I didn’t realize there was such a week, but somehow I’m just not surprised.

Pitt allowed as how she plans to watch no television during that week. National TV Turnoff Week runs April 21-27 if you’re interested in testing your own stamina.

Pitt’s sister asked her how she would watch “Numbers” our family’s official television show, if she chose to participate.

“I’ll just have to miss it,” Pitt said. “Unless it’s a new episode.”

“Aha,” I thought to myself. “That’s why she’s so interested in participating. She hasn’t seen a new episode of any television show in weeks.”

The recently-concluded writer’s strike hit Pitt hard. Gone were the new episodes of such favorites as “Friday Night Lights”, “CSI” and “Numbers.”

But then she surprised me. She suggested that she might try to make a habit of not watching television at all the last week of every month.

Somehow I’m thinking that idea will last just about as long as the last doughnut in a coffee shop full of police officers.

But I dutifully reported Pitt’s idea to her mother Sunday night. Becky thought it sounded like a good idea. This coming from a woman who has about six “must-see” programs each week, not including the three episodes per week of “American Idol.”

Becky suggested we limit our television watching to just one hour per night.

Even I quaked at the idea we might really try to help Pitt with her idea by joining with her in some idiotic show of solidarity.

“Could I bank my hours?” I asked. Suppose I don’t watch any television all week so I can watch basketball on the weekends?” I asked.

That would be allowed, she said.

Thank God. You don’t tell a North Carolina boy he can’t watch basketball in March.

Truthfully, I could stand most artificial limits on television time. I don’t watch that much, after all.

During a recent illness, I figured out why. There is absolutely nothing on television worth watching.

Friday before last I was at home sick with Pitt all day. We watched Drew Carey as the new host of “Price Is Right”. We saw back to back episodes of “Reba” and back to back episodes of “Family Feud”.

The late Richard Dawson would be amazed that his game show has lasted so long through so many hosts.

And, Lord help us, we watched “Ellen”.

We saw one channel that has judge shows for six and a half hours straight, from 12:30 until 7 p.m.

If you can’t work out your own voyeuristic tendencies in 30 minutes with one of those shows then there’s no help for you.

I don’t know how well we’ll do when National TV Turnoff Week rolls around this year. But I’m thinking it’ll be worth a try. Basketball will be over by then so there’ll be no danger of missing a big game.

And the next time I’m home sick, I’ll make plans to read a good book, or I’ll sleep in, or I’ll stare at the wall.

I’ll do anything to avoid watching more daytime television.