TV–and Life–"On Command"

I found myself home alone one night this week. It was Tuesday. Without any primetime television to watch, I reveled in the idea of HBO On Demand. Reaching for the remote, I had the world of entertainment at my fingertips: shows, movies, the JT concert, etc. Seriously, who needs the limitless live forms of NYC entertainment, when you can throw on some pajamas and call up almost anything on a whim?

The TV screen lit up, I turned to the HBO On Demand listings. Suddenly, an urge to watch “Flight of the Conchords” rose within me. In that moment, I sat assured that I had the entire first season at my disposal. I scrolled through options: “Tell Me You Love Me”… “Curb Your Enthusiasm”… “Big Love”… and back to the beginning. Wait… no Conchords!?!?!?!? This was simply unacceptable. I wanted the Conchords. I wanted them right now.

In the midst of my tantrum, I realized that with On Demand, people will be even more spoiled, as they will stand for nothing short of instant gratification. When I say “people,” I know that I’m right in the thick of them. We will expect our recorded entertainment, and everything else in life, to play and pause at our command—On Command entertainment is more like it. On Demand DVR technology supposedly allows you to carry on with your life outside of TV, since you don’t have to rely on a show’s “live” time slot. Yet, there are darker implications here.

DVR takes the new “instantanity”—a word I’ve invented to suggest even more strongly the power of right now—of the modern world to the next level. We’ve already reached a point where modes of communication lend themselves to be constant and current. Can’t reach someone by email? Call their cellphone. They don’t pick up after you call? Text them. Chances are, they’ll text right back. Communication technology and DVR serve as doping techniques to the ADD track America is following. Forget commercials. Forget the limitations of “Tuesday at 9pm EST.” I want my show now and God damn it I will watch it now.

HBO On Demand cleverly hooks their viewers into complete DVR subscription. Only having HBO On Demand doesn’t allow me to call up just any show. I’m limited to HBO’s offerings. Now that “Flight of the Conchords” has been taken out of the On Demand line up, I am forced to wait until it appears again, or simply buy the DVDs. It’s clever—almost malicious—actually. HBO, having hooked me with the power of instantanity, knows I won’t be able to break the habit. Hi, my name is Sophie, and I’m a DVR addict.

Mankind supposedly outgrows the self-centered urges that warrant terrible tantrums when they leave infancy behind. DVR and On Demand may spark the “devolution” of society. We will simply be cavemen with less hair—all acting on urges in the moment, and flipping out if those urges aren’t satisfied. From my own Conchord tantrum, I can attest that no good will come from an “On Command” lifestyle.