Unless you live in a cave (in which case you probably don’t have Internet and can’t read this anyway), you’ve heard by now that the WGA is on strike and your favorite television shows might run out of material by Christmas.  Now, I’m all for turning off the tube and talking to your family, but let’s be practical here.  The prime time television schedule is set up the way it is for a reason.

Eight p.m. usually indicates that dinner is done, the messes of the day have been handled, and all work and homework are complete for the night (or as done as they’re going to get).  You settle into your lazy girl recliner or scoop up that fuzzy blanket and settle in for three hours of escape (I know the increase in reality programming has made that more difficult every year, but work with me).

You click the remote and go, “Huh? Reruns!” Sadly folks, this might very soon be true.  It could be months before you find out if Bones and Booth are ever going to get down and dirty, if Sara will really walk away from looking for trace evidence on mutilated corpses, and if Chuck will get promoted to assistant manager of the Buy More.

DVDs are good, but Blockbuster takes at least a day or two to deliver the next three episodes and sometimes they arrive out of order.  If you’re like me, your DVR still has a month’s worth of prime time waiting to be watched, but then what?   History channel documentaries?  There’s only so much you can learn about the Winchester mansion.  Fortunately, there’s still a way to stay connected to your favorite show or television characters: play the games.

Many popular shows have taken advantage of the booming gaming industry (one of the reasons for the strike in the first place) and launched their own show-based games:

• American Idol for the PC and PS2
• Sponge Bob
• CSI
• 24: The Game for the PS2
• The Sopranos: Road to Respect for the PS2
• Lost, out in February for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC
• Heroes (in development)

The list goes on, but these might help to get you started and tide you over until your favorite shows return to prime time.