You’ve probably experienced this before: you just finished watching one of the best episodes of television you’ve ever seen and desperately need to talk about it with another fan, but unlike Game of Thrones circa 2019, no one you know watches this particular show (despite your recommendations they do so). Consider starting a TV club if you’re looking for an immersive, interactive experience when discussing a favorite show with others.
What is a television club you ask? To be honest, it doesn’t actually exist . . . yet! (at least not according to our research), but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t. Much like book clubs are a way for people with similar literary tastes to gather to discuss books they’ve read, television clubs are a way for people with similar television tastes to gather to discuss shows they’ve watched. Although these clubs focus on different mediums of entertainment, both a TV and a book club involve the communal experience of organizing people to discuss the same cultural phenomenon on a regular basis. And by starting a television club on Meetup, you get a far more interactive, immersive experience than you would on forums like Discord, Reddit, or Twitter.
Now that you’re sold on the idea, you’re probably wondering “how?” Here are the steps you should take to start a television club:
1. Pick a television series
Consider whether you want your TV club to focus on a single show or a collection of shows set in the same universe, with similar themes, or from the same showrunner/creator. For instance, you could start a club just for the upcoming Marvel show Loki, or your club could focus on the entirety of the Marvel cinematic universe of television shows including WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, and beyond.
Would you rather do a rewatch of an older show? With dozens of streaming services, the possibilities for rewatches are endless! An HBOMax subscription would give your group access to classics such as The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire, and The Nanny. Those who prefer to stick with a more basic Netflix/Hulu subscription could do rewatches of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Gilmore Girls, The West Wing, or a Star Trek series.
2. Decide when to meet
Do you want to watch live as a group, allowing everyone to react in real-time to all the twists and turns? Or maybe you prefer to watch solo, but then jump into analysis and discussion immediately after the show airs? On the other hand, maybe you like to let your opinion marinate for a bit. You could instead meet in the days after it airs to discuss it with your group. Think about your own preferences and the preferences of those in the fandom to figure out the best fit. One of the best parts of being an organizer is that you have complete control over the group and can customize it to your own preferences.
3. Choose how often your television club should meet
It’s a bit easier to decide when and how often your TV club should meet if your show has a weekly release schedule, but what about shows released a season at a time or re-watching older shows with a near limitless reserve of episodes? In these instances, it’s important to weigh the time commitment required against a show’s bingeablitly to decide how many episodes will be discussed each meeting and how often you and your group need to meet. Set a schedule so your club members can plan ahead! Be sure to keep off-weeks and season breaks in mind as you plan your meetings.
4. Figure out how to format the event
There are so many different ways to format your events. If you meet directly after a show finishes airing, start the discussion by asking for initial reactions, surprising plot points, what worked, and what didn’t. If you want to get really in-depth, ask about major themes, character challenges, and how these might connect to the larger themes of the show. If you’re discussing the show a few days after it aired, be sure to recap major plot points as a refresher. You can even end by streaming the promo for the next episode and asking what everyone anticipates most.
Watching an older show or several episodes of a newly released show? Start by introducing the episodes being discussed, then bring in some of the topics suggested above, and end with a reminder of what episodes will be discussed at the next meeting. For older shows, probe ways in which the show does or does not hold up to modern scrutiny. Does your opinion of a show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer change knowing what we now know about Joss Whedon?
As the world continues to get back to some semblance of normal, now is the perfect time to start a television club! Not only does it provide a forum to discuss your favorite shows, but it’s also a great way to meet new people and build community around a shared interest. Connecting with your chosen fandom is as easy as starting a Meetup group. Not quite ready to organize yet? Try searching your favorite show to see if there are fans already gathering on Meetup.
Last modified on October 17, 2023
