a Big Brother freak like me, this site is a must see. You will get minute by minute updates as to what is going on in the house from bloggers who are watching the live feeds. You will also know who won the Veto before it actually airs. BB12 starts Thursday July 8th. Don’t miss it!

Am I missing your favorite link? Please comment and tell me where you get your TV info.

photo credit: dailyinvention

Brothers and Sisters to End?

Karla Bond — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:54:59 +0000

The Walker’s are about as dysfunctional as they come. They host the same qualities as any normal family but just in a twisted way. Daddy Walker let quite a mess when he passed away in season one.

This year we will say goodbye to Robert (Rob Lowe) and Rebecca (Emily VanCamp).

I will miss Robert. I was just getting to really love him. Robert and Kitty went through a rough patch in their marriage and in the end he was there for her when she needed him the most. The last season ended with a horrific car accident where it was evident that Robert had been killed.

Rebecca has always been a wild card on the show. Once suspected of being a part of the walker clan, she ended up married to one. The relationship between Justin and Rebecca started as friends when they thought they were brothers and sisters. It blossomed into a young troubled relationship. I often wondered where these characters were going. Now married and working through a miscarriage I now wonder how we will bid farewell to Rebecca. Emily will be back to film a couple episodes to wrap up the storyline.

Season Five

With these two major characters leaving the show and ABC only committing to 18 episodes, you wonder if this is the end of a great non-Cosby like show. Producer David Marshall Grant says “no one has told me it’s the last season.”

While I enjoy curly up on a Sunday night to watch Brothers & Sisters, it makes me wonder how much more can the Walker clan take. From embezzlement to family death, I think we have seen them put through the ringer. How many more issue can the writers come up with without the audience rolling their eyes. I fear the end of Brothers & Sisters is near, sooner than later.

Sound Off

What do you think? Will Season five be a series finale? Is it time time to put the Walkers on the straight happy path and bid them farewell? Chime in!

Photo from Abc.com

Warning: Twitter is Tough on Time Shifted Viewers

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:28:49 +0000

I watch almost all of my television on the internet the day after or a few days after it was originally aired. This means that I have to be careful about what I expose myself to through the week if I don’t want to see, hear or read spoilers.

This makes Twitter a worrisome place for me during prime time hours – especially on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

One friend in particular watches some of my favorite shows as they are broadcast and tweets about them like crazy.

#glee this and #glee that, #greysanatomy ooohs and #greysanatomy ahhhs… it’s wicked dangerous I tell ya!

Watch Leave It to Beaver Online for Free

Katelyn — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:48:46 +0000

Remember Wally, June and all the other folks on Leave It to Beaver? The Cleaver family was the family everyone wanted to be. June was capable and always immaculate, even though she spent the whole day doing housework. She made thousands of women who found themselves completely unable to spend the day scrubbing toilets while wearing heels and pearls feel completely inadequate!

If you have been wanting to start a tradition of hanging out with your family to watch a family friendly show while chowing down on popcorn and are frustrated by what you’re finding on live television, why not hop online and introduce you children to this beloved classic series? You can watch Leave It to Beaver online for free at TVLand. And when you are done revisiting the golden age of television, you can explore the page with your kids to learn more about one of the most beloved TV families of all time.

Oh, and for people who grew up with the Beav, this Youtube clip of the family’s Good Morning America reunion is a wonderful look at the stars today:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWO1vWZXGY

Do You Need Cable If You Have High Speed Internet?

Katelyn — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:40:28 +0000

I have high speed internet and I have cable television, but lately I’ve noticed something interesting. I want to catch up on a show I’ve missed. I’ve got it recorded on my digital recorder on the television in the other room. So, I should go in there and hit play, right?

First, I hop online and check the show’s website or Hulu and there it is. Whoopie! I can watch on my laptop. So I do. With a minimized window so I can keep working on whatever project I’m working on, I watch a show I could be watching on a big screen television.

This leads me to my question: Do you need cable if you have high speed internet?

Unless you’re watching HBO or another show that doesn’t let you see episodes online, I’m thinking the answer is no. Not really. Maybe you want basic cable for the news or so the kids can watch PBS on their television while you work on your laptop, but that’s about it.

I’m not canceling cable anytime soon, though. I have a package deal that is good for almost a year and it is nice to still curl up on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn for “family night” so we can laugh at the newest iCarly or Disney movie. I could do that with a DVD player and one of our favorite DVD’s, but, for some reason, it just isn’t as special to the kids.

What about you? Are you planning to cancel cable and just hop online for your television fix?

Introductions Are In Order

Katelyn — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:52:09 +0000

Hello gentle reader! (I’ve always wanted to say that. I love the way old book authors assumed all their readers were gentle.)

I’m Katelyn and I’ll be blogging here at Family TV Addicts during my internship. I spent many years writing in the evenings and spending my days working in the library field, but I decided three years ago to pursue writing and blogging full time when Lyme Disease made it tough for me to work outside the home. As I was recovering, I was blessed with three awesome kids and decided to continue working from home.

Now, you’re probably thinking I’m stuffy because I worked as a children’s librarian and branch manager. You might be assuming I feel like TV doesn’t hold a candle to a good book. I’ll let you in on a secret. Sometimes, the movie or made for TV version is better than a book or equally as good in a different way. For example, I love both versions of BLACK BEAUTY.

Yes, I adore books. Even awful books not even a mother would love. However, I also am a genuine TV addict. I am hooked on quite a few of the shows on USA, as well as Medium, Chuck and Project Runway. I also usually try to fit in The View and sometimes Ellen.

Then there are the kid shows like iCarly, which I watch so… umm… so I know what the kids are doing. (That’s it. For the kids.)I have no interest in Spencer’s fury over Canadian bacon or Carly’s wars with Nevile the nemesis. I also tend to make sure that Wizards of Waverly Place is okay for them to watch at least once a week. (And I will deny everything if you tell my brother that I was late picking him up because I wanted to finish the Waverly Place movie and forgot I could record the ending.)

But enough about me. What about you, gentle reader? What do you want to see covered on Family TV Addicts? Do you have any questions? Any concerns? I’d love to hear from you!

The V’s Have Landed!

Stacey de Wet — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:01:16 +0000

ABC’s new show “V” made it’s debut last night at 8pm. I was surprised that it wasn’t an exact remake of the original miniseries. For example the characters were all different. In the original the leader is Dianna in this one it’s Anna. I expected them to keep the same characters considering it’s a remake and not a spinoff. The premise was the same, but obviously the speed of the story line was revealed much quicker in this new series. Originally the miniseries was more like a movie and took time to reveal the plot. In this episode we met the aliens and were made aware of their reasons to be on Earth immediately. No messing around! They want to get onto the Alien versus Humans war.

First it is thought that the aliens have come in peace. Everyone is excited for their presence and are sure that this will be good for our world. However, Erica Evans, an FBI agent thinks differently. She starts investigating and meets underground with some rebels who inform her of the aliens real reason for being here. They show her a passport photo of a terrorist she remembers. Only she is now informed that not only is he a terrorist, but he is also a V (alien).

With their secret revealed the V’s claim that they have been visitors here for years and living amongst us. They have been responsible for unnecessary wars and conflict. These wars and conflicts were caused to try and weaken the humans so that they could take us over easier. The V’s inform us that we are now weak enough for them and they’re ready to take us on!

I liked the show, but just expected it to be more like the original. The special effects were obviously a thousand times better and so was the action. I’m just a little partial to the originally because it reminds me of when I was a kid! I will definitely continue to watch and see what the aliens do to us! I’m still bummed we only get four episodes though and then they’re taking a break until March. What did you think of “V”?