I finally discovered the ‘art ‘ of binge watching.

I am a former television addict. When I was in college, I remember video recording six soap operas throughout the week in anticipation of catching up with the plots over the weekend. I remember what it meant to wait for and watch your favorite prime time shows from September until May. If you missed an episode, you were shit-out-of-luck until the Friday night summer repeats, when you could plan for your day in advance to ensure you would not miss out twice.

I remember being so addicted to TV that when I arrived in Africa for my Peace Corps service, the first thing I did when I had limited access to a computer was Google for what I had missed unfolding between Meredith and McDreamy on Grey’s Anatomy, not to check for emails from my family and friends. And I think this behavior lasted for, say, a month before I maximized all limited computer time to connect with my loved ones instead. Oh yes, it took living thousands of miles away in a rural village with no electricity to break my television addiction!

When I returned home to the States, my priorities for time had shifted. I would watch a few occasional episodes of the current popular shows, but television was no longer a daily part of my life. Television took a back seat to reading, writing, creating, and connecting for years afterward. Then, COVID-19.

Prior to the pandemic, Hallmark and Outlander were my only network indulgences. So as 2020 unfolded, I remained busy with my personal projects and reading books. Even when the media was hyping about shows and movies on Netflix, I did not surrender to curiosity. I had no temptation…that is until Schitt’s Creek.

Schitt’s Creek had made headlines for sweeping the Emmys. I loved the advertisement and stills of Catherine O’Hara as Moira Rose – whom I adore as an actor alongside Eugene Levy, with fond favor for Home Alone and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – and her quirkiness and fashion sense spoke to me. So, I decided to stretch six seasons of Schitt’s Creek as 20-minute brain breaks from September until New Year’s Eve Day.

But then a funny thing happened. My mom and I tried to find a show to watch to keep us awake until the ball dropped in Times Square. I suggested Schitt’s Creek because of the delirious comic relief it had brought me the last four months of the year. She agreed. Sweet Momma was instantly hooked, which meant she wanted to watch 3-6 episodes at once. Talk about a binge baptism! I loved ending 2020 AND beginning 2021 with the Roses.

In January, I indulged in a marathon viewing of The Mandalorian, The Queen’s Gambit, Lupin, and Bridgerton. February encompassed watching selected repeat scenes of my favorite episodes. I recently finished the brilliant series Anne with an E, my newest obsession and, consequently, heartache since I have learned Season 4 was not renewed. Alas, her devoted fans attempted to valiantly save the show. Had they been successful, I would have easily become Addict with an A again.