While free time is a luxury unknown to most Hopkins students, many will admit to setting aside an hour once a week for a particular television show. Be it the alluring weekly series The O.C .or the sitcom Scrubs, the popularity of such shows has created a culture at Hopkins surrounding these cult shows.
A visit to http://www.the facebook.com will attest to the popularity of such shows.
By performing a search, you will quickly find that there exists a cleverly named Facebook group for virtually every sitcom ever written.
Moreover, these groups are extremely popular, many with member lists exceeding 100 people. O.C.: Obsessed Completely has around 265 members, Seinfeld has 162, Friend's Lovers has 117, and 24 has 106 members.
Everyone has his or her own personal favorite, so good luck trying to convince a friend that your show is better; however, the reason for watching these shows is generally the same. After all, who would say no to comic relief, a study break, social contact, an escape from reality and a weekly fix of high-octane drama?
After a stressful organic chemistry exam, a long practice or a lengthy stay at the library, a good laugh is always therapeutic.
"Watching Seinfeld, I am able to laugh off the homework with a little bit of old-fashioned escapism. Seinfeld is my other sarcastic best friend," said sophomore Maura Lillis.
For some, the need for comedy in an otherwise rigorous week feeds their cult show addiction.
Even the diligent student needs to close the books every so often, and for many, a comfy seat and an episode of Sex and the City or Alias is the ticket to paradise and instant self-gratification.
Others admit watching a particular show in order to escape reality of the real world and live the life of a sitcom princess. Let's be honest: Who wouldn't want to be Rachel Green from Friends?
Sophomore Elizabeth-Ann Moss admitted, "Lost takes viewers to another world, and lives out their wildest heroic fantasies."
There are also those students who admit to watching a certain show because of the company they are guaranteed. After all, if you are looking for something to do on a Sunday night, chances are good that there is a group of students somewhere watching Desperate Housewives. You might not exactly like the show, but for some, having a cult show addiction is an easy way to feel like you are part of something.
And then there are those that feed on the high drama that embodies most weekly television series. There are actually students that live week-to-week waiting for the revelation of who Ryan Atwood (The O.C.'s endearing yet rebellious teenager from Chino) will punch next, or which singer will survive the final cut of American Idol. If Hopkins gossip isn't enough to satify your craving for drama, try an episode of Laguna Beach.
"I watch My Super Sweet Sixteen more than I study for biology, because I live vicariously through the girls in the show. I wish there was that much drama in my life," said sophomore Stephanie Lapearl.
As is the case with any other cult group, rituals are often established to go along with the watching of these shows. While these rituals don't usually involve chanting or ceremonial sacrifices, they can be both random and unique. For some, it is the routine of watching a weekly show that engenders the establishment of certain rituals, and for others these customs simply add to the excitement of the episode.
"Seriously, I look forward to watching The O.C. every week because this is the time when I get to relax with my friends, revel in high drama, and we always have plenty of snacks around," said sophomore Maggie Stevens.
While there is no norm for these weekly rituals that many students follow, some rituals include having a special, exclusive group of friends with whom you watch the show, pig out on pizza or Chinese food, or play a show related drinking game (try drinking every time Kirsten Cohen appears holding a glass of wine or Marissa Cooper wears a short skirt and you might not remember the episode!).
Theme parties are also popular cult traditions. Sex and the City parties usually involve a classy evening filled with cosmos and your favorite girlfriends, while an O.C. theme party may involve beach attire, short skirts, and plenty of Malibu.
Before concluding that Hopkins students are anomalous for so closely following the twists and turns of weekly sitcoms, consider the success of summer blockbusters such as The Dukes of Hazzard and Bewitched that are based on the plots of old television shows, and remember the popularity of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beverly Hills 90210 and the countless other sitcoms of your early childhood. Know that many other universities have similar Facebook groups made for a shared appreciation for certain television hits.
