What is the Earl Haig Community Watching?

Julia Schwartz-Manne

Arts and Entertainment

Television shows have always been a means of bonding with friends and family. During the golden era of network television, people came together to watch the same shows simultaneously, whether it be gathered around a shared TV, or in different parts of the world. The next day, at school or work, they would rave about the latest episode of Growing Pains or Seinfeld with friends.

However, the golden era did not last. In 2005, YouTube, the first mainstream online video sharing service, became available to everyone with an internet connection. Then, in 2007, Netflix launched with 1000 titles. On-demand streaming revolutionized how people consumed media: scheduled network television no longer limited people. They could watch anything at any time, on their own device.

On-demand streaming offers many benefits. You can watch TV shows you enjoy, instead of TV shows your family enjoys. Instead of the channel deciding, you determine when to watch. You do not have to be afraid of missing your favourite show, and you do not have to wait a week for the latest episode.

Given the vast on-demand content available to us, we can no longer expect everyone to know the shows we watched last night. However, online fan communities provide spaces to join viewing parties, discover local conventions, discuss theories, analyse episode endings, and ultimately find friends with similar interests.

Additionally, representation in TV shows influences how people, especially youth, behave and see themselves. When everyone is watching the same shows, the definition of what is popular or acceptable is more rigid and narrow. When people watch different shows, they have distinct role models and form unique ideas. This individualism changes how people interact with each other and creates a much more diverse society.

Now that we know how TV shows bond our communities, what about the Earl Haig community? I surveyed students of all grades, asking them a few simple questions about their television preferences.

The first question I asked was what their favourite genre of TV is. The majority, about 56%, of Earl Haig students prefer comedy. The second most popular genres were drama and horror, with about 12% each.

Next, I asked what their favourite television show of all time was. The results were diverse, with The Good Place coming at the top with 12%, followed by Friends, The Office, Stranger Things, and The Haunting Of Hill House, each with 8%.

Finally, I asked what their current favourite show is in the hopes of seeing what Earl Haig students want to watch more. Hard evidence made Brooklyn 99 the top suspect with 24% of the vote. However, the case recently closed as its final season was released. The school community will undoubtedly miss it. Another show Haigers enjoyed was Squid Game, with 16%, which already has plans to release a new season. Other shows students want to see more of are Sex Education, Grey's Anatomy, and The Queen's Gambit.

Television connects individuals and creates communities. By talking to different students about TV shows they enjoy, we can better understand the Earl Haig community and its culture.