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Clovis Today
By the People, for the People
Opinion: Communal TV Created Space for Family Bonding
Columnist reflects on how weekly TV viewing brought families together in the past
Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:00am
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The author laments the loss of the communal TV viewing experience, where families would gather weekly to watch the same shows together and discuss them afterwards. She reminisces about the shared anticipation and reactions she experienced watching shows like "Friends" and "ER" with friends, and how the weekly format created space for people to absorb the content at the same pace and talk about its meaning. The author finds that a new hospital drama, "The Pitt", has rekindled that sense of shared viewing and family bonding.
Why it matters
The column touches on how the shift to on-demand streaming has changed the cultural experience of television, with shows no longer being "must-see" events that bring people together. It suggests that the weekly format of some shows can still foster a sense of community and shared experience that many miss from the pre-streaming era.
The details
The author describes how her family now gathers weekly to watch the hospital drama "The Pitt", discussing the ethical dilemmas and character arcs as they unfold. She also reflects on revisiting the show "ER" from her youth, noting how the aging of the characters and actors has changed her perspective on the show. The author argues that the weekly release of shows creates anticipation and space for discussion that was lost with the rise of binge-watching on streaming platforms.
- The author's family now watches "The Pitt" together on Thursday nights.
- The author has been catching up on "ER" over the last few months.
The players
Cassie McClure
The author of the opinion piece, a 2002 graduate of Clovis High School who now lives in Las Cruces and serves on the City Council.
John Carter
A character from the TV show "ER" who the author remembers as seeming adult when she was younger, but now appears as a "flat-out baby" at the start of the series.
Dr. Robinavitch
The lead physician character in the TV show "The Pitt", who the author says carries more gravity due to the aging of the actor Noah Wylie, who previously played the character of John Carter on "ER".
What they’re saying
“Watching it now is a strange experience as aging has had me rearranging my memories of the past. The character of John Carter once seemed adult to me, even though he was supposed to be the young doctor learning the ropes.”
— Cassie McClure
“Watching now, Carter is a flat-out baby at the start of the series, transforming slowly into caring competence, picking up the ropes from those who drop them, die (RIP Dr. Greene), or have a tussle with a helicopter.”
— Cassie McClure
The takeaway
The column highlights how the shared experience of weekly TV viewing created a sense of community and family bonding that has been lost in the era of on-demand streaming. It suggests that the weekly format of some shows can still foster that shared experience and anticipation, providing a valuable counterpoint to the endless choices and individual viewing habits enabled by streaming platforms.
