Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:27:00
Steal This TV Show
Get downloading! She said it’s cool.
The broadcast TV networks were in a dither over the discovery last week that their hotly sought-after fall pilots had leaked online months before they were scheduled to air. But when the first four episodes of the third season of Showtime’s “Weeds” showed up on illegal download sites cheek by jowl with episodes of NBC’s “Bionic Woman” and ABC’s upcoming “Cavemen,” the reaction from the cable network was a blas� “no comment.”
Surely “Weeds” creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan is upset?
Au contraire, mon dope fiend.
“Revenue aside, I don’t expect to get rich on ‘Weeds,’” she said, sounding downright jubilant. “I’m excited it’s out there. Showtime is great, but it does have a limited audience.”
It’s a good damn thing she’s cool with it. It’s the only way I get the show. I mean, I get Showtime, but there’s not enough tuners in the house to record frigging everything...so sometimes I download.
A lot.
I pay for Showtime, but choose to download and watch at my convenience. I’m sure I’m breaking a law somewhere, but in this case there really is no victim in my “crime.” They still get paid for the network, and I get to watch whenever I want. And this is why the current laws governing intellectual property are ridiculous, because my behavior with the show Weeds makes me a criminal.
Posted by JimK at 10:27 PM on August 07, 2007
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Categories: Television
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Comments:
#2 Posted by JimK 
on 08/08 at 01:53 AM -
See if this helps...I recommend uTorrent as the download client. Fast, light memory usage...very good program.
#3 Posted by Drumwaster on 08/08 at 11:41 AM -
I use uTorrent myself.
Just remember to set the “seed ratio” at not less than 100% (150% would be better), so you are “paying your way”, rather than just leeching. Many torrent sites will ban you for hit-and-run behavior.
I also have all of the programs you listed above, except for “Caveman”.
Sorry, but when has a advertising gimmick gone on to any kind of actual sit-com plot material?
I think using the gecko would be funnier.
#4 Posted by Christian on 08/08 at 03:08 PM -
Thanks for the help. I got it started, and actually got some stuff to download.
The disturbing thing was that listed under pics on mininova.com was “500+lol cats”. Isn’t that a sign of the apocylypse?
#5 Posted by Buzzion on 08/08 at 11:42 PM -
I also have all of the programs you listed above, except for “Caveman”.
Sorry, but when has a advertising gimmick gone on to any kind of actual sit-com plot material?
Supposedly the tv series with a talking baby was based on an advertisement. Although I don’t think it even made it a full season.
I think some folgers coffee commercial generated a movie or tv series, not necessarily a sitcom though.
#7 Posted by Drumwaster on 08/09 at 02:30 AM -
Although I don’t think it even made it a full season.
Which pretty much proves my point, wouldn’t you agree?
#8 Posted by Technomad on 08/09 at 12:00 PM -
Since I’m stuck with a dialup connection (location and finances) for the foreseeable, this matters not to me. I’d rather buy shows on DVD, a season at a time, anyway.
#9 Posted by Drumwaster on 08/09 at 01:17 PM -
That only really works when the show is actually released on DVD. My wife has been after me for I can’t remember how long for any available episodes of “Ally McBeal”. (Don’t ask.) Unfortunately, despite the show’s popularity when it was on the air, I have only found one DVD with eight selected episodes.
So far, nothing else.
#10 Posted by Buzzion on 08/09 at 04:16 PM -
did mcbeal utilize a lot of actual songs in its show? Supposedly that’s a hinderance to shows made before dvd’s were created. The television show obtained the rights to play the song on tv, but in order to do it on dvd they need to get authorization again. Its something that will keep “WKRP from Cincinnatti” from going to dvd. TV shows now are likely planning for this circumstance.
#11 Posted by Drumwaster on 08/09 at 04:43 PM -
did mcbeal utilize a lot of actual songs in its show?
Usually by artists who appeared on the show as themselves - Vonda Shephard, Al Green, Barry White, Sting, Tina Turner, etc. As such, those performances are part of the creative process of the show. For all of the background music, they would have worked out some kind of deal for broadcast and (eventual) syndication or used something else. Surely someone might have figured out that it would have been recorded for transfer to other media for future distribution?
As it is, though, I stand a better chance of getting a Charlie Chaplin movie on DVD.
Its something that will keep “WKRP from Cincinnatti” from going to dvd.
But I already have all of those episodes. (My personal favorite is this one.)
#12 Posted by JimK on 08/09 at 04:48 PM -
Drum, I have all the Ally shows...Donna’s a HUGE fan.
They’re in mixed formats, but all of them play on our DivX-capable portable DVD player...you want? I could burn you a set.
#13 Posted by Drumwaster on 08/09 at 05:28 PM -
Really? COOL.......
Da Missus would lurve them.
#14 Posted by Buzzion on 08/09 at 06:36 PM -
As such, those performances are part of the creative process of the show. For all of the background music, they would have worked out some kind of deal for broadcast and (eventual) syndication or used something else.
Ah but syndication still keeps it within the same medium i.e. television. DVD’s are a completely different medium. And really before then there weren’t many instance I can think of entire tv series being released to vhs. And I am thinking actual legitimate songs and not the basic background music.
Surely someone might have figured out that it would have been recorded for transfer to other media for future distribution?
Yeah and surely someone 70 years ago would have thoug figured to put wheels on luggage. Common sense ideas today weren’t in the past.
#15 Posted by Janna on 08/12 at 06:31 PM -
Drum, I have all the Ally shows...Donna’s a HUGE fan.
They’re in mixed formats, but all of them play on our DivX-capable portable DVD player...you want? I could burn you a set.
Ok, I know I am no Drum, but I loved that show too. Can you maybe burn me a set? Well...wait...do I have to have a portable to play them on or will they play on my VCR/DVD combo?? If they will then burn me a set, if not nevermind ;-)
#16 Posted by Janna on 08/12 at 06:33 PM -
Jim...another techno question for you and slightly OT I appologize in advance.
Speaking of my VCR/DVD combo player...it uses the same cables for in/out jacks yet have the weirdest issue. When I switch to the VCR side (yes I still have a ton of VHS tapes) I get no sound. When on the DVD side, sound galore...any guesses as to what may be the issue and how to fix? Again they use the same in/out cord so I dunno what could cause the problem.
#17 Posted by JimK on 08/12 at 09:42 PM -
Janna: only thing I can think of is that the internal switch is shorted out for the VHS side.
At this point I think you can buy a new VCR for about eight bucks, so it might be time to replace that thang if you still have a lot of tapes.
As for burning you some Allys...you would have to watch them on the computer, unless your DVD player accepts DivX files. Most don’t. If you still want them I’d be glad to do it!
#18 Posted by Janna on 08/13 at 12:20 PM -
The thing that irks me is I got this player for Christmas so it’s not even a year old yet. *sigh* oh well.
As for the Ally’s, yes please I would still like copies. I didn’t even think about playing them on my computer. Thank you Jim.
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I fell like such an internet noob, but I cannot get bittorrent to work for me. I may just be retarded or something. Is there a primer someplace than can help with this, or can someone give me some tips?
Retarded Christian