I'm obsessive. No, not in the clinical obsessive-compulsive sense. Rather, when I find a form of entertainment that I enjoy, I tend to glom everything I can find about it. If I discover a song I love, I play it over and over and over until I finally tire of it and have to give it a break. This happened earlier this summer when I played my Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks every day, multiple times. I would relive favorite movie moments when certain songs played, even when certain sections of those songs played.
When I fall in love with a new TV series, particularly if it's one that is now over but that I missed, I get a bit obsessive about catching up on the episodes. For instance, I'd heard writers talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer for years but I'd never watched it. Then in the summer of 2006, I was bummed about my own writing, uninspired, and got sick on top of that. I decided to borrow the first season DVDs of Buffy from a friend, thinking I'd watch one here and there. Uh, no. I flew through that season, and had to get seasons 2-4 from her. I kid you not, I was watching eight episodes a day. When I exhausted the seasons she owned, I went out and bought the ones still left. In about six weeks, I watched all seven seasons of Buffy, all five of the spin-off Angel, and the first season of Supernatural, another show I'd missed (thought luckily only the first season) but now love.
A few months ago, I fell into the same pattern with Smallville. I watched the first five seasons as fast as Netflix would send me the DVDs. I get so hooked on shows and have to keep watching mainly because there's a love story involved, and I just HAVE to know how it ends up. (I still say Buffy and Angel are going to get together at some point.) I've just started this same thing with a Canadian show from the 1990s called Road to Avonlea. Through the wonders of YouTube (yet another of my obsessions), I know there's a wonderful love story between the characters of Gus Pike and Felicity King and I can't wait to see it unfold.
On YouTube, I love the fan-made videos about certain TV or movie couples. The ones I've been watching lately are for Gus and Felicity as well as some for Padme and Anakin from the newest Star Wars trilogy. Earlier in the summer, my passion was for the videos about Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
There are, of course, certain books that make me keep reading past the point I should be going to sleep and when I should be working. J.R. Ward's books are like that for me.The thing is, I believe all of these things inspire my writing. I write romance and young adult novels with teen romance in them, so these shows, songs, and novels feed my muse as well as provide entertainment.
Do you have this same type of obsessive nature regarding things you love? If so, what things have you been obsessing about lately?
I'll close by sharing this YouTube video. I love the song, "Everything" by Lifehouse, and it's set to video clips of lots of wonderful romantic couples.
19 comments:
As I was watching the U-tube video, one of my new obsessions popped up. Danny from CSI:NY. For the past year, I've been watching the romance between him and Lindsey develope. Since I miss every other episode due to work, this has been hard on me. But something about those two is just plain "right". As much as I love Gary Sinese, it's Danny and Lindsey that has me trying to find reruns to miss the clips I've missed!
I've been intriqued - not complusively (grin), but intriqued by Smallville as well. Primarily, as it's often the best thing on late at night when I'm doing mindless work on the computer. I have a TV in my office, but no cable, so my choices are pretty limited - but I've been enjoying it.
I loved the youtube piece. My sound isn't working on this computer so I'll have to rewatch it (darn!) on my laptop. But watching it without sound is cool as well - you really get to focus on the faces and appreciate the talent of the actors/actresses. Some of those expressions really touch my heart. Loved it!
Well, besides my huge obsession with romance novels, I'm also obsessed with Law & Order: SVU. Never miss an episode. ;)
Well, my old dinosaur of a computer won't play video clips, so Aunty is left out of the YouTube craze. :-( Maybe someday (like when I SELL) I'll purchase a new machine, not that I need any more ways to waste my time NOT writing...
I don't watch much TV, never have. But one show I used to obsess over was "Lost." However, the second season was such a let-down after the first that I became disenchanted and only watched the third season sporadically.
When my son lived with me for three months a couple of years ago, he never missed an episode of "Law&Order" (in all its many variations) or "Veronica Mars" and we both liked the chemistry between Woody and Jordan in "Crossing Jordan."
AC
the almost "culturally deprived" LOL!
Best post ever Trish.
I LOVED the video. That's amazing. That string of poignant moments together under that song. Wow. What incredible acting. That level of craft in acting is what makes the characters so timeless--they're REAL to me and I fall so in love with them and their love stories. I only want to write that well--to make people feel in that way. (heavy sigh)
I do get compulsive. Mostly about learning new stuff. Whatever I'm "studying" at the moment--I eat, breathe and sleep it, dream about it and become completely absorbed by it until I sort of "run out of steam". It's how I studied photography, search & rescue, all the strange things I've done.
With a film I fall in love with, I'll watch it over and over so many time that I've absorbed every subtle nuance. Until I know DH is going "not this film again!" But he's nice enough, he never actually SAYS that.
I thought I was the only one!
