Taking the ‘Group Watch’ to a New Level
Posted on June 15th, 2013 in Entertainment, Social Media, Television with 0 Comments
I suspect that by now most folks on Twitter have experienced “group watching” a televised event. That is, sitting on your couch – in your jammies, or whatever – while exchanging reactions and snarky comments with thousands of others who are watching and tweeting about the same telecast at the same time.
This works particularly well with “event” television: the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, the season premiere or finale of a popular show.
But what if the event isn’t televised?
On Monday night, I – and apparently quite a lot of other folks – sought out a webcast of the Critics’ Choice Television Awards. I wanted to see if actress Tatiana Maslany – the gifted star of BBC America’s clone drama Orphan Black, on which she’s played seven characters so far – could possibly win for Best Actress in a Drama Series against the likes of Claire Danes, Vera Farmiga, Julianna Margulies, Elisabeth Moss and Keri Russell.
It was thanks to social media that I knew about the webcast at all. In the days leading up to the event, Facebook and Twitter accounts for Orphan Black encouraged people to watch the awards show by posting the date, time and web address.
Among others watching online and tweeting about it was Maslany’s co-star Jordan Gavaris: “Am sitting in my kitchen, nervously streaming the #CCTA’s, waiting for the best actress annc!”
Actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, who took home the CCTA award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, chimed in from the event itself: “Just got a hug from @tatianamaslany AND PI Mike from BREAKING BAD. So I’ve already won. C’mere, scotch.”
Even @BBCAmerica chimed in: (Star of #OrphanBlack & Best Actress nominee, Tatiana Maslany (looking smashing!). #CriticsChoiceAwards http://instagram.com/p/aZmouRSdRs/ “
Even I had to admit, though, that Maslany was a longshot – a Canadian actress in her first starring role on a brand new series from an obscure basic-cable network.
There were no commercial breaks online, but the awards show still dragged on. And, of course, the drama categories came last. Had I wasted a Monday evening? Then – somehow – the critics got it right.
“@tatianamaslany FOR THE WIN, BABY! So, so, proud of our girl for taking home the #CriticsChoice award for best actress in a drama series!” Gavaris tweeted.
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Tags: BBC America, Claire Danes, Critics' Choice Television Awards, Elisabeth Moss, Facebook, Jordan Gavaris, Julianna Margulies, Keri Russell, Orphan Black, Patton Oswalt, Twitter, Vera Farmiga
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