The Crier

Wow. It Really is Comcastic.

Life was hard for the nocturnal T.V. lover. And then there was On Demand

Jacob Jeremy Nathan · Amused · Feb 05, 2007

For most of reasonable society, the hours between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. are occupied by sleep. Unfortunately, the cable companies have noticed this, leaving sparse offerings for the caffeinated and restless college student.

On Demand emerged a few years ago to uproarious fanfare. But for many, the honeymoon is over. Scrolling through long lists of mediocre programming is more frustrating than channel surfing and often leaves you with the same disappointing conviction: there’s just nothing on.

There are, however, options that don’t mean getting off your dingy second-hand couch. Obscure nooks and little-known crannies of On Demand offer some fantastic entertainment; old standards provide hidden gems.

And with On Demand, you can watch the same things more than once. While this may not seem too exciting, there are a host of shows and movies that welcome and reward multiple viewings.

If you have the premium package, the world is truly your coaxial oyster.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say there’s always something to watch. Sometimes the most obvious choices get skipped over. In the “Free Movie” list, 3:10 to Yuma is near the top. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe are working on a remake, but the original is entertaining in its own right. Something of a cult classic, this gritty 1957 western is one of Elmore Leonard’s first filmed stories. Yuma brims with the same calloused and acerbic wit that permeates modern standards like Soderbergh’s Out of Sight and Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.

If you have the premium package, the world is truly your coaxial oyster. Encore, for instance, offers a tremendous number of movies. Though many of the films are packed with big-name low-talent actors, there are a few that deserve your time.

Though Robert Zemeckis’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit is less of a technical marvel than it was in 1988 (Thanks, Pixar), it remains a surprisingly edgy romp through sixty years of animation’s history. I’m no cartoon fanatic, but I find something truly inspiring in the pairing of Donald and Daffy Duck in a piano duel.

If you want something to really sink your teeth into, look no further than episodic television. The opportunity to observe characters and plots as they develop over long periods of time generates a level of personal involvement few films have attained. There’s a reason HBO has become synonymous with quality programming.

Rome might be the most rewatchable show in the history of man.

Though it hasn’t been as well received as its Mafia and Hollywood counterparts, Rome is a sober and chilling glimpse into the excesses of one of history’s most interesting cities and cultures. Rome’s production values are unparalleled, but the otherworldly performances of its cast are what make it truly compelling. There may not be many names or faces you’ll recognize, but that’s part of the charm.

This season, look out for James Purefoy’s Mark Antony. He wasn’t given much to do last season besides walk around and look pissed off, but this season he’s already emerged as the powerful and commanding consul we knew and hoped he would be.

Rome might be the most rewatchable show in the history of man. Each episode is so layered and textured with subtleties of language and meaning that multiple viewings aren’t just entertaining; they’re necessary. Rome is my fallback. When I’ve exhausted everything else, I flip to a random episode. Trust me, it doesn’t matter which one.

It’d be a mistake not to mention the other sections available for your perusal, namely the Local PBS affiliate and the Discovery section. But at 3:00 a.m., you just need to see some Gauls get beheaded.