Hiding in Television

Yes, I hide in television. So what?!

By Karen Woodward

I've found myself a little at odds now that the Olympics and the Academy Awards are over. Two whole weeks of lusting after Bode Miller and Apolo Ohno, of scrutinizing the Shani/Chad debacle, of wondering whether Shaun White would ever meet Sasha Cohen. Then suddenly....it's gone. So I got on board the Oscar train; I had my picks, I turned on my inner critic, and I had a great 5 hours. Then...poooof. Over. So I get excited about the return of my shows. Wait - Lost is a re-run? Veronica Mars is a re-run? Gilmore Girls...what the...? What's a girl to do? Get a life?

But television IS my life. Some may find that sad, but I really enjoy it. Because I am a worrier by nature, I feel safe in the TV world. No expects anything; I can just sit there. There is something very cathartic about knowing that I don't have to speak or act. I'm not an adventurous person by nature, so I like to live vicariously through television characters. If that makes me pathetic (and it probably does) then so be it.

I wouldn't call myself a couch potato. I don't aimlessly watch television; I have appointment TV. On Sunday I watch Cold Case and Grey's Anatomy. Yes, I'm one of the few who doesn't watch Desperate Housewives - I find it more cloying than funny. Monday is Wildfire (gulp), Prison Break(come back, I miss you!) and Beautiful People. Tuesday is Gilmore Girls and House. Wednesday is the best night on television, and I watch One Tree Hill (although I think this season sucks, and I may switch to Bones in its new time slot), Lost, and Veronica Mars. Thursday is really nothing right now; I guess I should say Without a Trace, but that's only because my friend works on it, and not because I really like it. Friday is Ghost Whisperer, Injustice (go Conti!) and Conviction. Saturday is no man's land, and I find that very depressing. On the other hand, Saturday nights I'm likely to get out of the house. So that's probably a good thing.

There you have it. I'm the new writer for Primetime TV and I'm ready to go.