Show Hole /SHō hōl/ (n): the emptiness felt after you finish the final episode of a show you’ve been binge watching. A very vulnerable state.

I had just finished this season of Grace and Frankie, and I was lonely and sad and needed cheering up. My YouTube go-to searches when I’m in a showhole are often one of the following:

• Ellen DeGeneres
• Robin Williams
• Jeanne Robertson
• James Corden
• Melissa McCarthy

So I went onto YouTube to watch Melissa McCarthy interviewed by Peter Dinklage about The Boss, and I forgot to turn off auto play, so I ended up on her appearance on Graham Norton (who I also adore). During the episode, GN asked another guest, Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation), if he was having trouble understanding the English accents. Pratt’s response was epic:

See what I mean? He’s fantastic. So what do you think I did next? You guessed right. I refilled my wine. And THEN I found TOWIE on Hulu and started binge-watching. In case you can’t play the video above, the show in question is a total crap UK “reality” TV show called The Only Way is Essex (“TOWIE” to those in the know). Pratt compares it to Jersey Shore, but really, it’s closest to Jerseylicious, which used to be another of my vices. I am an unapologetic fan of certain reality TV shows, and this one really captured me. There are 14 seasons to get through, so if you are looking for me, I’ll be in Essex!

“This program may contain fake boobs, flash cars, and Nanny Pat’s sausage plait, but while the tans you see might be fake, the people are all real. Although some of what they do has been set up purely for your entertainment.” -TOWIE intro