Getting the most out of Comcast OnDemand

I'll start by saying this: I didn't grow up with cable. My family always had antenna TV, which equaled about 9 or 10 channels. It was fine; we still had CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, the basic channels (I wasn't aware there was basic cable as well). My house was so far into the countryside that cable couldn't even be installed where we lived. I would visit my friend's homes with satellite and Dish and get addicted to the endless shows featured, just barely scrape the surface of the world of cable television.

Now I have my own apartment (well, with my boyfriend, who probably pays more than I do for the place), and we ordered Comcast cable and Internet. I initially started using the cable as I had envisioned: watching my favorite television shows - CNN, Spongebob Squarepants, and Golden Girls - as many times as it was broadcast.

Then my boyfriend started to watch his favorite channels and shows after work, and I was introduced to new great TV offerings... including Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Comedy Central. He also showed me OnDemand, which I haven't gotten tired of yet.

I was fascinated how one could access movies (free or brand-new), entire television series and single episodes, how-tos, and more. I loved how you could save shows, pause them, and stop them. The list of shows you'd already watched is easily accessible so if you want to show a friend something funny or interesting, you could quickly locate it.

So when there wasn't something interesting regularly scheduled on cable television shows, I would click the OnDemand button on my Comcast remote control and surf the channels and other options. I soon discovered things I never would have tried before, like craft instructions with Martha Stewart. There's a whole section of Home specials with specials about decorating, furnishing, and more.

My new favorite is Exercise TV. I love the different kinds of exercises I found in that category of OnDemand. I've always loved running, but it gets a little boring after a while, and as I don't live near a gym, it was hard to try something different without equipment, even weights. With Exercise TV, you can actually tone your body and/or burn calories without leaving your living room. You can get a mat, call a friend, and have a regular work-out session.

The movies are great as well. There are free ones that are more classic, like "Groundhog Day" (I'd never seen it before until the other day) and others separated into Comedy, Drama, Award Winners, and other categories. There are also brand-new movies that are available for cheaper prices than you could find at stores.

Additionally, there are local features on OnDemand specific to the area subscribers live in, including news, dining, and recreation. There are information and reviews to help you decide what you can try around the area you live in.

I hope this doesn't sound too contrived or commercial. I just really love discovering things I've already had, and I hope other people with Comcast OnDemand can take advantage of the features and benefits it has as well.

Here's a TV Planner to help you figure out what to watch on your Comcast Cable.