TV Drama Needs No Viewers

My husband and I are addicts...television addicts. We record shows on our Dish Network. We subscribe to Netflix. We visit hulu.com. We go to abc.com. We pretty much search any and all avenues until we find a show that we feel comfortable enough to watch for at least 30 minutes while our dogs fight us for couch space.

Some may think it's sad. That this nightly tradition prevents us from communicating like husbands and wives should. To those people I would like to say: Hog Wash! We actually communicate MORE because of our addiction.

We agree almost all the time on what show to watch each evening. In fact, there are so many shows that we follow, we don't have the time to add another to our DVR list. My brother got us hooked on LOST - damn him - 3 years after everyone else. But in the span of a month, we got caught up and it's included on our list of shows to watch.

I stumbled upon Psyche in the middle of the first season and now my husband and I claim it to be the best comedy on television. Currently on TV. Arrested Development? Sports Night? You would have been in the running...but some people just don't understand intellectual humor...so you were cancelled - sorry!

We've seen every episode of Friends about 10 times and own most of the season box sets. Law & Order, the only problem I have here is deciding which franchise is the best. Criminal Intent? Nobody could play Det. Goren's character better than Vincent D'Onofrio. And the latest addition, Jeff Goldblum? I'm glad he finally found a great match on television.

Or is my favorite Special Victims Unit? I love me some Christopher Meloni. They tried to kill you both off Dets. Stabler and Benson, but the viewers responded and kept you on!
How about the original Law & Order? No other show has reinvented itself so many times with new cast members than this 20-year-old drama. (Even the widely-acclaimed ER only made it to 15 years).

My husband and I bond over this. We take bets when a rerun of any of the Law & Orders come on. Have we seen this one before? Dumb question. Have we seen this one 10 times before?
Now with all of the new shows on USA, TNT, TBS and don't forget the reality shows of VH1, my husband and I are bonding even more - thank you boob tube!

From White Collar to Modern Family to Community to the reinstated Chuck - we are utterly grateful to the over-paid television executives who have discovered these brilliant gems...
Alas, we have had to say goodbye to some shows due to lacking plot lines. Some were gone from our DVR list before the first episode even ended - sorry Guys of a Certain Age. Maybe we'll see you in something new Scott Bakula!

Heroes - Still on the bottom of Rick's list.
Rags to Riches - Could make it back on Monica's list.
Fringe - There's hope for you yet.
Desperate Housewives - Never.
Grey's Anatomy - You may have Dr. McSteamy Dream...but we never gave you a try.
Scrubs - Ever since you left NBC, you left our DVR.
My Name is Earl - You were funny once, and you could be again. Move out of the trailer park.
My Boys - Can't wait to see you again in the Summer!
Jersey Shore - Really? Jersey Shore? I need a shower just typing that.
Housewives of...wherever - It's like The View...in different cities. Too many hens, not enough plot.

And Jay Leno...thank you! Thank you for completely disrupting the NBC line-up and failing miserably. The drama you have caused is getting better ratings than any other drama on network television right now. Conan, while you haven't made the Stoneking DVR list, I do want you to stay with NBC. Perhaps as part of your negotiations you can ask for a recurring role on any of the Law & Orders. THAT would give my husband and I something to talk about!