The Winter of Our Discontent

Well, this is the time of year when we all pause to reflect. To think about the things that have happened during the past year and to hope for better things in the coming one.

A time of self examination. And a time to assess the world around us. A time to raise our heads above the niches we have carved for ourselves and see what else is going on in the world. A time of quiet contemplation. A time to reconnect with our loved ones.

It is Winter Holiday TV Hiatus time.

A time when none of our regular TV shows are on. A time when networks burn off the loser shows that have been yanked during the regular season. A time of Holiday Specials that were lame-o when we first saw them 35 years ago.

A time of egg-nog, fruit cake and Aunt Martha. Knitted sweaters, neck ties and cheap perfume. But, mostly, nothing on TV. Why do you think the suicide rate is so high around the holidays? Karl Marx called religion "the opiate of the masses." Well, TV is the new opiate and people need their fix. With nothing on from December 18 until January 8, what else is left for these lonely people?

We have lost all of our communication skills. We have disconnected from society. We have dutifully been pulled into an intellectual stupor caused by bombastic advertising and mind numbingly stupid reality shows.

And now, they drop us cold-turkey. Are we just supposed to walk around like everything is normal and right with the world? Well, it isn't! And it won't be until Jack Bauer is back for another day. Until the gangs from Lost and Heroes return to suck us into their continuing stories that never resolve anything.

So take this time to reflect; to contemplate where your favorite shows have been and where you hope them to go. Try to avoid eye contact with visiting relatives and act like you care about that new bathrobe. But on these long, silent nights when our souls yearn for anything to watch, try not to think too hard about the gas oven or that bottle of sleeping pills.

Your friends will return. It will get better. And until then -- there is always Blockbuster.

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