Life Without Cable (Part IV)

Part IV: Original Internet Shows

A life without cable means changing the way you think about video entertainment.  There are tons of great shows on the internet, the only problem is you haven’t seen them yet!  Hopefully, this is just because you didn’t know where to look, but I’m here to fix that for you.

When I refer to shows on the internet, I don’t mean just Youtube videos of cute kittens or guys getting hit in the balls.  I mean full-fledged episodes posted on a regular basis, just as a new TV show would air a new episode every week.  There really is some fantastic content out there, but it’s a little harder to find than just surfing the channels.

Right now, I can guarantee that an internet show exists which would be one of your top 5 favorite shows had you known about it.  Since traditional TV is so much more expensive to produce and distribute than internet TV,  companies can afford to produce shows that only a small handful of people would be interested in.  These shows are still be deemed a success if only a handful of people tune it, because that’s all is needed for the show to make back it’s low cost.  What this all means is: somewhere out on the internet, there is a show made almost exactly for you. Let’s get started with some shows I think readers of The Modern Day Pirates will particularly enjoy:

Revision3 –
www.revision3.com

Since you’re on this website, there’s a good chance you are a geek.  If so Revision3 is the first place you should start watching shows!  This network is home to twenty different series, whose shows range the gamut of geeky topics.  Some of Revision3′s best shows are

• AppJudgement, a series that reviews smartphone applications
• Bytejacker, which covers indie video game news
• Hak5, a show that teaches viewers how to push their gadgets to the limit
• LandlineTV, which offers insanely funny sketch comedy
• Diggnation, recapping all of the best stories you missed on the internet this week, with added commentary by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht.
• Co-Op, opinions on recent video games by people you can trust.  Co-Op is run by former employees of Electronic Gaming Monthly: the most widely recognized, but now defunct, video game magazine.

The thing about Revision3 is that every single one of there shows is good.  They also have an easy-to-read schedule showing you when new episodes of your favorite shows will be debuted.

Imaginary Bitches –
www.imaginarybitches.com

This one might seem like it’s just for the nerdettes but trust me guys, this is one you should watch with your lady.  Imaginary Bitches is a web series centered around a female lead, played by Eden Riegel, who just can’t deal with the fact that all of her friends are in serious relationship while she is still single.  To cope, her mind starts to create imaginary friends who say all of the bitchy things she is actually thinking.

The show is well written, but it’s really Eden’s performances that drive it home.  She delivers scene after awkward scene where she must juggle her conversations between real life people and the imaginary bitches, causing plenty of awkward stares.  You’ll just have to trust me that this show is funnier than most major network sitcoms right now.  Give it a shot!

Rocketboom -
www.rocketboom.com

Presenting the news with a comedic slant, Rocketboom posts a new episode every single day.  While you can get great streaming national news from sources such as CNN.com, Rocketboom mixes internet culture with their news.  You’ll still get your dose of politics, but the coverage generally speaks more to what an internet view wants from their news.  Think how painful it is every time you hear something about Twitter on the evening news, and then have to listen to a sixty second recap about what exactly Twitter is so that grandma is not left in the dark.  Now cut all that filler out, as it’s not necessary since you obviously know how to use the web if you’re watching TV online.  Now, make that news a bit more tongue-in-cheek, and you’ve got Rocketboom.

The Guild -
www.watchtheguild.com

The Guild is a sitcom that follows the life of several gamers, both online and offline.  By far one of the most popular shows online, this stars internet celebrity Felicia Day (of Dr. Horrible fame) as part of an ensemble cast, and is a consistent award winner.  Even if you don’t have a media center PC, you can stream this show right to your Xbox 360.  If you can appreciate humor based on the fantasy genre and online roleplaying games, The Guild delivers.

Other Great Shows to Check Out:

Trust me when I say this article is just the tip of the iceberg.  If you are really interested in discovering great content online, check out this years 2nd Annual Streamy Award nominees.  Don’t just take my word for it, these nominations are made through public vote, with the winners chosen by members of the International Academy of Web Television.  The above shows are my top picks, but the Streamys really highlight the cream of the crop on the web.