Being in the same room with another human can be "weird," but being in a room every day watching television alone can be "suicide-inducing." If only there was some way to interact with other lonely, isolated television watchers, while alone...


The new NYT-explained trend (which we hope is fake) is watching TV alone and talking about it on Skype with other far-flung people who are also watching TV alone. It removes the burden of actual physical human interaction, but momentarily relieves the soul-blackening anomie of a life accompanied only by a flickering screen.

Jessica Acres, for example, gathers with a few friends, via Skype, most days to watch shows like "General Hospital," "One Life to Live" and "Gossip Girl."

Most days. Welcome to your future, America.