Television

Growing up in the 70's, television was an important part of our lives. Remember the thrill of staying up so late you got to see the sign off and test pattern? Oh the cheap joys of youth!

With Star Trek, Doctor Who, the Hudson Brothers, Kids from C.A.P.E.R. (Civilian Authority for the Protection of Everybody, Regardless), Shazam and Isis, Six Million Dollar Man who needed to go outside?

Then the 80's rolled around with Shadow Chasers, Blake's 7, Star Cops, Tales of the Gold Monkey, A-Team, Black Sheep Squadron, Brisco County, Jr., and shows people don't want to admit they watched, but you know they did like B.J. and the Bear and Manimal.

The 90's brought us syndicated shows we watched even if, in some cases, we mocked like Nightman, Xena, Hercules, and Space Precinct. (I don't want to brag, but I have a novel in the Space Precinct book series. I can feel your envy through the Internet!)

It was also a decade of cable shows like G vs E ( a.k.a. Good vs Evil) and syndicated networks like UPN showing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Sentinel. (And, yeah, that is a marathon of The Sentinel on my DVR. I'm not ashamed! Much.)

Now, honestly, television isn't as much fun even though, or possibly because, there is so much of it. Unfortunately there is a plethora of talent shows and too few shows made by talented people. Some shows are good like Psych, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Waking the Dead and Deadliest Catch and some are great like House and Life on Mars (the original UK version).

It's a strange world when I miss the test pattern when America's Got Talent is on.