Recap of 2015-2016 Online New Year’s Eve Party

Our 3rd New Year's Eve in The Zone
Our 3rd New Year’s Eve in The Zone

This year’s party, our 3rd Annual Online New Year’s Eve Party, was a smashing success.  Somewhere between 100-150 guests attended on Facebook.  SyFy also helped make it extra special:  For two decades, their famous Twilight Zone marathon has been two days long beginning on New Year’s Eve.  This year’s marathon was 4 days long!  SyFy played every single TZ episode between December 30th and January 3rd.  In that time, I was recovering from ear infections and at one point, dealing with pain from the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).  I had family holiday stuff going on and an emergency happened–not to me but to someone I love.   Unexpectedly, I missed January 2nd but was thankfully, there for the final hours on January 3rd.  In my absence, I was touched by how many people stepped up posting episodes on Facebook while I was gone.  Their work also allowed me to take naps during the marathon.  Zoners like Matt (this is his third time attending one of my TZ parties) and guests like Janika, Mark, Joshua, Roman, and Beth helped make this year’s party a success.  Matt also helped me plan the party.  I’m tired now but it’s a good tired.  

Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!

I started this party in 2013.  I have missed several holidays, including many New Year’s Eves, because I was bedridden due to pain from PCOS and myasthenia gravis.  Also, I have to sleep on time and can’t drink due to bipolar disorder.  Since I would be in bed watching the TZ marathon, I thought:  Why should I watch alone?  What if no one had to be alone on New Year’s?  That’s why I started this party.

The first year, I thought maybe 2 people would show up and was shocked when 50 people came.  Here is a recap of that first party.  Since then, guests have kept in touch through our closed group here on Facebook, Twilight Zone NYE Posse, and we get together twice a year on Facebook for SyFy’s NYE and 4th of July marathons.  Two cool things we did at the party: We had a selfie thread so people could post pictures of themselves and state where they were from if they like; one guest joined us from Okinawa, Japan.  We also had a “virtual potluck thread” were people posted pictures of what they were eating on New Year’s Eve.

 

Testimonials From Guests

JANET, “This was my first time…I really enjoyed it. I don’t know many people that LOVE TZ as I do so it’s always great to be around people that love it as much as I do!! I so look forward to the marathon s every year, and this year was a SPECIAL treat…There were some episodes I forgot about and some I hadn’t seen (shocker I know…lol). This year especially I was looking forward to it cause Dec 14th I had back surgery so I haven’t been doing much so to spend New Year’s with one of my ALL time favorite programs and some new friends was AWESOME…Looking forward to to 4th of July marathon now!!”

 

DANIEL, “I enjoyed the Marathon, commenting occasionally and reading other comments. I found the comments to be entertaining and insightful. As I mentioned in another thread, I thought I had seen all the episodes at least once, but such was not the case. The Jeopardy Room and The Encounter were two I had not seen before. Thanks for hosting the party and I look forward to the July 4 Marathon.”

 

ASHLEY, “As ever the conversations were stirring and intellectual. It’s wonderful to have meaningful conversation with people without the name calling and mudslinging you get too often for stating a difference of opinion. I noticed a lot of people willing to step up and post the links to the episodes at all hours.”

 

JANIKA, “I must say I didn’t know what to expect from the TZ party, I’ve never encountered others that love TZ like I do. The facts were awesome and the company that joined for the middle of the night episodes was awesome!! Thank you, I look forward to July!!”

 

YVONNE, “This was not my first marathon. Over 20 years I’ve enjoyed the marathon’s twice a year and loved the nightly episodes that I sometimes catch. However, this is the very first online party that I’ve shared the marathon with, and I’ve got to say I Loved It!! SyFy showing every episode made these days almost magical!! It’s been wonderful sharing info, making comments, joking and just having fun with so many good people who love Twilight Zone as much as I do. So sad that it’s ended, but this has been the greatest experience for me!!! So glad I was a part of this party!  Jessica. Thank you and bless you for doing this.”

 

MATT, “Speaking as someone who loves chatting about TZ episodes whenever I can, it was an enormous pleasure to be part of this experience. As special as it was that Syfy played every TZ episode in this Marathon, Jessica’s party made the Marathon experience immeasurably more special for me. It was also a pleasure to be able to help by posting threads – and to be able to ask for and receive help from others. I’m proud to be part of this community of TZ fans. Thanks for everything, Jessica!”

