I just realized that the entire TV experience really died for me in 1987 when they finally canceled
Hill Street Blues. That's the last TV show that I really obsessed about having to be home and available to watch every time a new episode was on. There have been TV shows since that I've made a point of watching, but none of them have had the non-preemptable status of that show. First the VCR and now bittorrent have ensured that its no big deal if I miss a show when it comes on. I can almost always go and watch it whenever is convenient for me.
... and I still miss Belker.