TV for Knitters

Ok, so I admit it, I watch a lot of TV My husband likes to watch TV so if I ever want to be in the same room with him, I have to watch what he’s watching.

But that’s just making excuses. I come from a long line of TV watchers, I think. I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit idly by and watch TV though. I have to be doing something else at the same time. That something else might be cross-stitching, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles.

Lately, though, it’s all knitting, all the time.

So I wanted to put together a Knitter’s Guide to Television. So what follows is my own personal guide to the best (5 needles) and worst (one needle) shows to watch while knitting. My criteria is based solely on how much visual commitment a given show requires to follow the plot. I have not really mastered the art of being able to knit without looking, so your own personal results may vary.

Please feel free to add your own reviews in the Comment sections.

1. Veronica Mars Four Needles Usually pretty easy to follow, and in my opinion, the best show on television. Intricate plots, yes, but each episode advances the overall plot only slightly, so if you pay attention to the Previouslys, you should be fine.

2. Survivor Three Needles Yes, an oldie but goodie. Pretty easy to watch while knitting, although I always take a break to watch the challenges, which is always my favorite part. Also have to pay attention to the vote reveals at the end, for those rare episodes when you can’t figure out who voted for whom.

3. The Office Three Needles Such an entertaining show, and fairly easy for a knitter to watch. Each episode contains several long, lingering looks that you miss if you’re not paying attention though, so having a DVR or TiVo is handy here.

4. America’s Next Top Model One Needle Pure candy here, and the lowest-rated show I watch. The most important aspects of the show are the challenges and the phot shoots. You just gotta watch the actual photo shoot, then pay attention to the end result, or else you won’t be able to say "What the hell is Tyra thinking?" Although this show has a low watchability rating for knitters, it is good for the ego. You can’t sit through an episode without thinking, "Well, she may be prettier than me, but at least I’m smarter!"

5. Lost Four Needles Lots of beach scenes, talking, flashbacks. Dedicated viewers have come to understand that the only thing you really need to see is the last two minutes of each episode.

6. American Idol Five Needles Very easy to watch while knitting, because, really, all you’re doing is listening. It is amazing though how much better some of them sound while watching, and vice versa.

7. The Amazing Race Four Needles Just requires some glancing-up to see a challenge. Such a great show, though, and knitters should forgive the occasional use of subtitles.

8. Grey’s Anatomy Three Needles It’s all about Meredith anyway, and her whiny voice-overs clue you in to the overall theme of each episode. Got to look up every once in a while to see cute George, and catch the long lingering looks between Meredith and Dr. McDreamy, although with the new level of hostility emerging between the two of them, those looks may be gone forever. Bonus: Meredith is knitting a sweater, but not very well, or realistically.

9. The Sopranos/Big Love Three Needles I think of these shows as a matched pair, just because they are on in succession. Lots of dialogue in both, which helps us out. Requires a periodic look up to see if someone’s getting whacked or someone’s getting exposed.

10. Real Time with Bill Maher Five Needles The best show for knitters. Liberal ones, anyway. Love this show for it’s comedic insights AND the fact that knitters can watch this mostly talk-filled show without dropping a stitch.

So please leave your own comments and thoughts on these and other TV shows. I’d love to hear them!