What’s on Your DVR?

On behalf of Entertainment Weekly, research company Experian-Simmons measured the TV preferences of self-identified “Liberal Democrats” and “Conservative Republicans.”

Edgy comedies and darker dramas were more popular among the liberals, while work-centered shows (both reality shows and traditional dramas), along with reality competitions, tend to draw conservatives.

The survey focused on well-known cable and broadcast original entertainment series, rather than sports, music, news or syndicated programs.

The favorite shows for “Liberal Democrats,” in no particular order, are:

• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
• 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation (NBC). (“Sarcastic humor is always a hook for them,” commented John Fetto, Experian-Simmons senior marketing manager.)
• The View (ABC)
• Glee (Fox)
• Modern Family (ABC): (Last year, the progressive Glee and Modern Family scored surprisingly strong among both political leanings. Among conservatives this year, the shows still do fairly well, but have dropped out of their top ranks, according to Entertainment Weekly.)
• It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
• Treme (HBO)
• Cougar Town (ABC)
• The Late Show With David Letterman and The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (CBS)

And the favorites for “Conservative Republicans”:

• Swamp Loggers (Discovery) and Top Shot (History): “Gritty documentary-style work-related reality shows on cable index really strongly with conservative Republicans,” noted the magazine.
• The Bachelor (ABC)
• Castle (ABC)
• Mythbusters (Discovery)
• Only in America With Larry the Cable Guy, American Pickers, Pawn Stars, Swamp People (History)
• The Middle (ABC)
• The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC)
• The Biggest Loser (NBC)
• Hawaii Five-O, NCIS, The Mentalist (CBS)