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Joel Katz

Cutting Cable, Saving Money and Streaming Without a Smart TV Made Simple

Author Joel Katz
Close-up of coaxial cable and plug for cable television

Many friends of ours are cutting their cable. If you’re not familiar, it’s when customers of traditional cable companies cancel their service and opt for a less expensive streaming service.

There are many streaming services to choose from such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV. These have similar channels and features and save a significant amount of money each month.

Save Big Bucks Cutting the Cable

We are hanging in there with our cable, but I think about it often because of the possible savings. Friends of ours just got my cutting-the-cable thoughts flowing again when they made the switch to YouTube TV.

This isn’t an endorsement for YouTube TV, however, I can tell you what they’re saving. Like us, they have Netflix, Hulu (not live TV), Disney Plus, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. I know what you’re thinking, that’s a lot right there, but every time we cancel one because we think we don’t want it, there’s a show that brings us back. Anyway, all of those streaming services are not included in their astronomical cable bill each month. So, canceling any of them will also save money.

They told me they were paying almost $320 a month for their cable, internet, and landline phone. After eliminating the cable and landline, and adding the streaming service, their monthly total dropped to less than $200 a month.

Do You Need a Smart TV to Use a Streaming Service?

Our friends told us that they had been thinking about cutting the cable for a long time, but thought they would have had to replace two of their TVs that aren’t smart. They were wrong.

A quick Google search will reveal how easy it is to inexpensively purchase and install an external streaming device like Amazon Firestick, Roku TV, or any other brand you choose.

A Roku player, for example, includes several channels and features of its own, and it turns your Non-Smart TV into a Smart TV with a home screen that works similarly. You can also stream from your laptop or phone.

Installing an External Streaming Device

To install an external streaming device, you plug it into the HDMI jack of your TV and follow the prompts to connect it to your internet. It’s quite simple from there.

What are the Drawbacks of Cutting Cable?

It seems like the only significant negative issue is a brief learning curve. It’s probably not any more difficult than what you’re using now, it just may work a little differently. For example, navigating the channel guide may differ, but it’s something you’ll get used to after a couple of uses.

Another issue may be that the streaming service may not offer all of the channels that you like to watch. It’s best to compare what you have now and what you’ll be getting. You can do a side-by-side comparison with a quick Google search.

There is also the option of listing all of the channels you like to watch and see if they’re included with the streaming service you’re considering. Maybe the streaming service doesn’t offer the local sports channel or a particular movie channel you watch often. From there you can research how much it would cost to subscribe directly. It may cost a little more, but you’re still saving a significant amount of money.

You could also consider getting something like YouTube TV on a trial basis and try it for a month without cutting your cable yet. If you like it, you can cut the cable and switch over entirely.

As I said, our friends are saving over a hundred dollars a month, you’ll need to do some simple math to determine what your savings would be to see if you think it’s worth it.

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

 

Are These The Worst Episodes Of Popular TV Shows?

Are these the worst episodes of popular TV shows? It’s hard to identify the worst of the best, but I think we were able to pull it off.

Even the best TV shows had some episodes that were duds. Maybe they tried too hard, maybe the jokes all fell flat, or maybe they jumped the shark–literally. These are all incredibly popular shows that we’re still streaming today, but for some reason, I feel like I have to skip past certain episodes that just aren’t up to par with the rest of the series. Do you have that with some of your favorite shows?

Are These The Worst Episodes Of Popular TV Shows?

Finding the worst episodes of your favorite shows isn’t as hard as you might think. Sure, you love the show and might even say you love all the episodes. However, let’s be honest, episodes aren’t your children. You’re allowed to have favorites and ones you ignore. Please, don’t do that with your children, though.

You might think it’s hard to identify but when you think about it, it should come right to your mind. Certainly, there’s an episode you pass over during your binges. It might be the sad episode that makes you cry. It might have a celebrity guest you can’t stand. Or maybe it’s just a bad episode. It happens! You can’t get gold every time. I think it’s fine for an episode to let you down every now and then, as long as it’s not an entire season. That would start affecting the quality of the show overall.

