Stay Tuned: TV on Facebook

‎Stay Tuned: TV on Facebook‎

من ‎Annie Ta‎‏ 06 نوفمبر، 2009‏، الساعة 12:32 مساءً‏

The following is part of our series on different ways you can use Facebook to connect with public figures and organizations around the world. Read the previous blog post in this series here.

From reality television to prime-time dramas, I admit it, I can be a bit television-obsessed. I often find myself spending an evening after a long day's work catching up on my favorite television shows. Unfortunately, a busy schedule can prevent even the most devoted fan from catching key plot lines and dramatic twists. Luckily, I can keep up to date on my favorite shows with my friends on Facebook, so I never miss a beat.

Watching Online

Every September, there are a dozen new television shows that I want to check out, but I only have so much time to tune in each night. One of my favorite websites, Hulu, streams TV shows directly on its Facebook Page using the application Watch Now. This way, I can watch full episodes of the hottest fall shows whenever I want, including "House," one of my favorite medical dramas on Fox. My friends can see how far along I am in the current season of diagnostic mysteries when I share the episode to my Facebook profile.

I also am discovering funny clips that I've missed thanks to my friends. I first heard of the popular joke from NBC's workplace comedy "The Office" about a social networking site called "Book Face" because a colleague shared the Hulu clip on his profile.

Teasers

Sometimes the best part of my day is when one of my favorite shows posts a new teaser for an upcoming episode on their Facebook Page. "Gossip Girl," the CW drama about young Manhattan elites, airs on Monday nights and then posts video and photo previews for upcoming episodes on Tuesdays. The week of waiting to watch the next episode of gossip among Serena, Nate, Chuck and Blair is more bearable when I can see fashions from "Gossip Girl" shared directly on my home page in the meantime.

Wednesdays are equally interesting when the Fox musical comedy "Glee" posts clips from the night's upcoming episode paired with introductions from all of my favorite cast members. Sometimes the show even includes clips of its ever-popular musical numbers like this rendition of "Keep Holding On."

Then there are times when my friends share their favorite TV shows with me on Facebook. For instance, one friend posted that she had seen the future in the "FlashForward Experience." It piqued my curiosity, and when I visited the show's Facebook Page, I was directed to a Facebook Connect-enabled website where I was suddenly immersed in the ABC show's trailer. The site uses the viewer's Facebook photos to create an individualized video after that viewer grants permission . The trailer asks, "Where were you on September 24?" I am definitely looking forward to the answer when I tune into the new science-fiction series.

New Favorites

Although my television schedule is busy with old favorites, I always have room for a new show. Those can be the most surprising. Several of my friends became a fan of the Travel Channel's competitive eating show, "Man v. Food," through an ad they saw on Facebook with the challenge, "5 lb burger, 4 peppers, 25 min." This, I had to see for myself.

I've also seen friends become fans of the new ABC sitcom "Modern Family." The show highlights its "Favorite Modern Moments" in a photo album on its Facebook Page. I laughed out loud at this photo and immediately tuned in through the ABC.com link I found on Facebook.