Here’s something different:
“No second screens,” my husband says. “Stop second screening!”
It’s a bad habit: watching TV and checking my phone for texts, Instagram updates, whatever. And it’s on the rise. Studies show that 87% of people now second screen when they watch TV*.
Because sometimes, TV is so bad, you have to second screen. Also, I’ve found, second screening can make any bad TV show good.
I give you, TV shows and how good they are based on second screen usage. A totally personal and non-professional report.
Key:
0%: Awesome, A+, five stars, *****
5%-25%: Still a great show, highlight of my week
25%-50%: Instagram is kinda better
75-100%: Why am I even watching this?
Game of Thrones: 75%
This season is back to oddly-dressed people talking for long times in rooms or in the snow. I think it’s time the war finally happened. Because honestly, I’ve lost the plot. Second screen!
Silicon Valley: 10%
I don’t want to miss one second of these nerds.
Fortitude: 0%
I am riveted. I am rapt. I love Iceland or Finland or wherever the heck they are. And weird plague-induced zombies.
Happy Valley: 5%
Sergeant Catherine Cawood is a bad ass, my hero. Just a little Instagram, like just the tip of Instagram.
Outlander: 95%
Basically I’m second screening until the sex scenes.
Shows I’ve watched in the past with minimal (0-10%) second screen time:
Transparent, Catastrophe, The People vs. O.J., Bloodline, Narcos (a little higher second screen), Cucumber.
What else deserves putting down the second screen?