Hulu and Chill? More Like Hulu and Hilarity with Friends!
Let's face it, curling up on the couch alone with a bag of chips and Hulu is great and all, but sometimes you crave that communal chuckle, that synchronized gasp, or that "did they just see that?!" moment with a friend. Fear not, fellow streamers, because there are ways to turn your Hulu session into a virtual hangout party!
Option 1: Enter Hulu's Watch Party!
The Pros: Built right into Hulu, this feature is as easy as pie. Up to eight of your merry streaming mates can join you for a simultaneous viewing experience. Imagine the joy of eight pairs of eyes widening in horror at the latest plot twist, or erupting in laughter at a witty quip. Plus, there's a handy chat function, so you can virtually poke fun at your friend's terrible taste in snacks (jk...kind of).
The Cons: Not all shows and movies are blessed with the Watch Party feature. Double-check the details page of your chosen title for that handy three-person icon to confirm. Also, this is a web-browser only shindig, so forget about cuddling up with your phone or tablet.
How to:
- Boot up Hulu.com and log in with your super-secret account (don't worry, your friend's terrible taste won't infect your recommendations...probably).
- Find that perfect show or movie - the one that screams "watch party!".
- Look for the three-person icon on the details page. If it's there, you're golden! Click it and then "Start the Party."
- You'll be gifted a link to share with your friends. Blast it out on your favorite messaging app and prepare for virtual merriment.
Option 2: Teleparty to the Rescue!
The Pros: Teleparty (formerly known as Netflix Party) is a browser extension that works its magic on Hulu too! This nifty tool syncs playback for everyone, throws in a chat box for your snarky commentary, and even lets you choose avatars (unicorn for life!).
The Cons: Downloading the extension is an extra step, but hey, it's a small price to pay for virtual watch party glory.
How to:
- Head over to [Teleparty website] and install the extension for your browser.
- Log in to Hulu like you normally would.
- Pick your poison (show/movie, that is) and hit play.
- Click on the Teleparty icon in your browser extension. It'll whip up a link for you to share with your pals.
- Once everyone's joined in and chosen their avatars (unicorn, remember?), press play and get ready to virtually laugh, cry, and yell "OMG" in unison!
So there you have it! No more lonely nights staring at the glowing rectangle of your device. With Hulu's Watch Party or the wonder of Teleparty, you can turn your Hulu experience into a social extravaganza. Now, go forth and conquer those streaming queues, together!
