It's been a few years since I've had HBO, but about two months ago I ordered the service. And now, what time I'm not glued to FOX News I'm watching some movie, documentary, or original series on HBO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Family, Classics, etc.....good grief, how many are there?

This week was the grand finale of Sex and the City, a silly series that has dominated HBO programming this past week. There has been "The Making of the Final Episode," and "A Farewell Episode," and a whole host of other shows on interviewing Sarah Jessica Parker or another of the show's characters. Quite frankly, it was driving me batty. I've never watched one episode of the show, and I really don't care how they made it.

But against my better judgment I decided to watch some of it. The other night they were playing back to back episodes PBS-style without the phone banks and annoying pledge drives and lame mid-show entertainment varieties. I say against better judgment for a number of reasons. First, there has never been anything sexy about Sarah Jessica Parker. She's horse-faced and haggard. If they wanted my Nielson box to register, they should have put Monica Potter or Cameron Diaz on the show. But Sarah Jessica Parker?

Second, I had more important things to read, to do, to think through and clean up. But remote control in hand, I set my cable box so I could flip back and forth between Sex and the City on HBO and Antwone Fisher on another channel.

After about five minutes, I was so totally convinced of my earlier judgment that the show was just lame that I turned it off. An hour later, it was still on. Two hours...Sarah Jessica Parker's waif mug was still on my television. Six hours later, that stupid show was still on.

I have friends that have been faithful since the show started years ago. They've told me that I should watch it....that I would get into it too. They swore that it was the best show on television. I used to have friends with discriminating tastes about culture, books, film, etc. Now, not so much.

I'm not upset that the show is off. Farewell, I say...good riddance. Carrie Bradshaw can make her way to DVD hell and rot for all I care.

But next weekend The Sopranos starts again. Now there is a masterfully produced and directed show for you. I've been waiting for the new season like a 10 year old outside Barnes and Noble dressed like a wizard, wearing round framed glasses and popping skittles until the doors opened and I could get my latest Harry Potter novel.

I havent been dressing like a mafioso, by the way. Or saying things like, "howyadoo'in," or "fuggetaboutit." And I'm working really hard on my swearing. But I digress.

Perhaps in twenty years they can have a big Sex and the City reunion like they had for Star Trek and The Dukes of Hazzard. And I've got an idea for the title too, Impotence in the Suburbs. Until then, I'll just enjoy the best HBO original series..........