Be Quiet, I'm Aldaposting

I've decided that every tumblr I follow will inevitably become a MASH thirst blog. It's a slow inevitable rule of the universe, the way every tape left in a car becomes Queen's Greatest Hits. I can't tell if it's self-selecting or not. Clearly, the people I followed for Starsky & Hutch didn't have a chance (but also weird? same circle as 9-1-1) and I suppose Man From UNCLE isn't too huge of a leap. But I remember when Columbo was the blorbo of the internet and that was web-wide. Rian Johnson now has a TV show because of the Columbo renaissance.

Now, Columbo doesn't also have a self-driving seasons long ship that I now have too much knowledge of. Beejhawk is both an incredible name for pairing of BJ Hunnicut and Hawkeye Pierce and also a word I never want to hear again because it makes my ear crawl. I've made a point to skim over these posts in my dash because I know one day I want to watch the show and I don't want the shippy moments spoiled ahead of time. But I also know about Klinger's dresses and all the bathrobes and I have watched the movie so I know the names of the characters. (In all honestly, I went looking for most posts as examples of stuff I have learned about the show and all I found was some whumpy fanart and photos of them Looking at each other.) It is a good 30% of my dash at any given time. And I selfishly ask myself, if Columbo and Hawkeye can be weirdo 70s blorbos, why can't Starsky? My blorbo is just as good. (And I know it will be Starsky and not Hutch because the bis always win.)

The reason I haven't watched MASH yet is because it's 11 seasons and the only show I watch consistently with that much content is Doctor Who. I started X-Files about seven years ago and I'm still somewhere in Season 3. I've considered adding it to my once-a-day lineup, after Peyton Place before Dark Shadows, or perhaps I will watch the 70s episodes of Emmerdale Farm before I dive into the 1100 episodes of Dark Shadows, and so have no idea where MASH could end up in my next....approximately 5 years of television watching? It will happen eventually, and I will watch two seasons incredibly quickly and then completely abandon it with the best of intentions to return, a la ER.

I've absorbed plenty of fandoms by osmosis, it seems the natural way that fandom works when you're rubbing elbows against other fans who have diverse interests as intense as yours. MASH has stood out to me, though, as a show that has particularly struck a chord that I can't hear. I have accepted that any new follow I'm investing in will increase the amount of show I see on a daily basis. It's become the default queer and political show for the queer and political people on my dash. A show that I'm looking forward to eventually watching but will now always feel behind on. I mean, why couldn't it be Cheers?

The Fanthropologist is a free weekly newsletter by film/TV scholar Lena Barkin. Paid subscribers get access to commenting and weekly discussion posts. If you'd like to support the newsletter please tell your friends, consider leaving a tip, or sign up for a subscription.