Lost and 24 finales better when watched with DVR

Like millions of other viewers, I was glued to my TV on Sunday and Monday nights, watching the series finales of Lost and 24. And I got much more enjoyment from the experience because of my DVR.

Knowing that everyone would be talking, blogging, and writing about the shows the next day (actually within moments of the broadcasts), I didn't record the shows for time-shifting to watch at a more convenient time. I watched them live…sort of.

Rather than starting to watch each program the moment it came on, I waited about 45 minutes, then played them from the beginning. By doing so, I was able to fast-forward through the commercials (sorry, advertisers, but I'm not in your target demographic anyway) that are so annoying when you're mesmerized by the drama of it all. The uninterrupted flow greatly enhances the viewing experience and makes a TV program more like a movie.

And let's not forget the time I saved. The 2 1/2-hour finale of Lost contained about 45 minutes of commercials that I cut out, and the 2-hour 24 episode had at least 30 minutes of ads. Instead of suffering through sales pitches, I managed to read the newspaper and even pay a few bills.

I also hit the rewind button a few times so I could replay a particularly cryptic or revelatory scene—or simply to figure out what it was that one of the Jacks (Shephard or Bauer) had mumbled. And thank heavens for the Pause button, a lifesaver when I had to take an incoming phone call from a contractor who's been dodging me for weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I regularly record and time-shift programs using my DVR and love that functionality. But a DVR is invaluable even for sort-of-live viewing. I'm not thrilled about forking over $10 a month to the cable company for the privilege, but it's well worth it in my opinion. What about you? How do you use your DVR, or are you thinking of getting one?

(Tip: If you missed either episode, or simply want to see it again, click on the network links above to view full episodes online.)

—Eileen McCooey

https://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2009/05/im-in-love-with-my-dvr-.html