If there is one thing in this crazy, mixed-up world that all human beings have in common, it's that we are creatures of habit. There are just some things that we do on a daily basis in order to maintain continuity and stay somewhat sane. It may be a certain morning routine, something you do at the beginning of each work day, or a particular domesticated animal that you burn during your sacrifice to the god Nomchakatu. No matter what it is, your day can go askew if you don't indulge in your particular habit or ritual.
One of these habits, which has been ingrained into many of us, is watching a particular show or shows right before we go to bed. Since the first grainy, black and white image was broadcast into the first home, millions have tuned into one show or another as a calming ritual before they go to sleep. In the very beginning, it may have been their local newscast or The Tonight Show. Now, with so many choices, what viewers watch before they pull the covers over their heads is nearly endless.
Personally, the shows that I've watched before going to bed have varied over the years. When Futurama was on the Adult Swim schedule, I used to tune in regularly before or as I fell asleep. Lately, I have switched between my local news (6 ABC in Philadelphia) and The Daily Show. If I'm awake enough, I'll try to sit through The Colbert Report without getting drowsy. If I'm still awake after that, I'll pop over to Nick at Nite to watch as much of Home Improvement as I can before I drift off.
So, that's me. Now I turn the podium over to all of you. What show, if any, do you watch before you climb under the covers for the night? Is it your local news or The Daily Show? Do you end up watching one of the late night talkers? Do you skip all of that and search for something scripted? Or, do you, um, tune into Cinemax for something entirely different that may or may not involve some type of, er, "exercise"? We here at TV Squad are always interested in your comments, so let us know.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-23-2009 @ 5:39PM
Tom Mcleod said...
Wow...your late night drift is the exact same as mine...kinda freaky
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1-23-2009 @ 5:59PM
hessian said...
I'm usually catching up on each night's DVR recording until about 11 (central time).
Lately, I've been working while listening to the West Coast feed of Cartoon network. Mostly FAMILY GUY, ROBOT CHICKEN and KING OF THE HILL.
I had forgotten how rich the characters of KING OF THE HILL are. Someday they're going to make a live action version of this one.
When SUPER JAIL comes on, I know it's time to call it quits. Horrible show.
But, if there's still work to do, I switch the dish over to channel 816 and listen to XM/Sirius 20 on 20.
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1-23-2009 @ 6:03PM
segsig said...
Generally fall asleep to TDS and CR, but have it tivoed, so I can watch while I'm getting ready in the morning.
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1-23-2009 @ 6:04PM
Raychel :) said...
Recently, I have to stay up to see Craig Ferguson. If I can't make it thru the whole show, then i at least watch his monologue and emails. I love how his monologue time is just that-a monologue, and not just set up, lame punchline, set up, lamer punchline. But if I can make it the whole hour, the "What have we learned on the show tonight, Craig?" segment is worth the extra hour I stayed up.
:)
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1-23-2009 @ 6:20PM
Caela said...
I love to watch the Golden Girls as I drift off to sleep. Ive seen every episode a million times and i can just close my eyes and listen to it!
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1-23-2009 @ 6:25PM
Man said...
If I have work or something early the next day it's the 10 o'clock news.
If not Jimmy Kimmel Live.
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1-23-2009 @ 7:06PM
Mr. Bungle said...
Usually watch The Daily Show before going to sleep.
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1-23-2009 @ 7:16PM
slives said...
I go to sleep really really late - after 3am mostly. I tend to have on CNN and watch Larry King and Anderson Cooper. Sometimes their shows will loop 2 or 3 times before I've even noticed how much time has gone by.
Other times, I'll pop on some Futurama. Even if I watch only 5 or 10 minutes, it's enjoyable.
I like the idea of having Daily Show and Colbert Report as morning options. Comedy Central should do it!
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1-23-2009 @ 8:05PM
0megapart!cle said...
They do replay the last night's episodes at 10, but most people are probably at work by then.
I use BeyondTV, so I really don't have any set schedule.
1-23-2009 @ 9:28PM
jthomas said...
I'll sometimes watch the reruns of Friends or Will & Grace, but lately I've been doing DVD marathons of my favorite shows. I finished up Alias a few months ago and I'm working my way through Buffy.
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1-23-2009 @ 9:21PM
ussilov said...
i usually either tune in to one of the shows on revision3(diggnation or TRS) or tune into the TWiT network to check out their reruns of the day.
(take that brodcast tv!)
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1-23-2009 @ 9:22PM
ussilov said...
um er... *broadcast tv
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1-23-2009 @ 9:54PM
Morjana Coffman said...
I tend to turn in around 4am -- hey, I'm retired, so what the heck, I can sleep in. If not watching a movie on one of the movie channels, then I'm watching the local NBC station (Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien, Carson Daly, Poker After Dark, repeat of last week's Tonight Show, early news), however, at the same time, I'm usually reading a novel (The Last Colony by John Scalzi last night) and/or surfing the net.
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1-23-2009 @ 11:39PM
Kathy Beaumont said...
I try to make it through the Daily Show. Hardly ever make it through Colbert on work days, or on day before work days. I am happiest when I can stay up for the first part of Craig, and then I search You Tube for the "What Did We Learn Today" for the day. I just love his humor! I sometimes stay up really late, and finally crash after Futurama.
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1-24-2009 @ 12:28AM
patrick420 said...
A tivo'd Simpsons or Family Guy. Since I've seen all of them a million times I don's feel bad when I fall asleep on them.
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1-24-2009 @ 1:44AM
Fahad said...
I watch anything on late night talk shows with guests I like. I usually check to see the guest list on the guide and decide whether to watch Letterman or Leno, Conan or Furgeson.
But usually on a regular basis I'll watch Leno and Conan. Before falling asleep sometime by the middle of Conan's episode.
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1-24-2009 @ 12:20PM
Zach said...
For some reason I like watching old sitcoms while going to bed. So normally what's on NaN starting around 11-12:30 latest. If it's a show I don't like such as the George Lopez show, I'll normally switch it to The N. But lately I've been falling asleep to Family Matters or Home Improvement.
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1-24-2009 @ 12:40PM
Brian said...
Whatever's on PBS or the History channel. Puts me right to sleep. It's the perfect way to drift off into lala land.
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1-24-2009 @ 12:46PM
Jussup said...
Red Eye... that show is so hilarious. I know most people on here hate FoxNews (despite the fact that they probably have never watched it, whatever...) but this show is really funny and could surprise you.
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1-24-2009 @ 1:44PM
Jammies said...
The Scottish Conan Guy on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Every night. Without fail.
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