Hey, everybody! We on the fence line thank you for your continuous support and amazing questions. Without you, “On the Fence Line” would not be possible. So please keep your questions coming… you may find your question answered in a future segment of “Mail Call.”
For all of you who have been keeping up with “On the Fence Line,” you know that I have been transferred from the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, and am now being housed at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, WA. While things have been kinda hectic, we all make the best of our circumstances.
For Mail Call #3, the guys at my new facility will be answering a question that has been constantly asked: What do you watch on TV in prison, and why do you enjoy watching it?
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“Television has been known as the pacifier for the incarcerated individual. Since I’ve been in prison, I have an estimated 73,000 hours of watching TV! Insane, right? Most of the facilities in DOC allow us to have personal television sets, but some do not.
I have a couple of TV shows, but the majority of my TV watching comes in the form of sporting events. My favorite thing to watch is college football. I like watching sports because it’s entertaining. I’m an athlete myself, so watching those kids compete is exciting.
I mostly choose to watch sports over other things because it gives me a break from the harsh reality of what’s really going on. When I watch football, I can avoid lusting over all the sexy women I can’t have on TV, I’m not thinking about the violence going on in this world, and I don’t have to hear about Trump or Biden.
It’s said that everything’s addictive, I believe this is true. After watching 73,000 hours of TV, I wouldn’t know what to do without one! Go 49ers!”
— Albert “AJ” Spears #768657. 28 years served. Earliest release date: 2070.
“Hmm, I wouldn’t say I have a favorite TV show, more like a TV channel: ‘Animal Planet.’ Wildlife documentaries, Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter and his adventures! I’m fascinated by the amazing and exotic animals that you don’t see in the PNW, but watching ‘Animal Planet’ in prison brings back so many memories. The crazy part is I’m still learning new things about animals and different ecosystems all over the world, I especially enjoy learning about Australia. When I hit the bunk and press the power button, my TV is already set to ‘Animal Planet.’ I sit back and zone out, slipping from reality while these walls disappear… I’m in a whole new reality across the world. Exploring the lands and depths of the kingdom from my cell. Seeing Australia and its beauty… its landscapes. Learning its history, its lingo. The little critters and much much more. In a way, ‘Animal Planet’ has helped me feel a little more connected to this most beautiful, most amazing person I’ve met who’s also from Australia.”
— Allen “Taz” Nguyen #400495. 2 years served. Earliest release date: August 2027.
“I have a few TV shows that I follow that I would consider to be my favorite show. And I would have to say that topping the list would have to be ’90 Day Fiance.’
There are many different seasons and variations, but they all have one thing in common — the show follows couples who are in serious relationships, who pursue being together, but begin long-distance, generally resulting in a K-1 visa so that they can be physically together.
Being incarcerated, this show gives me hope and inspiration in something I can relate to. Finding long distance love, building a relationship, and growing and developing with somebody. In my case the long distance part is me being locked up and them being out. So in a sense I’m able to find hope and inspiration in long distance love and the potential to have hope in happiness and love despite being incarcerated.”
— Elija Vincent #343620. 5 years served. Earliest release date: August 2028.
“What are my 2 top favorite shows? Well… my first would be more of a network channel. And that’s HGTV because there are multiple shows such as ‘Unsellable Houses,’ ‘Fixer to Fabulous,’ ‘Married to Real Estate,’ ‘Good Bones,’ ‘Farmhouse Fixer,’ and ‘Christina on the Coast.’ Just to name a few! All these shows deal with real estate and the remodeling of homes and also building homes.
There’s also a show called ‘Tiny Home Nation’ which I’m really considering on being a part of. My plan is to understand and learn more about building homes and understand the cosmetics that go inside the home to not only make it look good, but having full knowledge of cost and durability of a product.
I would like to one day build my own tiny home on a trailer with all my basic necessities for my day to day functions so that I would not be tied down to a mortgage or a rental agreement. I want to be able to pick up all my belongings, hitch my home on a truck, and just go. And my truck would be a Dodge Ram or a Chevy Silverado, something with enough horse power to pull a tiny fully equipped home.
I’ve been in juvenile facilities and prison for over half my life and I’ve always wanted a place to call my own home let alone my own bedroom. So to be able to have the knowledge to build my own home to fit my needs and the freedom that comes with owning a tiny home that can travel in is a dream that I want to make a reality. And my second would be another network channel called the ‘Travel Channel.’ It’s a network that shows you amazing places in the United States that have breathtaking sites and accommodations that cater to RVs/tiny homes that you can just park and pay for a space and just enjoy the beauty that is offered in that location. I’ve seen so much beauty and unfamiliar places that exist not just in North America, but in Washington state alone that has sunsets and beaches that cater to people with the eye and the love for serenity and just the calm of the world.
I’ve been in prison for a little over 20 years and I can’t wait to come home and just enjoy what beauty that is out there that I never noticed before. Thank you for the time and space to share with you my thoughts and feelings.”
— Sambo “Shortt” Moeun #712764. 20 years served. Earliest release date: 2036.
For me, I’m an “Ancient Aliens” junky! Okay, you caught me, I’m a nerd. But in all seriousness, I love learning about different cultures and their amazing ingenuity… even if aliens allegedly did have a hand in all of it. However, I think I love the show so much because I really want to believe that there’s more to life out there than just these damn prison walls. That somewhere out there there’s beauty and knowledge that transcends all the pain our world has to offer. Hey, what can I say? I’m a writer!
Outside of that and sports, I really just enjoy watching any show with my wife. We tune in at the same time while she’s at home and I’m in my cell, and it doesn’t even matter what’s on, I just love feeling connected somehow. And for those few short moments, we are.
We always are.
Well, there y’all have it! As you probably already concluded from everybody’s answers, programs that people watch while incarcerated generally revolve around home… or at least a connection to people in community — FREEDOM! While TV probably isn’t the healthiest companion in the world, in prison, any form of mental escape is welcomed with open arms.
Until next time, keep dreaming!
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Felix Sitthivong is a journalist, organizer, member of Empowerment Avenue, and advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group (APICAG). Through APICAG, Sitthivong has organized immigration, social justice and youth outreach forums and has designed Asian American studies courses, an intersectional feminism 101 class and an anti-domestic violence program. You can reach him with questions for “On the Fence Line” via Securus (WA #354579) or write to him at Felix Sitthivong #354579, PO Box 900, Shelton, WA 98584.
Felix Sitthivong is an incarcerated storyteller, community organizer, and founding member of the Peoples’ Empowerment Assembly for Collective Equity (PEACE). Sitthivong is also the former president and senior advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Awareness Group (APICAG). He is currently serving a 66-year sentence at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, WA. Reach him with questions for “On the Fence Line” via Securus (WA #354579) or write to him at Felix Sitthivong #354579, PO BOX 900, Shelton, WA 98584.
