When consuming television, we have certain viewing practices that we perform as a ritualistic accompaniment to our enjoyment of the show. These practices, such as where, how, who with and when we view shows, can differ from person to person, and each individual can change their viewing practices according to which show they are watching. Teen Wolf, a 2011 show aired on MTV, offers many examples of possible viewing practices and how they can increase a viewers enjoyment and engagement in a show. The show is a loose adaptation of the 1985 films of the same name, following Scott McCall post werewolf bite and showing how this affects him and the people around him. Currently in its fifth season, the show has many features which lend itself to an analysis of individual and group viewing practices.

The most basic of viewing practices, who, what, where when, how, can differ from person to person. Some like to view as part of a group similarly interested in the show, in order to share excitement and appreciation during the viewing. However personally I never watch the show with people, since my preference is for an absorbed and focussed watching, with no questions or talking during. This focus cannot be maintained by all viewers, and the presence of dual screens and distractions has been noted by many, with attempts made to cash in on it. MTV has recognised the presence that phones and other devices have in a viewing situation, and attempt to use these to connect more with their audience. The soundtrack for ‘Teen Wolf’ is accompanied by an information bar providing the name of the song, and climactic moments of the show have hashtags placed in the lower corners, such as in ‘Strange Frequencies’, when an attack on the character Stiles which destroyed his car, affectionately titled ‘Roscoe’ by the fans, was accompanied by the hashtag ‘#riproscoethejeep’ so that fans could engage with the show through Twitter. This level of interactivity can help keep focus on the show by using devices as a way to further engage with it, increasing the viewers interactions with the program and their enjoyment as they experience the sensation of interaction with the medium and the community surrounding it.

Viewing practices aren’t just limited to the actual viewing of the show. They are the total ritualistic actions surrounding it, which can include reading reviews, writing responses and engaging with the show once the episode is over. These actions become differentiated from simple browsing when they are repeated with each episode, to become part of the ritual of the viewing. ‘Teen Wolf’ offers many ways for viewers to continue to engage with the show post-episode. The follow up show, ‘Wolf Watch’, is an MTV program that is styled like a talk show and goes through the events and theories of the show with various cast members each week. By offering fans more content in this way MTV prolongs their involvement and viewership. Post-airing practices can be reading reviews such as Price Petersons’ photo recaps on Tv.com, or participating in fan discussion on blogging platforms such as Tumblr, or the more brief Twitter.

All the practices I have mentioned help to increase fans involvement and enjoyment of the show by creating a sense of involvement and routine surrounding it.