The television executives need to do something different if they expect to pry some of that bountiful discretionary income out of my hands and into the coffers of their advertisers. However, the heirs to my estate hope they continue to ignore me and drive me away to alternative, non-commercial forms of entertainment. :-)
I watch new episodes of ER, but I hate the damn commercials. I have a DVR to record it off the air. When the commecials get too annoying, I find something better to do until the show is completely on the DVR. At that point I can skip right over the commercial garbage.
WTH is "middlescence"? The age at which you warn your kids about the dangers of MDMA while, at the same time, you seriously consider Viagra?
It makes me sad (and more than a little angry) to think that the greatest legacy of capitalism and a free market will NOT be a strong, educated, well-informed society of individuals, but rather, a mindless herd of drones driven by rampant consumerism to the newest shiny object.
My mom and stepdad will be 50 in 2008, still at their respective careers but for only a few years longer. They have been fortunate and wise enough to save and invest their "discretionary income" for a carefree Life After Work.
All I can say, is Good Luck to the corporations that think people like yourself and my parents are more fresh meat.