The Clash

Y'know what's been annoying me lately?

TV.

In general.

It's not because there's nothing good on though. It's the fact that there's too much good stuff on. AT THE SAME TIME.

I'm assuming that you know how the US TV Seasons system works. Oh alright then, here's a re-cap. The stations in the US pretty much all start their shows in September sometime. Then they usually run until about mid-November when, for some reason that seems to defy logic, the shows go on a 'mid-season break' and vanish until January or February. When they return, after the mid-season, not only do the previously-started shows start to wrap up, but other shows start, which usually only last about 12 or 13 weeks, with a couple of exceptions. Well, I say only, but you know what I mean.

Now, in the UK, we used to get shows months after the US. Hell, in some cases we still do. Dexter, the best TV show of all time, at least for me, is currently a whole year behind the American air date in the UK. Season 4 is starting there soon (well, September I presume) and we're only a couple of episodes into S3 currently.

But anyway, recently, mostly thanks to Sky, it must be said, we've been getting the shows only a few days behind the American airdates. Which is great. I'm not complaining. Unfortunately, the UK TV system seems to have it in it's collective psyche that one American show must compete against another.

Which is why you have, on a Sunday night, Lost clashing with Supernatural clashing with Fringe. Until a week ago, on Mondays we had Heroes clashing with 24 (incidentally also clashing with Ashes to Ashes, which has gotten much better since I ripped it to shreds last year, but is British so I'm excluding it. Oh, and Law & Order UK. That shared the timeslot too). And we always used to have Heroes clashing with Prison Break as well. When it was still good. Oh, sorry, when they were still good.

Thank God Dollhouse has only just reared its head over here, or else it would've been in the uncomfortable position of clashing with Battlestar Galactica. As much as I love Joss Whedon, he wouldn't have stood a chance in that battle.

There's more! Dexter's new time of 10pm Friday clashes with 'new' (2 year old) episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. I don't think The Mentalist on Thursday nights clashes with anything, mind. Except it's the only time I get to watch DVDs. But I guess that doesn't really count, does it?

So yeah, you see my dilemma. I love all of the series I've mentioned immensely, but it's getting to the point of being ridiculous now. This week's going to be a nightmare too, thanks to Britain's Got Talent being on every single bloody night. And yes, I do watch it, and enjoy it. I am not ashamed to admit it.

You know what's worse? Sky +, that genius device that lets you record things that clash. As I say, it's genius. But you can only have 2 things recording at once: one you're watching and one you're not. So had Mondays been completely stuffed with Heroes, Ashes to Ashes, 24 and Law & Order UK then we'd have been screwed. There is, of course, also repeats, but that opens up a whole new can of worms, with even more clashes, if that's possible.

And drawing it back, this is mostly thanks to the American TV system. If they didn't shove all their shows on at the same time, this predicament would go away, as we'd have quality programming through the year. Oh, and Heroes.