Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and others such services have really changed the way I watch TV and movies, for better or worse. Instead of just renting a video of a movie I missed at the theatre, I can now just stream one. If I missed an episode of my favorite sitcom or drama – never fear, just stream it.

But the real revolution in my life has been the way these services have provided me with a treasure trove of “found” series. Yes, there are lots of series that I have missed over the years because they aired on inconvenient nights. Before the days of digital recordings, setting a VCR to catch a whole TV series was time-consuming, and if you missed an episode or two, the whole experience could be spoiled.

DVR’s are convenient, but even then, if your receiver has technical problems caused by weather or power-outages, you could miss a crucial piece of the puzzle. But with a video streaming service, all you miss are the commercials, and I think I can get over that.

I love hearing about friends watching a whole season of their favorite show in one weekend. My weekends are usually so packed with stuff I didn’t get done during the week, that marathons are not often an option. Nevertheless, I do look forward to snuggling with my hubby and sneaking in a few episodes of Alias whenever possible.

Alias is my new obsession. I’m not sure how I didn’t see it first-run. Spies, romance, tech-geeks, shoes, world-travel, things exploding—it has all my favorite ingredients.

I just read a Facebook or twitter post by Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, wondering about how she missed Magnum PI in the ‘80’s. I loved it! With streaming video she now has the opportunity to see the young and handsome Tom Selleck in short-shorts and tube socks.

With streaming services, I’ve been able to introduce my kids to Quantum Leap, which has allowed them to appreciate a whole bunch of “inside” jokes on shows like Chuck and movies like Source Code. (Thank you, Scott Bakula.)

It’s also a terrific way to enjoy movie serials when marathon opportunities do come up. Not only can I cram all of the Star Wars or Lord of the Rings films into a weekend, but I can also re-watch movies like The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games to prepare for the new Jack Ryan flick. In the fall I can string all the classic creature-features together, and if I want to fill a day with martinis and witty banter, I can indulge in back-to-back Thin Man films. 

Do you have a movie or TV series that you have “discovered” via your favorite streaming service? Let me know what it is. After all, every series comes to an end at some point, and we all need something to fill that little hole.

That’s a wrap for this Toast to Cinema. Thanks for reading.