• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, April 18, 2014

Let’s all take a hint from Harvey Weinstein when it comes to multitasking: Try to do it old-school.

Weinstein, co-chairman of the film studio The Weinstein Group, says he watches all the late-night network talk shows -- “The Tonight Show,” “Late Show with David Letterman” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” -- at the same time on multiple traditional TV screens.

Weinstein isn’t the only person doing this. For years, to keep tabs on the competition, TV and print newsrooms have had multiple TVs on at the same time.

Think about it: video side-by-side.  Just like in the old days when you didn’t have a tablet or smartphone screen. Wait, you don’t have three or even four TVs sitting right next to each other?  Maybe your TV has that picture-in-picture function that is hardly ever used anymore.

Then, think about more than late-night TV. Think early morning TV. Then try the big time: Watch three network dramas at the same time.  For example, on Thursday, CBS’ “Elementary,” ABC’s “Scandal” and NBC’s “Parenthood.”

With bigger TV screens and today’s better multi-tasking training, we should be able to do this.

No longer should anybody need to look down -- then up -- then down -- at their smartphones or tablets.

Non-video content that is seemingly more important in our lives, such as social media, could be on the second or third screen. One critic suggests that video games on one screen would be a good addition to our increasingly crazed video life -- especially because there is lot of downtime for games like “Star Wars: The Old Republic” or “Battlefield 3.”

Still, for many analysts, multi-tasking still means multi-distraction and not a whole lot of engaging. Maybe marketers worried about time-shifted programming should think more about this going forward.

In any event, test your potential Weinstein TV behavior the next time you’re at your local Best Buy -- and stay focused.