My first few years as TV critic, I would go to parties and people (usually older Posties or ex-Posties who seemed to pride themselves on not watching very much television) would take me by the arm and insist that I watch this show they'd recently starting watching on DVD, about drug dealers in Baltimore.

I'm a fan of half-hour shows that can be both funny and dramatic.

"Big Bang Theory" focuses on main characters who in other shows would only be auxiliary players hewing to stereotype: The gawky nerd who lives next door and says oddball things.

I love commercials. I love to hate commercials, too. I talk back to them.

We all have to draw some lines. To preserve my sanity, I steer clear of cooking, professional sports and most imports, unless imported to us via PBS, Sundance, etc.

I'm pretty sure the world is in solid agreement that "The Wire" is worth watching all the way through.

The fastest way to bring financial ruin upon yourself is to go for a drive in the United States without proof of insurance and current license and registration.