TVSquad

I'll admit it, I love end of the year lists. Even though I don't always agree with the lists I read in magazines and online, they always make for interesting reading and they put the year in perspective, and make you think of something in a new way. Our Festivus lists are a chance to tell everyone what we'd like to see on our televisions and under our trees next to our metallic Fesitvus poles. Here's my list.

1. An end to the writers strike. Look, I want the writers to get everything that's coming to them. As a writer myself, I'm behind them 100%. But we're talking about what I want for Festivus here, and I would love to see the writers and studios come to an agreement so we can salvage at least a part of the rest of the season. I don't want to see all repeats and reality for the next 6 months. I also miss David Letterman, especially during the holidays.

2. Mad Men merchandise. Come on, every other show gets hats and mugs and mouse pads and hats and pajamas with feet in them, and my favorite new show doesn't have anything? How about some retro coffee mugs or ashtrays or cigarette lighters? How about some suits based on the show or maybe Mad Men booze? AMC, if you're reading this, I'd spend a lot of money at your online store if you sold some Sterling Cooper goodies.

3. 30 Rock to stay brilliant. There's no other show on TV right now that is giving me as much pleasure as this show. Not Heroes, not Lost, not even The Office (which I think has gotten a little tired the last few episodes). As with any hit show (even if we are stretching the definition of the word "hit," I'll admit), you always fear that they're going to ruin it somehow. The jokes will be repeated or the characterizations lame or relying too much on what made it funny in the first place and viewers getting sick of it. That hasn't happened yet and I don't see any evidence of it happening either. I pray it stays that way.

4. Amy Sedaris to have a weekly TV show. Or a daily talk show, or a monthly special, even an infomercial that runs every weekend at 1am. Whatever. As long as she's on my television on a regular basis again (and since this is my wish list, I'll add Bruce Campbell too - that's a guy who really should have his own show again).

5. Short-lived shows to be released on DVD. I'm talking about shows that we'll probably never see on DVD (even though they seem to release just about everything these days), such as Eyes (I wanted this last year too) and Private Eye.