Good start to the new year

New Year's Resolution #1: Start posting more on this blog.

From a TV standpoint, thank god for the end of December. No more reruns, no more War on Christmas demagoguery from Bill O'Reilly, and no more bad Christmas movies. Although this does mean I'll have to wait 11 months before being able to hear "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

This January marks a great beginning for TV enthusiasts. "24" begins in a week or so, the best episodes of "American Idol" are set to air as well. I stop watching after the first round, but schadenfreude is ripe for the taking with the William Hungs of the world. I do feel a bit cheated when I know that the crap singers are only put through to the Simon and Company just so they can be embarassed. It still makes for great entertainment anyways. Other great parts about January: The Office comes back tonight; West Wing returns Sunday; midseason replacements to ignore; Daily Show returned last night with its usual great satire, social commentary, and interesting guests; NFL playoffs on HD televisions; College basketball begins interconference play...MD-Duke is less than a week away.

And lastly, great news out of Hollywood. Via Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch Blog, I have good news on the Oscars front. Jon Stewart, golden boy, is set to host the show in a couple of months. Of course he'll be liberal and anti-Bush, and with the crop of films including themes on terrorism, gays, and racism--he will have plenty of ammunition. I dont know how it will affect ratings, but I dont really care about ratings...because I know already they will be lower than last year. As they are every year. If the Oscars want younger viewers, they've picked a good horse..and although Conan would have done well too, I pray that Stewart will be a great addition.