There are some admissions this Grandma can make in this blog that she would never admit out loud. This Grandma can remember coming home from school, turning on the black and white tiny television in the living room, and watching the circular test pattern on the screen until Howdy Doody came on. Television was a treat, and not always available when we wanted it. It was a treasured treat, and we did not care about the quality of the treat, we just craved more quantity.
It is hard to believe that 2015 is half over, yet, I can, in a blink of an eye, fast forward more than half a century, to twenty four hour a day television programming on more stations than I can count. Yet, none, other than HGTV stations have held this Grandma’s interest for more than a fleeting glance of a show here or there. After all, we Boomer Grandmas have lots to do in our lives with multi generations commanding our attention, working later in our lives and more active. We are not the puppies wagging our tails at a blank screen. We have enough experience and years to be selective. We want quality programming that shows respect for our experience and selectivity.
Now, it seems, everyone wants to develop programming for us. Even Amazon is getting into the business. We Boomer grandmas are relevant again!
Netflix has become this Grandma’s favorite television station, but that shows my long years in calling it a television station. According to Wikipedia, “Netflix, Inc. is an American provider of on-demand Internet streaming media.” This Grandma had to look up what this means. I found out Netflix has been around since 1997 and “on-demand” began in 2005. I found out that “streaming media” has been around since the 1930’s with its first use being elevator music. I know elevator music. Netflix now has more than 60 million subscribers globally. I relate. I also now relate to “binge watching’ which goes along with this streaming thing. We, who once watched television test patterns, can now keep going from one episode to another without delay. What a new wonderful world!
This Grandma loves “House of Cards” and must admit semi -binge watching (more than one episode at a time) has reached this household for that show. When a new show, “Grace and Frankie,” was advertised and promoted, I was intrigued by the comedic combination of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, surprised that they are 76 and 74 years old. Jane Fonda is my idol. She knows who she is. She embraces the present and does not apologize for her past. She is the sum total of a life well lived and lives life to its fullest. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are friends, and it shows in the intimacy of the relationship. The male leads are perfect too. The show is perfect. . . . for Boomers. Netflix understands us.
The theme is timely, also, with their husbands, long time partners in business, now leaving them to be partners in life. The divorce rate among those in their 20s and 30s is declining, but the divorce rate of those over 50 is doubling from 25% to 50%. Gay marriage is now on the rise. The two issues together is a hit.
I read all the reviews and could not wait for the May 9 release.
To me, the first two shows were sad and poignant rather than funny. I guess the script had to set up the story line. The writing is wonderful, but the outstanding part is the reality of a stage of life that creeps up on us before we are ready to face the reality of the stage of life.
By episode five, Grandpa and I were laughing out loud.
This Grandma prides herself on learning Instagram, Twitter, Ipads, FaceTime and the like. However, the Smart TV is going to be the death of me, trying to binge watch on-demand Internet streaming media. This Grandma is mechanically challenged, and no matter how much I try, I rely upon Grandpa to watch Netflix. There are too many times the internet connection is lost, too many times the internet connection does not connect, and too many steps and too many remote controls and too many passwords for this brain to master, no matter how many times I try. There are too many times I have thought I turned off Netflix, after Grandpa has fallen asleep before me, to wake up and find the television on in the middle of the night. I have told Grandpa I must die before him or I will never be able to watch Netflix again. I now have a favorite show that depends on the good health of my partner to be able to enjoy. I surely hope some tech wiz reads this and develops something for us Boomer Grandmas to survive the new age of what we still call television but has exploded into new vocabulary words we have to look up.
Remember what Immersion Active says about online Habits of Adults 50+: “Stats & Facts: Size, Wealth and Spending of baby boomers, 50+ Consumers: There is no doubt that adults 50+ will continue to be the most powerful consumers in the marketplace. The last of the baby boomers turned 50 in 2014 and there are currently over 100 million adults in the United States over the age of 50. With Gen X coming into the mix, the size, wealth and spending of mature consumers changes the landscape of the digital world we live in. . . . Baby boomers are the Web’s largest constituency, making up more than 30 percent of the United States’ 200 million+ internet users. Older adults are willing to spend their money online and are quickly adapting to mobile.”
Immersion Active says “over half of boomers and seniors watch online video (Google/Ipsos, 2013).” Now, someone, somewhere, please make it easier for Grandmas to do it ourselves!
Joy,
Mema
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