We live in an age of TiVo, an age of Hulu, an age of DVD box sets, an age of Torrents and streaming sites. You can watch almost any TV show and a whole lot of movies at any time you wish. So with that being said, what’s the point of reruns on in prime time during the summer?
I understand the historical implications; reruns were first used so that the people who make the shows could have a break for vacation, family time, creative summits, movie-making, drinking heavily, whatever. And with no way to record the shows themselves (this was before VCR, remember), viewers would tune in to see if it was an episode that they might have missed. But now that people can pull up episodes of The Big Bang Theory whenever they darn well please, it doesn’t seem as important.
The networks have noticed this, too. New shows that might not have gone through as new fall or spring series are given a chance in the hottest months. Cancelled series have their final episodes burned off, a treat for devoted fans of brilliant but axed series like Kings or Better Off Ted. The summer is no longer a season of pure repetition; it’s now a season of second-stringers and send-offs.
So reruns, which were once almost indispensable in catching up fans who might have missed an episode, are now more space filler than anything else. And given reality TV’s low costs, the back-burner bits of cancelled shows, new summer series, and the relatively easy set-up for a “news special,” paying for syndicated content seems like it might almost cost more, with lower returns.
In life, we claim that there are things that we need, and in work, there are people who are called essential. But much like reruns, their utility might be more situational and conditional than concrete. And many things which were once crucial to us have found that innovation and updating to stay current wind up diminishing their use and range of influence.
The sad truth is, almost anything can be replaced. New materials can be used. New software can be coded. Other people can be trained. A machine itself can be gutted and have completely new parts put in and will still run about the same, if not better. In fact, that might be the underlying message of a popular MTV show of yesteryear. Which is now in reruns.
Now, there is a way for someone to become a true linchpin, but it involves balancing operational utility with social utility. Being a good, productive worker who delivers results can only go so far; one must be personable and interesting, too. By maintaining good social connections, a positive reputation, and creating strong interpersonal networks, one can use nepotism as a tool to help ensure continued employment, contracts or friendship.
Unfortunately, TV shows can’t really talk to us (yet), so a rerun can’t remind you that maybe you missed the first three minutes of it when it premiered due to a longer than expected snack break. Or that it’s got a really good joke in it that you forgot and might want to tell at the office tomorrow. But it’s okay; that’s what a DVR is for.
