Do party politics inspire our TV choices?

How we vote affects what we do with our remote, according to a new study

The "soft-rated" "30 Rock" is a favorite among Democrats, while Republicans prefer "The Office."
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Party politics don't just affect how you vote — they might help determine what you watch on TV. Republicans are more likely to tune into shows that dominate the ratings, especially reality fare such as American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, according to a study by media researcher Experian Simmons. Democrats favor shows with modest ratings but critical acclaim, such as Mad Men and 30 Rock, and tend to like "shows about damaged people," according to one researcher. What does this study tell us about our preconceived ideas about one another in today's polarized political climate?

The right is resurgent on TV too: Prime-time is ruled by the political right, says James Hibberd in The Hollywood Reporter, but it wasn't always that way. In the 1990s, when the Clintons were in the White House, the "Nielsens were topped by NBC's young, progressive urbanites such as those on Friends, Mad About You, Will & Grace, and Seinfeld, along with the liberal-skewing dramas like The West Wing." But, even during that "progressive primetime heyday," traditional, more conservative shows such as Home Improvement and Touched by an Angel were huge hits.

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