I decided to examine what I determined to be the worst episode of popular TV shows to see what I could find. First, I had to pick shows that we all can agree are considered “popular.” I didn’t want to focus on my favorite shows if the greater majority doesn’t watch the show. Instead, by focusing on shows that are objectively popular, it increases the chances that we’re all familiar with the episodes in question.

So, after mulling many shows to include in the list, I finally landed on five shows to examine. However, it wasn’t easy. I’m sure someone will argue that there were better shows to include, and I welcome any and all opinions. You can provide your least favorite episodes of popular shows (even ones not included here) with us! In the end, the five shows I opted to include on the list are Seinfeld, South Park, The Office, Friends, and Family Guy. Instead of going with a Rating from another publication or source, I did the work myself. These are all the worst episodes of popular TV shows according to me. So, if you have an issue, you know who to find: @CortFreeman. Do these episodes bother you as much as they bother me?

What Are The Worst Episodes Of Popular TV Shows?

  • Seinfeld (Season 9 Episode 20 "The Puerto Rican Day")

    https://youtu.be/FGz4hxxK1e8?si=0dDZJfyMxaEkaHF7 You might have been expecting the Seinfeld Finale to be included on the list, but you’d be wrong! Actually, I don’t have a problem with the final episode of the sitcom, as many others do. In fact, I enjoy it! I think it’s cool how they brought all those characters back from previous episodes. Which is strange because as you’ll see later, I don’t think it worked with a different show. Yes, I liked the Seinfeld finale! What I didn’t like? “The Puerto Rican Day” episode. It just felt…incomplete. It felt rushed and like a different show. I thought it was lazy and felt like they were just rushing towards the end. It’s a much worse episode than the finale!

  • South Park (Season 3 Episode 4 "Jakovasaurs")

    https://youtu.be/GjBKyYptDDs?si=go7yrkhg_-A5MKg- I love South Park and I never like talking badly about the show. In fact, the fine folks at Comedy Central once called me a “South Park Superfan,” and I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not. The one episode I will allow myself to talk poorly about is “Jakovasaurs.” Man, that thing is annoying! I get that in cartoons characters can often be over the top, but it’s too much. I can’t stand watching it. The character immediately gets on my nerves. It’s the one episode I will skip past every single time. I can’t.

  • The Office (Season 6 Episode 14 "The Banker")

    https://youtu.be/XhYshvR4hKY?si=kyEMjcp-Nb2LSMNZ There are few shows that I binge the way I binge The Office. Finish the final episode, and then I start all over again from the very beginning. It’s a never ending cycle. You’d think one of the worst episodes of the show would have been in Season 8 or 9 where Michael Scott wasn’t around but I disagree. With those episodes, there’s a different expectation. It was almost like a different show at that point, so I can’t compare those episodes to those seen in Seasons 1-7. The one episode I skip every time? “The Banker.” It ends up being a recap episode, although they tried to inject some new things into it. It’s emotional, sure. Maybe that’s part of why I don’t like it. But while you’re binging a show you don’t need a recap like that. You just saw it all a few hours ago! It might have worked when the show was airing weekly, but on streaming it just doesn’t land. Totally skippable.

  • Friends (Season 7 Episode 19 "The One with Ross and Monica's Cousin")

    https://youtu.be/88YofpXRUDU?si=6GBIsJGWU-wLOwxx People will often debate what the worst episode of Friends is. You can Google it and every source will give a different example. I respect that. However, if I have to name one then I have no choice but to name “The One With Ross And Monica’s Cousin.” There are several episodes of Friends that aren’t funny. There are a few that are annoying. However, there’s only one where Ross tries to get with his cousin? What? Is this Game Of Thrones, or something? Make it make sense! Is this relatable to some people? It has to be the worst episode of the popular show.

  • Family Guy (Season 12 Episode 2 "Vestigial Peter")

    https://youtu.be/-po-5wH4sxk?si=X459jKwzm2xSN1xJ Love me some Peter Griffin. What I don’t love? Vestigial Peter. Just like the South Park episode we discussed earlier, this character at the center of the episode is beyond annoying. I think that might be part of the point. If so, they succeeded. However, maybe they should have pulled back on the level of annoyance just a little bit. I can’t watch the little guy. He’s too much. There are some offensive episodes of Family Guy, but this is so much worse.

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