The TV Zone

The countdown-clock watch never stops.

This morning, I stumbled on another one. And boy did this come out of left field. And boy, did my blood pressure rise.

CNBC is counting down the minutes to the Federal Reserve’s forecast. (A little under three hours as I type this, by the way.)

I kid you not.

I wonder if Fed chairman Ben Bernanke gave the thumbs-up to this hare-brained countdown?

I have a new pet peeve about TV.

You know what’s really bugging me? Countdown clocks.

Or should I say, inappropriate countdown clocks.

Once these were reserved for space launches or New Year’s Eve programs. OK, I’ll buy that.

But lately, the silent tick-tock has gotten a little too out of control.

My angst started a couple of weeks ago when CNN began counting down several days ahead of air time to its ecology special, “Planet in Peril.” The idiotic countdown clock in the corner (not to mention the newly green CNN logo) ensured that I wouldn’t, on general principles, watch one minute of the program, no matter how noble its intentions.

But what really pushed me over the edge was Monday night’s broadcast of “Atlantis SquarePantis,” the new SpongeBob mini-movie. Did I or my kids (who have been counting down the days to the broadcast anyway) have to be reminded as the SpongeBob marathon unreeled on Nickelodeon that “Atlantis” was just a mere 6:45:12 away?

It’s time to take action. If I see another countdown clock — and I don’t care if it’s on Dec. 31 — I am going to tape a piece of black construction paper in the corner of my TV set and happily go on with my life.

What bugs you about TV? Post a comment here.