Gossip Girl Doesn’t DO Television Appointments

We’ve all heard the clichés about the “wired generation”: that we don’t talk—we text; that we would rather troll MySpace or watch online videos than plop down on the couch to catch prime-time tv; that we can’t make a single life decision without first checking the blogs. As I sit here at my desk with my Google Reader open, my AIM on and an eye on my cell waiting for a text while posting on this blog, I cannot fight these accusations. Our ‘Three’s Company’ Baby Boomer parents and ‘Reality Bites’ Gen X siblings have it right when they comment on our crazy online behavior, and Jessica Shaw particularly gets it right over at EW.com. She suggests that although a show like Gossip Girl may not be getting the best ratings (a cringe-worthy 2.5 million views), the network should take into account that GG is the number one downloaded show on iTunes. Could this be a sign that the show is actually be getting a crapload of ratings that aren’t being measured by old school methods? Duh. She says:

Maybe because those numbers aren’t telling the whole story. The generation watching Gossip Girl doesn’t do appointment television. They are masters at using the latest technology to watch TV when and how they want.

So, if there are any networks out there who still aren’t hip to the fact that the 18-34 demographic is watching The Office online at places like Fancast, then they may as well rehire Johnny, bring back the Brady Bunch Hour and call Nixon back into office. We don’t do appointment television, and you better learn to deal with it. Don’t fret about it, you know you love us. XOXO