By JOE GRANESE
Feb. 07, 2007

Tools to enhance your TV pleasure

I find myself watching a bit more television this time of year, the traditionally dull period between the last down of the Super Bowl and the first pitch of spring training. With the Flyers and the Sixers in such dismal shape, sports programming offers a great deal less entertainment than normal around these parts.

Rather than watch people play cards or shoot pool, I have found my way back to the low numbers on the dial, occasionally dipping into the network television offerings in a last-ditch effort to gain some shred of entertainment value from those precious few moments I can spend slack-jawed in front of the TV.

As with every facet of modern life, the Internet has brought a new perspective to the way we watch TV in the 21st century. In the old days, say, back in 1980, people would watch their favorite shows during prime time, then go to bed. The next day they would discuss them at work or at school, enjoying social interaction and adding value to the original viewing experience.

The sad souls who missed their favorite programming were at the mercy of the programming gods. It could be months before the show was rerun, a phenomenon that usually occurred during the summertime when there were many more interesting activities than TV viewing available. The concept of re-releasing TV shows on home video was still a few years away. Happily, times have changed.

Today many viewers actually prepare for a favored broadcast well in advance of its air date. I have fallen victim to this, spending Monday evenings researching the upcoming episode of “Heroes,” my new favorite show. After the program, I join other fans online to compare notes and opinions. It is a pleasant way to enjoy television programming. To help you get the most out of your viewing experience, here are a couple of sites that can provide all the TV information you never knew you needed.

www.thefutoncritic.com

If you can sneak onto only one website from the office each day, the Futon Critic is definitely a worthwhile candidate. The site is billed as the Web’s “best television resource,” and I see no reason to argue that honor.

Since the quality of Yahoo TV has slipped to new depths, I find myself visiting the Futon Critic more frequently. An afternoon visit can prep me for all the goodies on the docket for the upcoming evening. After the fact, I can check out insightful reviews and opinions of the previous night’s programming.

The Futon Critic even offers limited-time access to television ratings information for individual noncommercial use. A little research revealed that the most recent broadcast of the Miss America Pageant, which originated from someplace out in the desert, hauled in an eye-popping 2.4 million viewers. That figure is down a bit from the 9.8 million who enjoyed the 2004 broadcast from good old Atlantic City.

Whether you are interested in tonight’s episode of “Ugly Betty” or figures on ratings juggernauts like “American Idol” and “House,” the information you seek is likely to be found here. Don’t go home without it. For bringing the world of television to my desktop, www.thefutoncritic.com tunes into five live spiders.

www.broadcastingcable.com

Taking a step away from being just a viewer, I enjoy the occasional visit to television industry websites like the Broadcasting & Cable resource. Big-time sites like this are a great place to catch up on information and get a look at TV from the other side of the screen.

On my most recent visit, the news here was the same as everywhere else, detailing the story of a panic in Boston inspired by a few LED signs of Mooninites making an unfriendly gesture. Apparently somebody in Bean Town who does not watch Adult Swim interpreted the “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” recurring character as a threat. Similar signs posted in other cities were not deemed risky.

Industry news is more than just the latest celebrity scandal. You can be the first to know about any impending crisis, like the one currently being cooked up by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D. W.Va.), who thinks the current state of the medium is at an all-time low. Follow the action here before it makes the nightly news and be on the lookout for more bleeps on “South Park” if he gets his way.

The best indicator of television’s continued success is, and always has been, the greenback. With an occasional stop at the Broadcasting & Cable website, you can see who is making how much, and why. If inside information is your cup of tea this is the place to look. You may find it a bit dry, but for opening up the inner sanctum of the television industry, www.broadcastingcable.com clicks on four spiders.

www.tv.com

It always comes back to www.tv.com. Every time I address television issues, there’s always a new reason to visit this site. From the early days of episode guides and commentary to the slick current model, I have always been able to find something handy here. Today, as our viewing habits change, www.tv.com is changing along with them.

Piracy aside, more and more viewers are downloading their television shows every day. All it really takes is a fast connection, viewing software, which is likely to be a part of your operating system, and access to a few legal downloads. That is where tv.com comes in.

It can be difficult to find a good selection of downloads, especially when networks are airing new material. A quick trip to www.tv.com/downloads will get you off on the right foot right away. Their constantly updated resource offers the latest in downloading information, including current ratings of downloadable episodes.

When I last checked in, “Prison Break” was at the top of the ratings list, followed by “Heroes,” “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and an odd choice, “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Handy links take visitors to sites where the desired content can be quickly and legally acquired without having to worry about skulking around pirate websites or picking up a hijacker.

This is time shifting at its essential best. There are no tapes, no disks; nothing to remember. Just click, download and enjoy. For giving the viewer even more control over their personal viewing experience, the boob tubers at www.tv.com rerun their traditional five spiders.

Take a moment from loading your favorite shows onto your iPod or PSP and let me know if you have developed an Internet television routine yet. I am anxious to know who is downloading what, and from where. As always, catch me by e-mailing granese@juno.com