2016 TV Resolution: Forget My Fear of Missing Out

Game of Thrones - Season 5
HBO

The TV Insider / TV Guide Magazine team sets their goals for small-screen viewing in the new year. See more 2016 TV Resolutions.

When it comes to TV, I have a serious FOMO problem. For those of you not up-to-date on your Urban Dictionary, that’s the “fear of missing out.”

2016 TV ResolutionsHere’s how this plays out. A buzzy new show is announced. Reading the initial logline, I think to myself, “That sounds dreadful.” Then I go on Twitter and quickly realize the urban intelligentsia has decided, “That sounds excellent!” My high school instincts kick in, and not wanting to be left out of the cultural conversation, I begin a grueling months-long process of convincing myself that I can get on board with this new show. By the time it arrives, I have successfully numbed my mind. I’m ready. Bring on the interminably slow dialogue and meandering scenic shots—I’m prepared to watch you. And then I’m prepared to read think pieces about you the next morning because I got distracted by the 6’3” Italian guy who just messaged me on Grindr to say “sup?”

This year’s going to be different, and that’s because I resolve to not torture myself by watching things (like Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Breaking Bad) simply because they are in the zeitgeist. I’m still going to take chances, but if after watching an episode, the thought of watching another feels more like homework than fun, I’m out. When the noise around The Hot New Thing reaches a fever pitch, I’m going to put my headphones in and message Tony back: “Not much, u?”

More New Year’s Resolutions