TV Addiction

It's possible I'm becoming addicted to television. So I'm relieved, in a way, to have the regular season coming to a close. Frankly, I've never trusted people who claim not to watch much television. I always find myself wondering if they are lying or just weird. How can you NOT want to watch television? They landed on the moon, shot two presidents, had a bunch of wars, shot the guy who allegedly shot one of the presidents... never mind not watching MUCH... I'm afraid to look away.

But yeah... ok, yeah... I need to watch less. And I do go through long periods of reading a lot and turning it off. For months at a time, during the "off" season, I have watched less than an hour a day on average. Only last night was the big Survivor finale, and I actually left the house to buy enough snacks to keep me over-stuffed from 8 to 11 eastern standard. I can't believe Sandra won. I was a rare Team Russel girl.

Except now... NOW we have basic cable and a lot of really good crap comes on just when the regular stuff that is normally awesome goes into re-runs.

DAMMIT!! I was totally going to be good. Survivor, which just ended a tenth season, has two seasons per year. FX has shows like Justified, which I really like. But then, shows like White Collar Crime and In Plain Sight and Psych, which I forget about all-together, suddenly grab hold. It's like... just when I am sure I have the monkey off my back, they pull me back in!!

My obsessions this past television season have been more about nightly marathons. On Wednesdays I was glued to Ghost Hunters and Criminal Minds, juggling to get the second viewing of GH so I could watch CM, which I had never seen until the reruns on A&E suckered me in... now I'm collecting the seasons on DVD. On Thursdays I really hunker down for Survivor (STILL can't believe Sandra won), Fringe, and Real Housewives of New York.

Things are about to change, because most of these series are about to go away for the summer. Castle is another obsession, along with Glee. By June I'll be looking for new fixes. I'll need a new drug to cut the edge off my withdrawal.

It's sick. Yet like all junkies I don't want a cure. I'm trying to be honest about it, and a part of my dirty-junky soul hopes everything they run as a mid-season replacement really sucks. Because I miss daylight, fresh air, and people who are not creepily crisp in high-def. Man... Alec Baldwin has freaking ginourmous pores. I love him in old fashioned plasma, though.

What's your personal shark?

The phrase "jumped the shark" is used to talk about tv shows that have gone past the point of interest and it refers to the episode of Happy Days when Fonzie jumped the shark. At that moment, Happy Days was a shell of it's former self, lost in ridiculous, gimicky plots.

Having said that, I think House is about to jump my personal shark. I tried to watch it last night, but found that for the most part, I just don't care. House is cranky, Wilson continues to pacify him, Cuddy sighs a lot, patients get cured in the last five minutes thanks to some amazing revelation. It's just a little boring and predictable.

I stopped watching Grey's Anatomy about the time Katherine Heigl's character was having visions of her dead fiance. I stopped watching Heroes around the end of season two when you couldn't tell who was good, who was bad, or what year you were in. Ugly Betty lost me when the writers seemed to be pulling plotlines from bad '80's soap operas.

Book series are like that for me too. After a certain point, some series just lose me. I've stopped reading at least three that just got so bloated and convoluted, I couldn't keep from rolling my eyes.

How about you? How long do you stick with a book or tv series? Any shows you've given up on recently?

copping out

Okay, so I'm in a rush this morning and really didn't have much of a blog topic ready so instead of posting a youtube video like I usually do when I'm unprepared, I'm posting a blog I had on my website over the weekend.

Because frankly, I'm still kind over the moon about it. Sorry if you've read this a hundred-million times.


I almost watched 20/20 Friday night because they were featuring 'Real-Life Vampires' and then thought..."Seriously, what are the odds they'll feature my book cover for this story?" Apparently I should also buy a lottery ticket because the odds were 100%!! You'll have to sit through a commercial once the video loads but at -6:34 on the timer, you'll see my beautiful cover with my name front and center!

Inside the World of Real-Life Vampires

Fav TV shows

I'm not usually a big TV watcher. I prefer burying my nose in a book, or hanging on the interweb. But there are some shows I am totally hooked on:

Glee. Need I even say why? It has high school drama, romance, and MUSIC. And it's so cheeseball funny that I can't resist. I also love how the characters are so unique and fun and get themselves in these weird situations.

Sons of Anarchy. I'm not normally into motorcycles, or gangs, but this show is amazing. It's packed with action, drama, and yes, some hotness. haha. I'm REALLY digging this one!

Pawn Stars. It's all about a pawn shop run by 3 generations--a man, his son, and his dad. And I love it! They show lots of different items people bring in, and it's fun seeing about all the things people have to pawn or sell.

Rescue Ink. Burly tattooed men, saving animals in places most people are afraid to go. What more could I possibly want in a show? It's awesome and heartfelt, and I've totally cried. It's so sad to see the animal abuse, but I love that these guys have soft hearts and really care for animals.

The Office. Okay, this show is like crack. I can't stop watching it. Every time I see one on TV, I turn right to it. Even my kids love it! LOL. There are so many stupid people in there, and how can you not love watching Pam and Jim? Or Dwight? Or Michael?

There are more, of course, but right now I'm interested in hearing from you. Are there any shows that are must-see on your TV?

the new season...of Chuck Bass

It's TV time again...and the new season starts tonight with Gossip Girl! Could I be any happier that the sexy-ugly and downright dirty Chuck Bass is returning to my life on Monday nights? No. I don't think I could.

There are other shows I'm looking forward to such as How I Met Your Mother, Castle, Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men...but none of them fill that self-indulgence quite like Gossip Girl. It's like television cake. It is beautiful to look at and even though it tastes a little bit like heaven, it only fills you up temporarily. About a half-hour later you need more. (Okay, for me, it's about 5 minutes later that I need more Chuck Bass)

What TV shows are you most looking forward to watching this season?

Author Marley Gibson on TV!

YA author Marley Gibson will be promoting her upcoming Ghost Huntress series (Houghton Mifflin) on the premiere episode of MY GHOST STORY tonight on the Biography Channel!

My Ghost Story: Hauntings Revealed
Thursday, October 30 @ 10 pm ET
Upcoming Showings:
Saturday, November 01 @ 9 pm ET


Everybody has a ghost story. But how many people have filmed theirs? Hear true and unbelievable stories of the paranormal as told by the people who lived through them--and actually captured their hauntings on tape. These harrowing eye-witness accounts of the unexplainable are transformed into more than tales with terrifying visual evidence. You'll have no choice but to believe your eyes.

Marley and her husband Mike will be talking about their own experience. But what about you? Have you ever seen a ghost?

Confessions of a TV Junkie

I'm a TV junkie. There, I said it. I love reality shows like a fat kid loves cake. (And I also love cake.) I like "interesting" shows, too - anything a little different and I'll at least watch it once. Which means my DVR gets more action than the restroom at an all you can eat Mexican buffet. So imagine my utter disappointment and saddness to learn that some of my favorites have been axed!

Moonlight - Hot vampire detective - what's not to love?

Back To You - Great writing, funny lines. Not to mention Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton.

Bionic Woman - Um, hello, she's bionic!!!

Journeyman - The guy randomly time travels to help others but he can't get one more season?

There are more, but I don't want to bore you. Basically, if I like it, it will probably get canceled. And as you can see, I have a special place in my heart for the paranormal or unusual. Why don't those shows do better? Have any of your favs gotten cut?