Ugly Hiatus

Written by: Matterbug

NOTE: As this Pink Ink issue was released later than expected, the article is no longer currently timely. However, it's still worth a read to get some tips for the next batch of hiatuses. After all, summer isn't that far away. ;)

Ah, the holiday season. It’s a wonderful time for friends, family, celebration, cheer, and goodwill. Except, TV wise, it absolutely stinks.

For all you TV addicts like me, the “winter hiatus” means long lonely nights without any form of meaning. What’s going to happen to Hiro? What mystery will Veronica have to solve next? Will Justin ever get his own Ugly Betty spin-off? Alas, alas, I feel your pain. But, we must look at it as an opportunity to do new things, things we don’t normally have time for. Here are some suggestions (and some even still involve TV!)

1) Watch TV on DVD: It’s the perfect way to feed the TV addiction. Either buy some seasons on DVD at the store or rent them from your movie store. This way, you can catch up on all the things you missed from your favorite shows. The LOST and Grey’s Anatomy seasons are especially nice since they give you the opportunity to review all the old clues, mysteries, and hookups (heavens knows there is enough of them). Also, take this time to discover a new show on DVD! If you’re like me, you want to watch a new show, but feel like you wouldn’t know what was going on because you haven’t watched previous seasons. Watch the previous season before it comes back from hiatus and you should be set!

2) Read a book: Yes, yes, I did just recommend this. I know it may be a shock, but you can get some pretty good adventures away from the television screen too. If you are struggling for a place to start, check out The Library forum on PPT for some recommendations and help. There are also plenty of websites that offer book suggestions. Google is your friend! (Oh, and did I mention a number of LOST novel spin-offs have been released?)

3) Check out those new movies: While the holiday time is known to be a crappy one for television, it’s also known to be one of the best for movies. Movie studios are trying to capitalize on people being off work and school, and are also vying for Oscar nominations. This means some of the greatest movies of the year are sitting in the theaters waiting for you to watch them! There are also a number of fantastic choices sitting on the shelves of your local movie store (that you may have been too busy to watch while Scofield was on the run).

4) Do your homework: Ahahahahahahaa. You didn’t think I was serious, did you? Okay, good.

5)Video Games: Ahh, yes, not to leave the entertainment circle incomplete, video games are especially hot right now with the release of three new video game systems. They may be pricey and hard to get your hands on, but if you do mangage to, there are a large number of great choices to play. And don’t fret, there are also many great games for the older generation of consoles and of course, the PC too! Just don’t get too addicted to these games, hiatus will end quicker than you think.

So, there you have it, just a few ways to fill the empty void that has been left in your entertainment soul. If you're still not sure sure, uou could always just send Matterbug some expensive gifts too, I'm sure he wouldn't mind.