 

JOSHUA, “Thank you SO MUCH for this absolutely wicked awesome Twilight Zone marathon viewing party! I’ve been watching the marathon for over 20 years straight, but this was the first time ever watching it with everyone else online together. It was also the first time that SyFy showed ALL 156 episodes in a row. I hope that become a yearly tradition.”

 

ALLEN, “As a first time attendee I want to say thanks to everyone for making this a memorable experience. I appreciated the level of Twilight Zone knowledge on display as well as the friendliness and generosity of the posters. If you’re watching without Jessica’s New Years Twilight Zone Party you are doing it wrong.”

 

HELAINE, “I was a first-time guest and had the time of my life! I am a longtime TZ FAN, but not a TZ SCHOLAR. Not only did I see much-watched episodes with new eyes; I learned a lot from the TZ scholars who posted …I feel that I have made some new friends and hope there will be dialogue between marathons. (I also thank everyone who “liked” or at least tolerated my Mystery Science Theater 3000-inspired one-liners.)”

 

DEBORAH, “I thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned a lot and enjoyed the conversations!!  Looking forward to 2016-2017.”

 

JUNE, “This Marathon I look forward to each year! This is our 3rd year together. Thank you to everyone of of you. You make us feel like family. A huge Thank you to Jessica Lynn Gimeno for thinking of us. Thanks to everyone posting can’t wait until we are together again. Happy 2016!”

 

ROGER, “I was a first time attendee, and so glad to have participated. I have owned the TZ programs on VHS, DVD, and Blu-Ray…and had wondered why people would make such a big deal over a marathon when most fans already owned some version of the program already.  My daughter helped me to understand the ‘magic’ of how communal viewing adds a level of pleasure…particularly when it has this interactive element going on. She was right…and i look forward to future marathons with everyone along for the ride.  A special thanks to Jessica for putting this together as well as Matt and all the others who helped host the event by posting each thread and giving encouraging feedback to all your guests. A wonderful addition to the New Year celebrations!”

 

Thank You To Everyone Who Attended!

I want to thank every single person who attended the party and invited their friends.  I enjoyed watching the same episode live with people.  Because SyFy played rare episodes that we usually don’t see during marathons, I got to watch a lot of episodes for the first time with people who were also watching for the first time including Static and The Lateness of the Hour, which we enjoyed.  Heck, we even enjoyed reacting to the commercial breaks.  I finally got to see Spur of the Moment with other people!  I always liked that episode but had no one to discuss it with.

Big Thank You To SyFy

SyFy, Zoners thoroughly enjoyed this marathon and many guests watched TZ for the first time.  Please, please, please do another 4-day marathon next year!  Just a tiny suggestion:  I’d love it if could occasionally insert commercials from the time period into the marathon.  It would be a welcome surprise for many viewers.  In my Twilight Zone box set, there are commercials reminding me not to miss this week’s Bonanza or Gunsmoke.  I think viewers would get a kick out of seeing those black-and-white commercials.

–Your Stylist, Jessica Gimeno

 

 

JessicaGimeno

Hi there! I am a patient advocate, writer, and public speaker most well known for my TEDx Talk, “How to Get Stuff Done When You Are Depressed.” As someone who is juggling 5 illnesses: bipolar 2, myasthenia gravis, endometriosis, psoriasis, and asthma, I’m passionate about helping people who navigate life with both chronic physical & emotional pain. If you’re interested in hiring me to speak at your event, check out the CONTACT tab.

3 thoughts on “Recap of 2015-2016 Online New Year’s Eve Party

  • January 5, 2016 at 3:08 pm
    Permalink

    Thanks for the write up and thanks again for a fabulous time. Thanks to the people who put up videos. I was amazed by how well oiled it all felt. *Clears New Years schedule for next year.*

    Reply
  • January 5, 2016 at 8:30 pm
    Permalink

    Loved this post as well as the online party itself. Thanks for your kindred spirit, Jessica! I need to post something about you and the online the TZ community on my own sorely neglected blog …

    Reply
  • January 6, 2016 at 12:03 am
    Permalink

    This was outstanding Jessica. I just can’t believe the fine people we have in our Yearly Marathon party! I so enjoyed myself. This write up is so nice. I loved reading what everyone wrote. this certainly was entertaining. I learned a lot from our educated fans. Which only made watching even more intriguing. You do a wonderful job Jessica. We all Love you ❤️ Happy 2016 to all!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Helaine Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *