Tuesday, November 9, 2010

What We Watch On TV

With escalating ticket prices, unemployment and bed bugs! can you blame a person for staying in to watch television in the comfort of home?  As it turns out, the shows people frequent may hold the clues to their character.  So says The New York Post, citing a new study conducted by Mindset, an ad agency, which links shows with personality traits.  The information is used to predict which products viewers of shows are likely to buy.   After analyzing 25,000 TV viewers, the ad agency only released its findings for some of the shows.  The rest of the data went to an unnamed client, who paid for the study.  Here is what was published in the Post:

Mad Men: If you like “Mad Men,” then you are creative ―meaning 'emotionally sensitive and intellectually curious types [who] tend to be dreamers rather than realists' ― and liberal.
Family Guy: If you like “Family Guy,” you are a rebel ― someone who 'doesn’t like authority, rules or structure [you] deem unfair, and usually won’t hesitate to make [your] feelings known with anger or sarcasm' ― and a rule breaker.
Glee: If you like "Glee" you are what ad people call an 'experientialist' ― meaning someone who believes that 'imagination and intellectual pursuits contribute to a good life, and goes out in search of unique and varied experiences' ― and creative (see “Mad Men”).
Dancing With the Stars: If you watch “Dancing With the Stars,” you are a traditionalist ... the opposite of the "Glee" 'experimentalist' ... preferring 'stability and the tried and true' ... someone who doesn’t rock the boat and gets along with others.
The Office: If you watch “The Office,” you are ... a lot like the show’s main character, Michael: someone who believes [he is] 'superior to others. ' You 'prefer to be in charge, directing others rather than being directed.'
Real Housewives of Orange County: If you watch “Real Housewives of Orange County,” you are 'pugnacious' ― described as 'unafraid to tell others what [you] think and value honesty over keeping the peace' ― and probably a leader.
The Biggest Loser: If you watch “The Biggest Loser,” you are a realist who lives 'in the present and works with what [you] have been given.' "

I don't take these studies too seriously, but they're fun.  Three of the shows listed are favorites of mine: Mad Men, Glee and Dancing With the Stars.  So, I'm both an experientialist and a traditionalist.  Can that be?  It sounds verrry tiring.  Oh, marketers of the world, you have your work cut out for you: I also like The Middle, Parenthood, Desperate Housewives and Modern Family. Weeds is interesting.  (Everybody Loves Raymond, I miss you!)  Explain that.

So what do your favorite shows say about you?

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7 comments:

  1. This is a good article. I am not sure what my tendencies are, if most of the shows I watch are cop shows:

    -Hawaii Five-O
    -Bones
    -NCIS (mostly the original, sometimes the Left Coast show)
    -CSI shows (usually NY, sometimes Miami)
    -Law and Order reruns

    Does that make me a Criminal Mind? Oh, I watch that one also.

    Good job on the blog.

    Barry P

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  2. I am not a big TV viewer. Favorites are Turner Classic Movies, Mad Men, The Big C, Law and Order (on occasion). 90% of my TV time is watching old movies.

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  3. I watch most online... but I love Survivor, Dancing with the Stars [ Go Team Kyle & Lacey :) ], Grey's Antatomy, and sadly... still watch Desperate Housewives. I have every DVD of Friends, one of my favs. If I'm in a bad mood - or I tell my husband - if I get Alzheimer's, just put me in front of a TV and put in every season of Friends, and I'll be happy. :) Kinda like how my grandma was with White Christmas.

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  4. Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Criminal Minds, NCIS

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  5. For what it's worth:
    I watch 'House' (Fox) - I record everything on dvr and am 3 weeks behind watching this one
    'Detroit 1-8-7' (ABC) " " "
    'Fringe' (Fox) " " "

    PBS 'Masterpiece Mystery every week
    'Doc Martin' on PBS every week
    Nancy Grace (HeadLineNews)- every night


    I've seen most episodes of 'Clean House' (Style Network) - Love Niecy Nash!
    Have started following 'Giuliana and Bill' on Style network
    Other than these, I like to watch HGTV (House & Garden)

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  6. Thanks for commenting, everyone! Diane M, maybe we should all plan ahead for our golden years. : )

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  7. I've never followed the American version of "The Office" because the BBC version was so great. A little more edgy, with Ricky Gervais at his best.

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