TV or Not TV

I don't know whether to laugh or be disturbed by the Wednesday episode of The Middle.

In what must have been an effort to bring levity to the unemployment crisis, this episode shows the Heck family in a situation where they get behind on their bills and their electricity is turned off.

They talk to a financial coach who advises them to get rid of the non-essentials in life. Sadly, they are confused about what is considered non-essential, a far too common error. They finally agree to give up things like coffee-shop coffee and their precious cable television.

Initially their children are freaked out when faced with an indefinite amount of time with no television, but they prove to be resourceful and find things to occupy their time.

The parents are another story. Their discussions revolve around what TV shows they are missing. And one scene even portrays them sitting in their back yard, in lawn chairs... watching TV through their neighbors open window. After this incident, they decide they are in serious need of developing some hobbies.

The rest of the episode has a fairy tale ending... they win $1000 in a bingo game and Mr. Heck gets his job back. The financial coach had advised them to pay off all debt, but with their new-found money, they immediately go back to their cable television.

I find it extremely sad {and telling} that the parents couldn't enjoy their life together without TV. It is nice to have a show {or two} that you enjoy watching together, maybe snuggled on the couch. But to be so wrapped up in your shows, that you can't function in life without them is terribly sad. It also bothers me that it is normal to stay in debt and enjoy the non-essentials {no matter the cost}.

We have cable TV, but we cut back to basic cable several years ago. We don't miss regular cable and we have saved money over the years that we have been able to put towards other things. We have time to read and hang out and enjoy our various hobbies. We like watching 24 and Criminal Minds together, but if we miss an episode, it is not the end of the world.