Loved the U-Tube clip and the music that went with it was great. I am very obsessed with reading historical romance novels more than anything else and buying them too I have 115 books on my TBR pile and just about everytime I go to the shops I get at least 1 new book, I don't watch a lot of TV but love House SVU CSI and ER and Australian Idol as for music my CD collection is huge and varied depends on what I am doing as to what music I like to listen to, but I am more obsessed with reading than anything else. Great post Trish and thanks for the U-Tube loved it.
Have Fun
Helen
Wonderful post, Trish! I too get a bit obsessive when it comes to my favorite movies or TV shows *g* In the bad weather months, I watch DVDs while I'm on the treadmill. Knowing I can watch a wonderful love story is a great incentive for me to get off my rear :-)
Dancing with the Stars! Dear God in heaven, that is THE show.
I'm already starting to get restless waiting for the next season to start. I swear...swear to you that inside this nurse/writer 5'2" somewhat overweight woman is a perfect partner for Apollo Ohno....
(One, two... cha cha cha...three, four dunk, spin, whirl have a wardrobe malfunction...)
Suz, I've never really watched any of the CSIs (or Law & Order for that matter). There are just so many of them! But I do like Gary Sinese. Anyone remember him in the TV mini-series based on Stephen King's "The Stand"? He's the only thing I remember about it other than they played the song "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult in it.
Aunty Cindy, sorry you can't watch YouTube videos. They are so much fun. I was a big Veronica Mars fan too, but this past season was her last. :(
Cassondra, I love movies with good love stories. The combination of seeing the story happen before my eyes combined with appropriately emotional music is very touching.
Helen, I see your 115-book TBR and raise you about 800. Seriously, I have more than 900 books, the vast majority in the TBR. Scary!
LOL, Joan! I love Apollo. Loved him from the first time I saw him race two Olympics ago. He's talented, a cutie, and just darn cool.
Appollo skates too?
I firmly believe that he and his dance partner that adorable Julienne Hough should marry and procreate and produce a whole litter of little cutie pie kids who "skate around the dance floor"
Ok. Ok. I had a looooong day at work.
:-)
That was a really good video. It had a lot of great movies and tv shows in there. Thanks for sharing it.
Trish, great post. Yes, I'm an obsessive too. These things take over my life at the time. I remember the Brideshead Revisited obsession. And the Dorothy Dunnett obsession. And the Blake's Seven obsession. I could go on but for the sake of everyone's next hour, I won't!
LOVED the video. Thanks for posting it. Gave me a few lovely sigh-filled moments. Especially as it featured gorgeous RA, my current obsession (perhaps it's part of being a writer, this obsessing thing). What was the movie with Christian Bale in period costume? Not Little Women but earlier in the video. He was in a garden or a forest with the girl.
Great video, Trish. I, too, am compulsive in much the same way. The first musical I saw off-off-off Broadway was West Side Story. I bought the album (yes, vinyl!!!) and played it over and over and over until I'd memorized every word to every song, every dance number, and every sappy nuance!
I think that's one of the reasons I never got tired of teaching Shakespeare. I could enjoy the Bard's words over and over and . . . well, you get the idea.
Anna, the Christian Bale clip was from The New World. He played John Rolfe to Q'Orianka Kilcher's Pocahontas. I was so excited to see that movie because I love American history-set movies. Imagine my sadness when it absolutely stank out loud. And it takes a lot for me to say that about a movie. It was just dreadful and weird, though Christian looked verra nice in it.
Jo, I too had a West Side Story period in my life! Played the album over and over and knew all the words. We must sing 'Tonight' next time we're together! Actually, I had a Shelley obsession and a horse obsession (when a wee gal) and a Strictly Ballroom obsession. Oh, man, brings back memories.
Thanks for that, Trish. Sounds like I shouldn't look up the movie. Pity, CB was verra pretty indeed, as you so aptly put it.
Anna C, I adore 'Strictly Ballroom' and have it on DVD! I have watched it quite a few times, though not nearly as many as 'Moonstruck', which (as I'm sure I've said ad nauseum) is the most quotable movie ever. My husband definitely rolls his eyes.
Trish, I play whatever is my current fave CD over and over and over...Currently trying not to get totally burnt out on Belle and Sebastian's 'If You're Feeling Sinister', but I'm afraid I'm almost there. Though I still chair dance to 'Me And the Major', so not quite. *g*
As to TV shows, I only watch them on DVD, so I tend to have marathons when I get them from Netflix. Did that with 'Sex And the City'. Currently doing that with 'Dead Like Me'. Plan to do that with 'House' and 'The Office'. Such fun!!
Though, as Aunty C points out, it can wreak havoc on the butt-in-chair time!
You know I have the same obsessive nature ;) Right now, it's Smallville (Lex just intrigues the heck out of me, and Lana and Clark are just stunning) and Lori Handeland novels. Before, it was Gilmore Girls. It's ALWAYS Supernatural.
Gary Sinise in The Stand earned him a role in my second book, as the secondary romance hero ;)
Yes totally.
And then when the obsession fizzles out it's like some sort of horrible break-up.
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