This is our first year without cable or satellite teevee, so the tradition of watching the Twilight Zone Marathon on the network formally known as SciFi has come to an end. This tradition began back in 1998 or so, when we first got off dial-up Internet and switched to RoadRunner. At the time, we only had basic cable, and there was an old analog filter on the line to prevent up from getting the “good” channels. They had to take the filter off to get the Internet to work, and so we’d be forced to get all the channels (including SciFi) until they cam and replaced it with something newer.

About five years later (right around this time of year, in fact), a cable guy came and put the new filter on. Bummer. So we missed the TZ marathon that year (I promptly went to Best Buy and bought a DirecTV system (no HD and not even any local channels back then), but other than that, we’ve watched every year – until now.

Of course we can always watch them via NetFlix (or Amazon, I think) which has the added advantage of not having to deal with commercials. I think the first season is something like 15 hours, so that should be plenty for me. Last year, I didn’t even try to stay up until midnight, and I doubt I’ll do it this year, either. I guess I’m officially old.

Without Dick Clark, there’s just no incentive for me to stay up late anymore (not that I was a huge Dick Clark fan, but it was at least tradition. He was my generation’s Guy Lombardo). Ryan Seacrest just doesn’t do it for me. Or any of those new kid music guests they have on I mean, who the hell are these people? Back in my day….

Oh, that’s right, I forgot. My day is over. Let’s hope these new kids can clean up our mess.

Anyhow, I think I’ll go take a peek around the office and see if anybody else is here besides me. I kind of doubt it. If the coast looks clear, I think I’ll make a break for it.

Stay safe out there, and see ya in 2016.