Research firm breaks down politics of TV: ‘This Old House’ vs. ‘The Daily Show’

Lisa de Moraes, Wash. Post TV columnist

Experian Simmons looked to see which programs indexed highest and lowest among conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats, for a survey of a full year ending last summer. The analysis does not include news, sports or music programming.

Liberal Democrats feel an overwhelming urge to laugh, Experian-Simmons concluded in the study, the results of which were given first to the Time Warner publication Entertainment Weekly.

But not bodily-function, Chuck Lorre-esque laughs. No, no — liberals are big fans of the more sophisticated comedy of ABC and, particularly, the too-hip-to-live comedies of NBC.

The list of top indexing shows popular among more left-leaning Democrats includes NBC’s “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “The Office.”

(...)

Anyway, conservative Republicans go crazy for cable: “Swamp Loggers” and such other Discovery shows as “Mythbusters,” Man vs. Wild” and “Auction Kings”; History’s “Swamp People,” “Top Shot,” “Only in America With Larry the Cable Guy” and “American Pickers”; and BBC America’s “Top Gear.” They also gravitate toward ABC’s “The Bachelor” and the “Dancing With the Stars” results show; NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”; and CBS’s “Hawaii Five-O” and “NCIS.”

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/research-firm-breaks-down-politics-of-tv-this-old-house-vs-the-daily-show/2011/12/06/gIQAQPSkaO_story.html

I'm pretty much and always have been a died in the wool liberal. But according to their results I shouldn't enjoy Mythbusters, Auction Kings, American pickers, or NCIS. And as much as I like a good laugh, I don't think I've ever watched a full episode of the shows listed. I'm much more comfortable wathcing Scy-Fy or TCM.

Several of the shows that lib dems are supposed to like I have never watched (and have no interest in) or have watched and dislike. Several of the shows I am supposed to hate I like. I enjoy "This Old House," "Antiques Road Show," "New Yankee Workshop" and "NCIS," which are "conservative shows," and I dislike "The Office" (it depresses me), “Masterpiece”, “Glee.” Or perhaps I really have the soul of an independent, since I have not yet seen a reality show that I can stand, nor do I like late night talk shows. I don't have cable, so I don't see many of the other shows.

polished shields setting fire to invading warships) ...

and I remember an episode of American Pickers where Mike was nervous as they pulled in to a place which seemed to be very "anti-government" (read: against Dem types).

I find MythBusters amusing, and if they made science class as entertaining as M.B., or even a tenth as interesting, you'd probably have more kids interested in being scientists. (btw, I find blowing things up fun, too!)

also, speaking for myself, i don't have cable and watch all of those "left-leaning" shows except cougar town and masterpiece theater, and watch none of the conservative shows listed many of which are on cable.

Of course i watch 90% of the tv i watch online while doing other things.