Saturday Evening Meta - What would it take for you to stop watching a show?

[raisintorte]

With everything floating around the SGA fandom about casting spoilers for Season 4 I got to thinking about what it would take for me to stop watching a show.

The answer: A LOT.

I usually stop watching shows because I find them boring. First, they get relegated from "watch right away" to "watch when I have time" and then I go to clean out my Tivo To Do list for space and I have episodes over 6 months old.

For example on The Shield, or House if Vic or House left the show would probably be over. And even if it wasn't I would probably still watch an episode or two to see how they dealt with it.

I love a lot of characters but there is no one character on any given TV show that I love so much I would stop watching if she or he left. I cannot think of a single plot line that would upset me so much I would stop watching. I might roll my eyes or make a post going "well, that was odd" or "I didn't really care for THAT plot twist" but it won't stop me from watching the next week.

In recent history I've stopped watching CSI, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order (original and SVU), and One Tree Hill.

CSI got cut due to scheduling - 3 shows at 9pm - 2 recording options. We pick it up when something else we watch is in rerun, but I think we just got bored with it. I can't really point to one thing that made me stop watching. The same can be said for Desperate Housewives, One Tree Hill, and L&O. They all faded into the black hole of Tivo.

I'm still watching ER, though I quite frequently question my sanity - it's more for the mocking then anything at this point, but I'm still watching. A lot of people have complained about the last season of Gilmore Girls, and while it won't go down as my all time favorite - I'm still enjoying the show enough to watch.

I watched every episode of The Wedding Bells and Andy Barker PI even though I knew they were canceled. I may have mocked them a bit, but I didn't stop watching.

Now for the question - What would it take to make you stop watching something? What character do you love so much if they left or got written out you would no longer watch the show? What plot line would make you turn off your TV? Why?

***I think this question can be handled without spoilers, so please only speak in general or theoretical terms - I would prefer not to read a bunch of rants about how Show X is being screwed up cause Y or Z is going or coming.***

(and if you do spoil, I reserve the right to screen your comment)

Comments

[amykay73.livejournal.com]

These were my main two beefs with BSG as well, which is why it found a place on my TV shows poop list. I really thought it was going to be added to the list of shows I loved initially but then walked away from. However, I'm willing to give next season a shot. I am, though, hoping it only lasts one more year.

[daisycm83.livejournal.com]

You are kinder and more forgiving than I. I haven't exactly stopped - it's still set to tape on our DVR -- but I have, because I haven't watched like the last...four episodes or something. I ended up deleting the first two, and will probably follow suit with the others in time. I just...am tired of the BS.

[amykay73.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the middle three eps of the last half of the season yet. I'm hoping that in a month or two I'll have an urge to watch them. However, as I rewatched the miniseries a few days ago I keep thinking about how good it was, and how much this season pales in comparision.