Watch TV shows and movies from Hulu without leaving the comfort of your couch. If you've got an XBMC media center you'd be silly to not install this plugin (assuming you live in the US: Hulu is still blocked in all other countries).

A couple weeks ago I discovered that Boxee on the desktop is dead. I was disappointed, but was thrilled to discover that XBMC is not only a capable replacement but better than Boxee once you collect some amazing add-ons. What I didn't get working right away was Hulu. So I used the Hulu desktop for that, despite its many faults. No longer. Thanks to a very quick and capable plugin from the Bluecop repository, I now have full access to Hulu from within XBMC. I can even turn off ads if I want, although I don't think I will.

Using Hulu In XBMC

Load this plugin and you can start browsing immediately. Not sure where to start? Click "Popular".

From here you can pick to browse popular shows, episodes or movies. Pull up popular shows and you'll see a pretty great example of Hulu's selection:

I know: this looks pixelated. It looks much better on a TV screen, if that matters.

Anyway, you can pick a show you want to watch and you'll see the free episodes available, typically about six.

Are you a paying Hulu Plus user? Be sure to log in and get access to complete seasons for a staggering number of shows. You can do this in the settings, where you can also configure the advertising options:

That's right, this plugin gives you total freedom to customize when and whether you see advertisements. Remember, if Hulu is to remain free it's vital that people watch the ads, so use this feature wisely or you might end up ruining the fun for everyone.

Installing The Hulu Plugin

Do you want to check this plugin out? There's only a few steps you need to follow.

• First of all, on your XBMC computer, download the ZIP file of the Bluecop Repo.
• Next, open up XBMC and head to the settings, then to the "Add-Ons" section. Pick the option to add a plugin via a ZIP file, then browse to the ZIP file you downloaded.
• Finally, head to the "Add Add-Ons" section of the settings menu. You'll find "Hulu" under "Video". You may need to restart XBMC before it shows up, so don't panic if you don't see it. Install Hulu and enjoy your newfound television-related happiness.

Joyful outbursts of laughter, similar to those of a a child with a new video game console at Christmas, are an acceptable reaction but by no means mandatory. Enjoy the free TV shows.

Conclusion - Adding To Favorites

Want quick access to your favorite shows? You can add them to your XBMC favorites easily: just right-click or press "C"  on any show and you can add the show to your XBMC favorites. This means you'll have a quick shortcut to to your show, though where this shortcut lives depends on your XBMC theme.

So, is this plugin useful for you? As always I'd be happy to hear from you, and to hear of any other add-ons I need to check out. I learn a lot from you guys.