Tags
Grey's Anatomy, Grey's Anatomy Season 6 finale, Meredith Grey, One Tree Hill, Star World, Support group, Withdrawal symptoms
What do people do post dinner? No this is not a trick question or a naughty question but a very genuine query from the heart of a deeply troubled soul. The truly young and reckless go partying and pub hopping I believe. The not so young ones with young infants of their own, and those with teenaged brats – both spend sleepless nights albeit for different reasons. Then there are the elderly who prefer an early dinner to retire to bed early as well. Finally there are a few lucky ones like me whose children have outgrown the stage when they don’t allow you to have a schedule and are yet to reach the stage when you want to kick them out of the house – The age group between 5-10 years that you can bully into sleeping by 9.30-10pm. What do those people, more specifically those women, do once everything is wrapped up for the day?
For about 6 months, I had my evening-night schedule clearly worked out, at least for the weeknights – religiously followed the trials and tribulations of the surgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital. Come hell or high water, by 9.30pm the kitchen was wound up, my 7 year old forcibly tucked away and with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands I was ready to shut myself to the outside world and enter the fictional world of Grey’s Anatomy.
But one not so fine a day, suddenly everything changed. Okay it was not suddenly- Star World had been screaming about One Tree Hill replacing Grey’s Anatomy since almost a month. However when it actually happened, on the fateful night of 26th February, it did feel as if it had all happened suddenly. The next day I woke up in a world sans Grey’s Anatomy. By the time the weekend arrived, I seemed to be exhibiting what might be called withdrawal symptoms. Not having been addicted to anything that I had to give up (Chocolate is an addiction I’m determined to carry to my grave), I am not qualified enough to diagnose withdrawal symptoms. But if restlessness, irritability, a general sense of emptiness and a gnawing vacuum, an overpowering desire to lay your hands( in this case eyes) on what you have become accustomed to- if all these qualify as withdrawal symptoms, yes I am suffering from addiction of the severest kind- addiction to Grey’s Anatomy. Life without Grey’s Anatomy doesn’t seem worth living.
Why does Grey’s Anatomy exercise such a strong hold on me, I can neither understand nor explain. In one of my earlier posts I did try to unravel the Grey’s Anatomy phenomena but how deep rooted the malady was became clear only when Star World ditched me. I am aware of the many other options available – downloading it, buying the DVD set from Palika Bazaar or Nehru Place. What is stopping me is not the legality angle of it but the simple yet inexplicable charm of watching a series on TV. Watching all the episode back to back is not the same as watching 1 episode a night and waiting with bated breath for the next episode. Silly? Probably. And also crazy and downright ridiculous. But that is how it is with me.
As I try to introspect and find the reason why I miss Grey’s Anatomy, I’m reminded of what Meredith said in the season’s finale – “The hospital is my sanctuary”. Yes, that is what Grey’s Anatomy had become for me – a sanctuary, a haven, a safe refuge from the real world. As I would enter the fictional world of the Greys and Mc Dreamies and Mc Steamies every weeknight at 10 pm, my own life and its worries, no matter how big or how inconsequential, all would cease to exist. For that 1 hour every night, it was just me and Seattle Grace Hospital. Come 10 pm, armed with a mug of hot chocolate, my phone on silent mode, I would shut myself to the real outside world. The daily episodes gave me respite from my own life like clock work. Business of living can be quite a tiresome one at times. Grey’s Anatomy became my reward as it were for surviving each day. At the end of the day, there was something to look forward to. Escapist? Defeatist? May be. That, howsoever it may sound, is the truth. On a more profound level, Grey’s Anatomy gave me the much needed sense of perspective on my own life. What better way to appreciate life and all that you have than by seeing how suddenly all can be lost. There are no certitudes in life. How can you be sure that you will return home to make up with the spouse with whom you’ve fought bitterly that very morning? What on one hand became a convenient getaway, also at the same time became instrumental in helping me thank the Lord above for my life with all its trial and tribulations.
Grey’s Anatomy, however, did make me hate weekends. Now I hate 10 pm on weeknights as well. A 6-month-old habit is difficult to break. I still retire to bed by 10 in the night with a cup of hot chocolate. Only that there is no Grey’s Anatomy and out of sheer loyalty to, and as a mark of protest, I refuse to even lay my eyes on “One Tree Hill”. However if my symptoms persist and Star World doesn’t start airing Season 7, we may need a Support Group soon enough. Grey’s Anonymous perhaps? Do I already see a page request on Facebook?
vibhutib said:
I agree.. If i missed even 2 minutes i timed my lunch break such that i saw it at work the next day..!!
I miss it too..!! 😦
Tamanna said:
Yes Vibhuti…life seems quite empty these days doesn’t it ?
vibhutib said:
Yes.. But the bright side is that the guys in “One Tree Hill” are cute 😉
Actually even i did not watch it as a protest but i saw the re-runs yesterday and they seemed ok..
