Breathe. I know it’s been a long time since your favorite shows have been on, but you’re going to be OK. I’m sure of it. Well, almost sure, but since this post is about thinking positive, go back to that breathing thing.
If you are feeling that emptiness in the pit of your heart, that space that is longing to be filled with quality, scripted programming never before seen, you have at least a week to wait, perhaps a bit more. It doesn’t have to be spent pining away, sitting in front of your television with your remote, going blindly from one station to another, hoping upon hope you’ll click onto something that will give your life meaning. That won’t happen, but you can entertain yourself while waiting for your favorite shows to come back.
Read a book
No, I am not suggesting an intellectual foray into the classics or even the current Oprah’s Book Club Book. Really, quality literature is no substitute for television. Instead, pick up a book or series of books that your favorite TV show may be based on, and compare. A few to start with:
Yank out those TV on DVDs and revisit your old favorites, or try something new
My collection of TV on DVD that I love to revisit consists of:
Better yet, try some new ones to whet your appetite for new programming. I’m currently working my way through Supernatural, which I’m chronicling in my feature, Diary of a Supernatural Virgin. If you’ve never watched a whole series in marathon style, you’re missing out, especially ones with deep characterization and complex story arcs. What show have you always wanted to watch, but could never bear to turn on because you’ve missed the first two seasons? Now’s the time to catch up!
Read about your favorite shows on fan sites
You’re reading CliqueClack because you’re cool, but a visit to hardcore fan sites of your favorite television shows can be an adventure, to say the least. Where else can you find forums discussing who is more kissable: Sam or Dean Winchester, Supernatural ringtones for your phone and, you know, shirtless pictures of all your faves? There might be some actual discussion of the show too.
Visit Hulu and YouTube
If there’s an episode you missed of pretty much anything since TV’s inception, you’ll probably find it on the internet. If not, you’ll get some entertaining clips at least. You know you want to watch Psych‘s funniest moments from season two:
And probably you’d be lost without seeing Jan breastfeed in The Office:
Exercise
Don’t you dare go outside to get some fresh air and exercise; if you are going to move, do it in front of the television, for heaven’s sake! Perhaps you’ll work up such a sweat that you won’t realize FOX is airing another repeat of House.
Spend quality time with your child
You know, watching TV. If you’ve got a four-year-old boy, there’s nothing wrong with The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Batman, and old Super Friends on DVD. You might even enjoy learning about animals and nature on Zoboomafoo, but that might be considered educational, so you’d probably want to avoid it.
Clean your clutter
You know you’ve got to make room on those shelves for more TV on DVD, and since you are always losing that remote, it might be time to recycle all those TV Guides you’ve been collecting on the coffee table.
Remodel your home
It will give you an excuse to sit in front of the TV and watch all those HGTV reruns you didn’t catch the first time. I highly recommend Design on a Dime and Designer’s Challenge.
Cook a gourmet meal
Who cares if you’ve seen the Iron Chef cobia battle seven times this year? If you are going to cook that cobia up right, you’ve got to study, and who better to learn from than Mario Batali and Jamie Oliver.
So fear not — you will survive the lack of quality television. But if one night, in your darkest hour, you find yourself tuning in to Momma’s Boys, please call someone for help. I believe there is a good samaritan hotline being established for just this purpose.
Any other ideas on how you can spend TV’s hiatus, so that you don’t waste away from lack of screen time?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Dec 29, 2008 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
As far as books about TV goes, I love the Smart Pop series by BenBella.
It looks like, however, that they are not producing new ones. Some of them are great (I especially like the Seven Seasons of Buffy and the first one on Serenity (Serenity Lost). I have way too many of them.
https://www.smartpopbooks.com
I cleaned this weekend, I’m making home made chili as we speak, and I even (gasp) exercised!! What I also did was watch the entire series Invasion this weekend. I actually cried during the last three episodes. Not wailing, but tears. I fell in love all over again, and the ending – the ending! I’ll never know and, frankly, I’ll never forgive ABC for canceling that fabulous program.
I also have X-Files, Buffy and Six Feet Under to revisit, and I’m in various seasons of all three.
I never knew Dexter started as a book – good info!
Finally, there was a third season of Veronica Mars, but the good bits could be wrapped up in about three hours total. I think I’ll revisit Season 1, too. But…I can never do all of this before the hiatus! NOW look what you did! ;-)
*POST AUTHOR*
I know there was a 3rd season to VM — it’s one of my all-time faves! But I was being silly b/c the 3rd season was sub-par.
You’ve got me wanting to check out Invasion now — my sister loved that show.
Cleaning and watching my new DVDs, Weeds, Veronica Mars season 3, Freaks and Geeks, Breach, Apollo 13, and some others.