You guys, I’m thinking about watching the next season of American Idol. I know, I know… this is a giant step back.

This is what I got when I Google Imaged “shame.”
I’m just afraid of the chasm that will be left/has been left in our programming thanks to the strike. I don’t want to entertain you with stardust memories of the time when 30 Rock wasn’t in reruns.

It reminds me of that scene in High Fidelity when Dick is preciously spinning a Belle and Sebastian CD in the record store. And Rob thinks it’s trite and stupid, but he’s also fine with it because he “just wants something he can ignore.”

I kind of feel like that — at least I’ll have some voice in the pop culture dialogue. Rather than just reliving stardust memories of how awesome it was when Kelly told Ryan she was pregnant on The Office (and then they cut away to her shaking her head impishly). So, at least I’ll have some sort of escapist life.

I know AI is going to be awful. Even though I hear the contestants can use instruments this year, I have no hope for the future. There was that show trying to find the great American band last year, and it ended up being a collection of backyard jug players without a sense of kitsch.

Sigh.

Well, the Golden Globes are basically shot. Which sucks.

They’re definitely the best awards show of the year, both because they do TV and movies and because of the wackiness that always abounds. Whether it’s Christine Lahti on the crapper or Ving Rhames crying like a wee babe, there’s usually something weird that happens. The weepy, self-congratulatory montages are kept to a minimum (at least compared to the Oscars) and the atmosphere is more relaxed.

In any case, we won’t have the awards ceremony to look forward to, but you can fill out this survey on our humble blog. Almost as much fun. Seriously.

We value your opinion. I’ll post later this week with the correct answers.

I know that Pinkerton is supposed to be their best one, but seriously. The Blue Album.

• A new reality show is trying to make us believe that parking enforcement officials aren’t going to burn in the fires of hell.
• Zoey 101 is getting better ratings because of Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy. She shoulda thought of that earlier.
• China’s Next Top Model has premiered, despite being labeled “vulgar.”
• A Paradise Hotel 2 contestant has died in an unrelated accident before the series has debuted.
• A Yale doctor is trying to keep the people at House honest.
• The AV Club interviews Anthony Bourdain.
• Dirt starts up again March 2.
• A new Ask Ausiello is up with scoop on Lost.
• Ed Westwick teases the new Gossip Girl.