Shows are better in captive environment

When you're bored, television just seems better somehow.

I can remember watching the Dean Martin Western "Five Card Stud" once upon a time while we were visiting relatives. My mom was caught up with talking to her sister she hadn't seen in a while, and I was far away from my stuff.

Crooning cowboy
Dean as a cowboy tracking down killers was far more entertaining than I probably would have found him any other time.

I think the same was true once of an episode of "The Rookies" on another visit to relatives.

I thought of that tonight at the gym while watching the free pilot episode of the new Dick Wolf series, "Conviction," from iTunes.

Viewing with conviction
I can't keep up with all the versions of "Law and Order," but "Conviction" was free and it got me through the tedium of exercise on stationary bikes and tread mills. At least while working out, I found it pretty interesting and entertaining. I got as mad at Stephanie March's call on the prosecution of a drug dealer as her fellow deputy D.A. did.

It wasn't nearly as bad as the review I read in "Entertainment Weekly" or "TV Guide," can't remember which.

Would it be as entertaining in my living room? That's a good question, and one whose answer I may never know.