Once people find out that I watch more than 5 hours of TV per week, they are often surprised and want to know what kind of shows I watch. Well, the simplest way is to look inside the little machine that feeds my TV fancy. Here’s a tally of the shows that I record, and don’t record, with my DVR.

Red light – shows that I once watched or tried out, but don’t watch anymore:

• Prison break – overrated; uninteresting
• Reunion – cliché characters; bad acting; worst recreation of the 80s since That 80s Show
• Kitchen Confidential – kitchen shenanigans and “edgy” comedy unappealing
• Surface – unbearable
• Invasion – was curious, but the pacing is too slow; characters uninteresting
• Rome – boring “British” drama posing as decadent Roman drama; super-snore
• Ghost Whisperer – good ratings; stupid feel-good ghost show
• Inconceivable – ultimately uninteresting; in danger of cancellation anyway
• Head Cases – yellow-light show; cancelled by network
• Just Legal – green-light show; cancelled by network
• Joey – so sad to say goodbye to a Friend, but this show is stupid

Yellow light – still on the bubble; it could go either way

• Night Stalker – still somewhat boring; X-Files legacy is strong anchor
• Reba – some of the funniest characters, but can also be really stupid sometimes
• How I Met Your Mother – if the other characters can meet Neil Patrick Harris’s level, this show will be the funniest thing on TV

Green light – the show’s a go; some faves, some lower on the list

• Alias – waning, but I am devoted to this show; eager to see how new blood does
• Lost – crazier by the week—addictive
• Desperate Housewives – spunky dialogue; plot twists; sinful humour: what’s not to love
• Stargate: Atlantis – good classic sci-fi
• Battlestar Galactica – beyond-excellent drama and sci-fi
• Threshold – maybe a good show; good characters
• Supernatural – in the absence of X-Files, this one will do
• Charmed – still fun
• Smallville – still fun; kinda cool
• Will & Grace – still funny; often over-the-top
• Simpsons – when the moments come, they are still hilarious
• Veronica Mars – love this show: clever, twisty, smart
• Medium – perfect mix of drama, mystery, and supernatural
• The Batman – OK show, but feeds my superhero fix
• Avatar: The Last Airbender – fun, fantastical, excellent cartoon
• Boston Legal – it’s no Practice, but it’s still got some of the best speeches out there
• 24 – not on yet, but must watch come January