I’ve been wondering lately – what happened to the TV miniseries? Not that it was ever particularly fashionable, but as a genre, it seems to have all but disappeared.

You could take the stand that “reality TV” is really just mini-series: The participants, goals, drama, etc., all change with the season. The Biggest Loser “2” is not the same as The Biggest Loser. The Apprentice was different as a sequel, etc. But I’m going to dismiss these “reality shows” because I really don’t think they’re a television program. They’re more like lame popularity contests broadcast over the radio waves for all the moist robots out there to vapidly stare at. Also, it’s my game, and when I say “Reality TV doesn’t count,” then reality TV doesn’t count.

But I ask this after having watched (mostly ignored) the season premiere of “Lost.” And I’m watching the season premiere of “The Nine,” which I thought was an interesting concept for a show, but now 45 minutes in to the first episode, I’m beginning to rethink my position. But I digress. What I’m thinking is that this show would make an excellent mini-series. Four to six episodes over as many weeks, with a two-hour clincher. If it isn’t cancelled midway through this season, it will probably turn into a sub-par three or four season stint.

“Lost” probably falls into this category. So does “24” which is in it’s what, 4th or 5th season now? And these are widely acclaimed shows. I have not been at all impressed with either, however. “Lost” bores me to death – it’s a retarded premise, and it’s plot rivals professional wrestling, which is renowned for it’s frequent twists and “surprises.” And “24,” well, I might’ve been interested, in fact I was interested but for some reason didn’t have the time to watch Season 1. I figured I’d get it on DVD one day, or catch it on re-runs like I did with “Band of Brothers” from HBO, which now airs on the History Channel.

And then Season 2 came out. I just don’t have the time, the desire, or the inclination to devote that much of my time to watching a ridiculous, albeit, entertaining show.

I can find a few hours, over the course of a few weeks, to watch something that has a beginning and and end, but I refuse to be sucked into these shows, the aim of which is to trap the viewers in a never-ending limbo.

As a sidebar, a few of my professors strongly recommend giving up TV. They say it’s the best thing they’ve ever done. One of them has 7 children, so I understand his argument, although they do watch shows on DVD, or rent movies, etc. If it weren’t for televised sporting events, I’d probably join them.

TV makes you dumber.