On Television and the Communal Experience

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending PaleyFest2011's 'Parks and Recreation' night. The entire cast - with the exception of Rob Lowe - and the co-creators, Michael Schur and Greg Daniels, were in attendance. As with all PaleyFest events, the night began with an airing of an episode of the show - this one has not aired yet and will not air until March 17. I won't spoil anything, I will simply say it's probably the best episode yet - don't miss it. The episode was followed by a Q&A by the cast, which was great.

This isn't the first PaleyFest event I've been to, but each time it feels odd to watch an episode of television in a huge room full of people. The feeling is so different from sitting on your couch at home. For one thing, the screen is massive. But the really significant part is the shared feeling of experiencing something that the audience loves.

The nature of television is inherently isolating. Most television is watched alone or with family. Occasionally, for a big event like a season finale, there are viewing parties. By and large, though television is most often experienced in a solitary setting. This is in stark contrast to film, where I'd argue that the communal nature of a theatrical release is at least as significant a part of the experience as the actual film itself.

For most of the history of television, film has had this advantage over television, but that advantage has greatly diminished. The Internet has transformed television from a largely solitary pursuit to an interactive media experience. Buzz over television used to be limited to the water-cooler. Today, countless sites like Vulture and the AV Club pick apart every episode of popular programs. Critics like Alan Sepinwall give near-instant breakdowns of shows that are read and commented on by thousands of people. Facebook and Twitter allow viewers to update their responses to programming in real time and interact with each other in the process. As a result, TV no longer lacks the communal qualities inherent in film and live theater. And, while the experience is still qualitatively different than viewing a film or play in a room full of people, television is a far richer experience than it once was, and the Net is a big part of the reason why.