My community television practices had been building for a while, but I particularly noticed it on the night of the Oscars. It was a cold and nasty February 25 and I did not want to leave my humble abode. However, I wanted the good, clean fun of snarking about the gowns and the acceptance speeches and Jack Nicholson’s antics. I wanted the opportunity to “call” categories before the winner was announced and to have my predictions validated. I wanted to have the Oscar party experience with a group of movie lovers. But I really, really didn’t want to get cold. I admit it, I’m a wimp.

Enter the Internet.

I watched the telecast with my laptop and spent the evening chatting away with friends in the city and out-of-state via my Gmail client. We snarked and predicted the whole evening long. Not just the Oscars, but the pre-show and the commercials, too. (Though, to be honest, I could’ve used a few personal commerical breaks.) It was a fun, virtual television night with my friends even though I didn’t see or speak to a single soul.

And it added something to my television experience. Instead of waiting to the next day to rehash the event, we could do it in real time. We were all “caught up” and ready for the next thing.

Chatting and dissecting television in real-time has become a new hobby…experience…entertainment evolution for us. I just may start watching more television. Anybody free on Wednesday for ANTM?

Don't clown around about shopping