Tamanna said:
For your age I’m sure they are cute.For me its cradle snatching ! But what hell, shall do the honours ! Thx for the tip off…
Dhaakshu Rajashekar said:
well, this is what had been the schedule for me, i mean not the same but yeah complete all my work and sit in front of my TV to watch GREY’S ANATOMY
i was so overwelmed when i came to know it was the most watched show in india
happy to know there are people like me
can u believe me it changed my thought
i had told since childhood i would never become a doctor. anything but a doctor.
but now at 16, i want to give it a try
the show is responsible for it
tomorrow is my biology exam, which inturn reflects whether i can be a doctor or not
i have to say, i like TV shows so much coz they feel much better from the real world sometimes, but makes u cry
i too had a show which made me forget all bitter thing at school and other things, somtimes feeling like killing myself.
my only hope was to come and see that show at home
but then the directors destroyed it
i can understand ur pain
i loved GREY’S ANATOMY and i WILL love it
i know its hard to spend this time, but u will get to c it again.
but it will end. as good things always have an end
i can still watch it online 🙂
– another grey’s anatomy fan
Tamanna said:
Oh wow ! a 16 year old die hard fan !! I’m impressed. My 7 year old loved it too actually whenever he could catch the rerun in the evening or over the weekend. All the best buddy for your exam. I hope you make a great doctor and one day we have an equally impressive show based on your life 🙂
Dhaakshu Rajashekar said:
hey, thanks.
i used to c half in night then half at evening, but would not miss it
even saw the repeats
i hope so too 😀
Tamanna said:
How did your exam go?
Dhaakshu Rajashekar said:
very good, thanks for asking 😀
Aniket said:
Well, I’m not a DIE HARD fan of GA, I used to watch it just because of my ongoing research about what Indians like on their TV, and what we’re catered by the channels, while TRP’s of shows like GA, HIMYM, TBBT, PTTR are shooting, those of hindi saas-bahu crap are plummeting, if no one watches them, why even bother showing them??
P.S: No need of “Grey’s Anonymous”, that already seems a lot of work! 😛 Anyways,good news for you all is, Zee Cafe is airing Grey’s Anatomy, starting later this month!
So, cheers! 😀
Tamanna said:
Hey..that is good news indeed…Thx! Just hope the time is right. There is a point to which one can bully a 7year old..can’t put him to sleep at 8 pm ! Your research sounds really interesting. In fact long back I had written a piece on these saas bahu serials for The Tribune.That was just at the beginning of these K serials. Thereafter they almost became a rage…why I don’t understand. Would love to see the progress of your research…if its okay with you do share. All the best !
Aniket said:
Thanks for your wishes. I’ll surely share it on my blog. And About timings, don’t worry, Zee Cafe knows how to woo people back, they’ll attract you with the same timings probably!
And about your article in ‘The Tribune’ I didn’t know along with being a mum you were a journalist, good going! 🙂
I’m just a student of 12th Science (I know Science sounds tedious) but I’m into this research because of my optional subject Mass Media Studies (MMS), looking forward to more of your posts.
If and when you’re free, would you answer some of my questions regarding TV, given that you are a journalist along with a mom, so you know the ‘best of both worlds’ it would be helpful for my research.
Thank you.
Do visit my blog:
http://unsynchronized-ideas.blogspot.com
Aniket said:
Thanks! :))
I’ll surely share my research on my blog!
I left you a huge reply, but I think it just dissapeared! Anyway, If and when you’re free, would you like to answer some of my questions? I’ll email you the questions, you can mail me back the answers!
Do visit my blog!
Looking forward to a positive response.
Tamanna said:
Sure..shoot them across. Yes I will visit your blog asap..just running out or would have straight away. wonder where your reply went though
Aniket said:
Reply was not published because it was considered as spam by wordpress as it contained a link! -_-
Tamanna said:
Yeah saw it in the spam folder…it’s there on the page now. No, I’m not a journalist but just enjoy writing. Mail me your questions and we’ll take it from there…
Aniket said:
Anyway, I’d start off by telling something about myself, I’m a student of 12th Science (Yeah, it’s tedious) and I’m doing this research as a part of my subject Mass Media Studies.
Thanks! 🙂
Simran said:
hey Tamanna! 🙂
“In one of my earlier posts I did try to unravel the Grey’s Anatomy phenomena…” where is this earlier post of yours? I would love to read that too 😀
– Die-hard Greyian ❤
Tamanna said:
Hi Simran….the post is called “The Anatomy of Love-Grey’s Anatomy” (https://madwomanintheatticblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/the-anatomy-of-love-greys-anatomy/) . Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it ! Looking forward to a cheerful May with Grey’s Anatomy back on Zee Cafe!
Best !
vidhi sharma said:
Hey thank u so much for posting this, it’s a relief to know I’m not th only one with such an addiction to GA. I went through somewat thesame thing. I’m sure u too mst be rlly relievd now that it;s being shown now on Zcafe 🙂
Tamanna said:
I know!! There are so many like us out there.It’s quite a relief to know that you are not the only one in love with the “twisted sisters”. Yeah am glad it’s back on Zee Cafe..post on that coming up soon!
Aniket said:
I still fail to understand why ladies almost worship Meredith Grey! -_- :O
Tamanna said:
They do?? I don’t even like her much,forget worshiping! If I have to pick one woman, it would be the crazy Yang though it’s the entire ensemble that makes it click for me rather than any one character…
Simran said:
Hey, Tamanna,
“…post on that coming up soon!”
Comment here and let us know once you post about that ^ 😀
Tamanna said:
This one is for you specially Simran – https://madwomanintheatticblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/greys-back/
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