I want my HGTV -- and Food Network (UPDATED 1/23/2010)

For those of you who live outside of the Greater Metropolitan New York Area (i.e., not in New York City, New Jersey, or Connecticut) and thus are not slaves to Cablevision (or have a life) the fact that Cablevision and Scripps Networks are currently in a pissing match and as a result Cablevision -- with only a few hours notice -- dropped both HGTV and Food Network last night at midnight probably makes little or no difference to you.

But for those of you like me and little J-THREE-O (think of the children, people, the poor innocent children!), who developed a real appreciation for food and cooking and began trying all sorts of new things after watching Food Network, this is DEVASTATING news. Devastating.

Okay, let me put this a way you men will understand and appreciate: No more Food Network means no more Giada De Laurentiis bending over a hot pot several hours a day. Capiche?

On a more personal note, without House Hunters I have no idea what the spouse and I will do at 10 at night.

So if you are a Cablevision customer and want your HGTV and Food Network back, click here to send an e-card to Cablevision.

Btw, I do NOT put all the blame for this on Cablevision, though the spouse and I have ZERO love for the Dolan family (who are responsible for the recent Knicks debacle). There are always two sides to a story. And while we can (happily) live without most of the programming on Food Network (and HGTV), we really wanted to watch the "Iron Chef America Super Chef Battle," featuring Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, Sunday night.

So please, Cablevision and Scripps, for the children (and, okay, the rest of us), bring back our HGTV and Food Network.

Thank you.

UPDATED 1/4/09: This just in from The New York Times:

"The Food Network costs distributors 8 cents a viewer on average now; Scripps wants a roughly 300 percent raise, according to people briefed on the negotiations. That might seem drastic, but 30 other channels, some with lower ratings, already earn that much. “We were really, really undervalued,” said Brooke Johnson, the president of the Food Network.

"For ardent fans of “Iron Chef America,” the Food Network is undoubtedly worth 25 cents a month...."

For more on the cable debate -- and why your cable (and satellite) bill is going to go up again -- read this.

UPDATED 1/9/10: Per Bobby Flay, the Iron Chef Super Chef Battle will be rebroadcast Sunday, January 10, at 8 p.m. ET on WPIX Channel 11 in the NYC metro area as well as on Hartford Channel 20 (WTXX). New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Cablevision customers/Food Network fans rejoice! More here.

UPDATED 1/23/10: I am happy to report that Cablevision and Scripps worked out their differences (basically they split the difference) and Food Network and HGTV are now back on the air (as of Thursday night). To learn more about the negotiations, read this. Btw, Cablevision customers, expect to see an increase in your cable bill next month (as if it wasn't high enough).