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What the h? Internet Killed the TV Star

Posted on 20. Dec, 2009 by Administrator in Profiles

by Derek Waters

As we quickly approach 2010, I see the future but remember the past. The past of sitting around the television with my family watching Who’s the Boss?, Wonder Years, and even Family Matters. We would watch them as a family, laugh together, and talk about them afterwards.
The Internet has taken over the TV. I don’t think a family squeezing next to each other hovering over a computer screen watching a YouTube video of a dog singing “November Rain” (even though that sounds kind of cool right now) gives the same feeling as watching a TV show or even a movie on a TV together.
In the past if we didn’t get home on time we would miss our show and there wasn’t any other way to see it; only by chance you would catch the re-run. We’ve gotten comfortable. The Internet helps out in a lot of ways, but for families it’s making it harder to share something together.

INT. The SANDERS Family home.
The year is 2015. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders and their 15 year old son (Charlie) are sitting around the dinner table.
Mr. Sanders is looking at his iPhone and laughing. Mrs. Sanders is looking at her laptop computer and giggling. Charlie is texting someone and laughing his ass off.
MRS. SANDERS
What are you LOL’ing about over there Charlie?
CHARLIE
A video my friend just sent me of him pooping in his pants while he’s falling down the stairs.
MRS. SANDERS
Can you forward that to me, please?
CHARLIE
Yeah, no probs. It’s called, “tripping and pooping”.
MR. SANDERS
Have you guys seen this dog singing “November Rain” on YouTube?
CHARLIE & MRS. SANDERS
Yeah….
MR. SANDERS
Charlie, I emailed you a link to the new digital short they did on SNL this weekend. You like those.
CHARLIE
I already saw it.
MRS. SANDERS
Where did you see it, sweetie?
CHARLIE
On my iPhone. Which reminds me, I got a new App on my iPhone called, “How to know your family better”.
MR. SANDERS
How’s it working out for you?
CHARLIE
I haven’t played it yet.

MRS. SANDERS
Okay, well, let us know how it goes. Sounds interesting.

Derek Waters runs into the Sanders house.
DEREK
Hey! Sanders Family!
MR. SANDERS
Who the hell are you?
DEREK
My name is Derek Waters, I’m from 2009.
MR. SANDERS
Oh…okay…what do you want?
DEREK
You don’t have to let this continue! Get out an old movie, or TV show, and watch it as a family, on the TV.
CHARLIE
Why should we watch TV, when we can watch it on the Internet?
DEREK
Cause you can sit around the TV together as a family…you can’t sit around computer screen together. I mean you can, but it’s not as comfortable.
MRS. SANDERS
The Internet is easier for us Derek.
DEREK
Yes Mrs. Sanders, the Internet makes things easier, but aren’t the great things in life the hard ones to get?
The Sanders family just stares at Derek.
DEREK
If things are always easy, what will make you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something?
CHARLIE
Kid from the recent past has a good point.
DEREK
Thank you, Charles.
CHARLIE
My name is Charlie.
DEREK
Oh, right. Sorry Charlie.
CHARLIE
Mom and Dad, can we watch THE WONDER YEARS together?
MR. & MRS. SANDERS
Yes please!
DEREK
Can I watch with you guys?
MR. SANDERS
No, but thanks for coming to the future and making us realize we need to do things together.
DEREK
No problem….It’s what I do. Have a nice night together.
The end.
I’m not saying that TV makes a family stronger. I am saying a family can have fun if they watch things together AS A FAMILY. Oh, and don’t tell the Sanders Family but the only way I got to time travel was ‘cause of the Internet. Thanks Internet!

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Tags: The Internet, What the h