The three seasons

Growing up, TV was dominated by the big three networks. We had access (via our antenna) to a grainy PBS station and an independent, which was even grainier. The TV season of new shows ran with the school year and of course, there were many more episodes than there are now. Summer became rerun time and we found other things to do.

But with the advent of cable, that all changed and I see that we've all settled into a new pattern. It was fairly common for new shows to come on at mid-season, but now, that's expanded to summer as well. Leverage, shown on TNT, began in December, even played Christmas week (!), and is just now ended. Will it be back? In the summer. (As an aside, this is a very clever show. It bears a strong resemblance to AMC's Hustle from several (mid)seasons ago.)

The Closer, another TNT offering, began in the summer several years ago. These last two months, we've had a mini-season and it'll be back in June.

Lost, 24, and Heroes all have begun in January. Does this keep us interested through the winter? Is it just a clever ploy so we won't permanently desert our sets for rental movies and Netflix downloads?

Don't know, don't care. I just know the finer aspects of TV viewing aren't showing up in September any more.