There was a time when all TV shows were free to watch, but the technology back then was extremely limiting; you were at the mercy of the broadcasters and the schedules they dictated, you had to watch the show sitting in front of a dedicated device, making kitchen and bathroom runs whenever commercials appeared (which was often), and if a show you liked got cancelled, tough, it was very likely that you'd never see any of the episodes aired ever again.

(I'm still bitter that Strange Luck got cancelled after only one season. The main character, Chance Harper, played by D. B. Sweeney, was interesting, and the waitress, Angie, played by Frances Fisher, was hot. Good story too.)

All that's changed when the video tape recorder became popular. People recorded shows they liked and kept them to watch again and again.

Now, with modern digital technology, we can record what we like when we like, or we can download a rapidly widening assortment of TV shows to watch where ever we like via our Video iPods. What's even better is that some of these downloadable shows are free.

In this new series I intend to highlight some of the new TV shows at Apple's iTunes Music Store, and to point out the new free offerings as they become available.

If you've read any of my recent Just a Thought columns at The Mac Observer, you'll know that I'm a huge fan of free stuff, so writing a series on the subject seems right up my alley.

I'm still working out the format, so the organization may change from article to article, and I'd appreciate your feedback on what you like and don't like. Ultimately, the series should be useful to you in helping you keep track of what's free and worth downloading.

So, does this mean that I am contributing to the increasing illiteracy of America by promoting the watching of even more TV?

Likely, but in my defense I submit that not all shows kill brain cell through inactivity. In fact, some are downright entertaining. For instance, one of the free show at iTMS is Psyched, which can be seen on the USA Network.

The premise of Psyched is fairly unique; a guy with a better than average ability to observe detail convinces a police department that he is psychic, and they enlist his aid to help solve crime. Clever. The only well known actor in the series is Corbin Benson, yet, at least in the pilot, the acting is passable and performed with tongue in cheek and a dollop of smarts.

I hate reality shows with a passion, watching the forced realities the participants of these travesties endure has to be the reason for the low Standardized Test scores of our school aged kids. Witness Who Wants To Be A Super Hero for proof. (Sorry Stan Lee, but even your mighty powers can't make this show any less of a disaster.)

Not all reality shows are created equal, however.

Black, White is an FX Network show created and coproduced by rapper Ice Cube in which two families, one black, one white, trade places through the use of special makeup, in an effort to 'walk a mile' in the other's shoes but never quite pulls it off. The best part of the show, however, is listening to the views of the family members as they relate their stories and try to make sense of what's happened to them.

It is a good concept and I hope it gets a chance to stay on the air for a season or two.

The newest shows now available for free on iTMS are:

Visit the iTunes Music Store for a complete listing of free TV shows.